Filter

[B.B.]

Hi I would to ask a question about a high end filter that I have. I am still not sure how it works and it was very expensive. It is a heliopan grad grey 4x or graduated neutral density filter. There are #`s on top of the filter 1 thru 10. But I do not see much difference in shots while using different #`s. If there is some info on this filter or some one who has used this filter on this site I would like to know. Thanks. This was well over $100.0 at a N.Y. dealer. So I would really like to use this the right way. I looked at the instructions Kind of scratch my head on that one. Thanks Gary B.....

[dem]

What do you expect this filter to do? What did you buy it for? It sounds like a variable ND filter people use for long exposures in waterfall shots etc...

Your camera is probably set to Auto and it masks the effect of the filter by adjusting ISO, aperture and/or shutter speed.

[Manfred M]

ND grads are used to knock down the exposure of the sky, while leaving everything else neutral. I would like to understand why you bought a filter without knowing what it is used for.

You have a screw in type grad filter. If you can, I would take it back to your dealer and get an exchange on it.

I have a couple of Heliopan screw in grads and should have done this too. This is not a knock against Heliopan, as they are probably the makers of the best filters available anywhere. The problem is that a 4-stop grad is next to useless (when shooting grads I usually use a 2-stop and occasionally a 3-stop). Skies never seem to need anything as heavy duty as 4 stops.

The other issue is the form factor. I use equally expensive rectangular Lee filters (and holders), but the advantage of the Lees is that I can frame my shot and then place the area where the sky goes wherever it needs to be, rather than in the middle of the frame where a circular filter puts it.

The numbers 0 - 10 are to help you align the filter. In landscape mode, placing the "0" so that it is at the top means that the filter line is completely horizontal. The "10" on the filter does the same if you are shooting in portrait mode. The intermediate numbers allow you to figure out how much offset you have across the 90 degree rotation.




This shot was taken with a 2-stop Lee soft grad. I had the rather indistinct "line" of the filter just above the hill. This brought the clouds out. In theory, I could have pulled out this shot in post, but find it easier to do when I shoot as I can position the filter exactly where I want it. Pulling a grad in post can be a bit more hit and miss. The Heliopans are soft grads.

The funky lighting of the tree tops is from the sun setting behind me and is what I wanted to capture. The whole foreground and mid-ground was in shadow as I was shooting from a hill, that was blocking the setting sun. The effect on the trees has nothing to do with the grad, but having the textures in the clouds punches up the image a lot. Compositionally it also gave me a lot more balance in the shot. A white sky that "pops" would have resulted in a weaker composition.

[B.B.]

GrumpyDiver Thank you are the first person that sounds like they how know how to use this filter. Believe me I have ask for help else where. I bought this for out west mountain shots also Alaska in the near future. Where I bought it they had a vague description. I will put this in my favorites section.Thank you very much for the info Gary.

[Manfred M]

Gary - there is a pretty decent write up on graduated neutral density (GND) filters on this site. Have a look at this link:

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tu...ty-filters.htm

[Polar01]

Gary the four stop is pretty heaver as it will really darken down the sky, however if you use a raw converter ( ACR or LR) you can lessen the effect of the 4 stop. It is a little work to do, 2 stop and 3 stop are the most common used. I like Manfred use the Lee Filter system, often if just a quick shot I will had hold the filter in front of the lens, but it still takes some practice.

Cheers: Allan

PS. as Manfred has just posted that it is really a 2-stop, should have little or no problems.

[Manfred M]

Gary - I just had a look at the Heliopan website and suspect I am misreading their filter grading. Their 4x designation means that 1/4 of the light gets transmitted in the darkest part of the filter, i.e. it is actually a 2-stop GND filter. My Lee filters refer to this as 0.6ND. This is a reasonable starting point for this type of filter.

It would be wonderful if the various manufacturers would use the same nomenclature when describing their filters.

[B.B.]

I really bought this for above the tree line shots like fly ins, to Glaciers shots in Alaska. Even in your shot there is a lot light coming off those mountains. So that is pretty much where I am at. I will take a look at those links. I knew I would find some one here that would know how to use this filter. Now I know why no rote a review on this filter. And this is from the largest Camera supplier in the world so I was told. Thanks for your help. Enjoy your shots. Gary B...