Screw-in style Grad ND help?

PropilotBW · Mar 28, 2013

I'm looking at getting a graduated ND filter. I've noticed most are around 2-3 stops. Is that about the standard? Would it be too obvious of a gradient if it were across a larger stop range?
I'm guessing the 3-stop would be for some pretty intense sunset?
i guess you can always screw on a non-graduated ND in addition to the graduated? Or is that not recommended?

Sorry, loaded question.

480sparky · Mar 28, 2013

Your first mistake is getting a screw-on ND grad. Forcing the transition to be right across the center of the frame is severely limiting it's function... it would require you to put the horizon right across the middle of the frame; a huge compositional faux pas.

That said, there is no one-size-fits-all Grad ND. Sometimes a 1-stop is enough, sometimes you need 4 or 6. Sometimes you need a hard edge, sometimes a soft edge.

There would be no issues (other than a drop in image quality, depending on the quality of the filters) of using a screw-in ND filter in conjunction with a drop-in ND grad.

PropilotBW · Mar 28, 2013

480sparky said:
Your first mistake is getting a screw-on ND grad. Forcing the transition to be right across the center of the frame is severely limiting it's function... it would require you to put the horizon right across the middle of the frame; a huge compositional faux pas.

That said, there is no one-size-fits-all Grad ND. Sometimes a 1-stop is enough, sometimes you need 4 or 6. Sometimes you need a hard edge, sometimes a soft edge.

There would be no issues (other than a drop in image quality, depending on the quality of the filters) of using a screw-in ND filter in conjunction with a drop-in ND grad.

Thanks. Screw in was why I was concerned. I guess the way to go is the rectangular panes?