 Karthik A. Ganapathi |
Using a graduated ND filter Hello everyone, I just got a graduated ND filter to use on my 35-80 mm lens. It is the Cokin P system. My question is..how does one go about doing this..in sequence..here is what I am thinking..meter for the darker psrt of the pic...lock the exposure..adjust the filter for the demarcation line and shoot the pic..the one thing I dont understand is..since th filter holder is attached to the lens..nd you want to adjust focus..the demarcation line is not straight anymore..how do you go about doing this..focus completely and push the filter down..or move a few feet back and forth to keep the filter level horizontal..any advice would be helpful..thanks
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Craig m. Zacarelli |
you really shouldnt have to move it... you can adjust it so the dark end of the filter is blocking the light from the scene and the clear end of the filter is in the dark side of the scene... how many steps and is it a soft grad or hard? Craig-
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Karthik A. Ganapathi |
Hi craig, Thanks for the reply. it is a 2 stop soft grad filter. my problem is that since the filter adaptor is attached to the lens..when want to do some final focus adjustments..the demarcation is not straight anymore..i hope I am making myself clear!!
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Sharon Day |
I just focus then move the filter where I want it. Is your lens moving on you? My Nikon 18-70mm DX lens is internal focusing and the front does not move around so I can move the filter any way I want and it stays in focus.
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Karthik A. Ganapathi |
hi Sharon, Yes..my lens is external focus..so the front end moves..is there an easy way to do this?
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Ujjwal Mukherjee |
I am on my way to get a graduated ND filter and so closely watching the updates coming on this topic. The question on the exposure remains...that is when do you meter the subject? …with the filter on or before the filter is used assuming the adjustment of dark and clear part of the filter is done appropriately ( which is the most difficult part it anyway ) ? If we meter the landscape with the filter on the lens, my camera ( my EOS-50 reads through the lens ) will read the subject assuming less light coming from the brighter part of the view and that is desired…. isn’t it ? Please comment... ....Ujjwal
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Karthik A. Ganapathi |
hi Ujjwal, I have seen different approaches to metering. John Shaw, in his field guide, mentions that the sky should be exposed through the filter to get the best exposure..i have also read that its better to expose for the darker part and then slide in the filter. since the meter is usually right in the middle of the lens..it pays to try both approaches..i personally would like to make sure that the darker foreground is exposed properly..
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Fred S. MacKenzie |
I am no pro by any means, in fact little more than a hobby. But I do use the Cokin system and I do use a 3 stop ND Grad. I meter through the filter. Also, I hold the bottom two corners of the filter holder with my thumb and first finger while focusing. As the lens focuses, the lens will spin freely and the filter holder will stay straight.
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Bob Cammarata |
If you can focus and meter manually, do both without the filter in place. Meter the shadow areas,...(the foreground in most landscapes. Focus on what you want to be your point of interest then slide the filter in place with the darker portion covering the brighter part of the scene and take the shot.
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Karthik A. Ganapathi |
Hi Bob and Fred, Thanks for the input..Bob, that is exactly what I did today. my only concern was figuring out the exact point where the darker part of the filter would end. I used the depth of field preview to help me out in this but with a graduated..it is more difficult. It did not help that I was on the beach and it was freezing!! I will get the results tomorrow and post it up here!!
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