Mirrorkisser Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Hi, since this is my new favourite site for all kind of questions around the GH2: I am looking for some good ND Filters for the Canon FD lenses (35mm F2, 50mm 1,4 and 85mm 1,8) Any suggestions? Thank you very much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirrorkisser Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 can anybody help? I just dont know nothing about filters. Can i just buy any? Thanks a lot!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirrorkisser Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 ok, after some time torturing google and my brain: it seems i need 52mm filters. but should i get n4, n2 or n8? and does it make a difference whether i buy 5€ or 30€ ones? (i suppose it does) cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Rios Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 My suggestions is a Variable ND: http://specialcameraservice.com/fader-nd-mark-ii/239-fader-nd-mark-ii-52mm.html You will get faster shoots without change the NDs. Maybe more expensive than three cheap ND 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8, but it's the best option for HDSLR video. Best regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirrorkisser Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 Thank you very much for your help Francisco! I am a newbie to the gh2 and absolutely happy about any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techstyled Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 I wanted a cheap introduction to ND filters before I took the plunge to the more expensive variable ND filters. I purchased a 52mm Marumi ND8 for $23 and a 52mm Marumi ND4 for $16. My largest lens is 52mm so I also bought step down rings for approx. $5. I'm a complete noob too but the concept of "sunglasses for your camera" made sense to me and I've used these both for the past 2-3 weeks with great results. Mainly mid-morning soccer game pictures where, prior to having the ND filters, I was getting "glowing" grass and also any white clothing. Using these filters over the past weeks has convinced me of two things: 1. ND filters are vital to maintain flexibility. For basically the same reason you wanted to buy a camera that had manual adjustments, you want to be able to have more range in your lighting (don't know if that's the right way to put it but that's the way I think of it). Maybe a more apt comparison is why you care that your camera has good low light capabilities. 2. Francisco has the right of it (as well as others that have said the same thing). If you haven't already exhausted your WAF (Wife Acceptability Factor) like I did, which is another reason why I went the cheap first, you're much better off buying a decent variable ND filter. I've used my ND4 about 80% of the time because it just hasn't been that bright here yet. However, this past weekend was the brightest day I've shot so far and when I switched to video, I _really_ needed the ND8. The ND8 was overkill for photos (no idea why the difference but I assume shutter speed). It was the first time I tried to juggle ND4, ND8, ND4, etc. I missed at least 2 great shots (1 goal and 1 awesome ball handling) that I'm sure I wouldn't have missed if I hadn't been doing the filter dance. My next purchase will be a decent variable ND filter. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirrorkisser Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 thanks a lot for your post tech :) I have the same problem with a girlfriend, i need to watch the budget. I ordered another old Canon FD lens which comes with 2 filters and will try my look with those for the start. Then later on i can still switch! good luck with your football games :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axel Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 An ND 2-4-6 needs the exact same time to be screwed on as a Vari-ND, and it never causes vignettes (asymmetric ones too). You will quickly learn to know the right strength for the situation, and a slightly too strong or too weak ND is anyway better than none. Your wife and your girlfriend may be right again. Personally I find it a sad situation if you have to bargain about the purchase of a filter, no matter how wise it is to control your budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techstyled Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Axel: I don't think it's a matter of bargaining. It's a matter of priorities, at least for me. I'm not a professional photographer, this is just a hobby. Granted a hobby that lets me capture our family memories, but still. In my case, it's not about the $23 dollars for a filter, it's the $849 for the GH2, $800 worth of lenses, $300 for tri-pods, etc. etc. So when I started looking at needing an ND filter _in addition to_ all my other expenditures, I decided to go the cheap route until I could convince _myself_ of the value. I mentioned WAF a bit tongue-in-cheekishly. However, a good variable ND filter is going to run you in the $150 range and I make it a habit to at least mention anything over $100 to my wife as a matter of respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirk Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Being in the same financial neighborhood as you it seems, I admit to owning, and using extensively, a very cheap chinese variable ND filter. It works extremely well for my needs at least... And the possible slight decrease in image quality should be weighed against the lessening of image quality using f-stops above 11 or so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debie.klein Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 The LCW would be just right. You could get a 62mm one for the 14-140 and a step up ring from 46mm to 62mm to use it with the 20mm lens as well. I hope this solves the problem. Pittsburgh PA Photography http://www.photography-girl.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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