Neutral Density Filter for shooting 1.4 in bright sunlight.

[RichBrown]

Hi

I'm going to be shooting a day later in the summer with a 50mm 1.4 which I will want to use wide open at times. I will be outside - I have no idea what the conditions will be like but it could possibly bright and sunny.

My camera can go down to iso100 and 1/4000.

How many stops would be a sensible NDF to purchase that I can use if things get too bright? I've had a google which seems to suggest 3 stops would be sensible but wanted to see what people on here thought.

Cheers

Rich

[rpcrowe]

A three stop ND should serve you very well. It is also a very handy filter for slowing down shutter speeds to allow a smooth flow look to moving water...

[Colin Southern]

Hi Rich,

You can work it back from the sunny 16 rule ...

Maximum of 1/100th @ F16 @ ISO 100

So ...

1/200th @ F11

1/400th @ F8

1/800th @ F5.6

1/1600th @ F4

1/3200th @ F 2.8

1/6400th @ F2

1/12800th @ F1.4

So - whack on a 3-Stop ND - and you can back up 3 places ...

So 1/1600th @ F1.4 @ ISO 100 with 3-Stop ND.

(and in theory a 2-stop would do it, but I'd go for 3 regardless).

[Nomadr]

also depending on what your shooting it might be worth thinking about a ND grad filter,cheers martyn

[William W]

I concur that an ND8 (3 stop) is very handy as the one ND Filter in the bag.
And an ND8 will make the requirement to get you to F/1.4 @ 1/4000s @ ISO100 in Sunlight.

Note: IF the scene is Bright Sun on the Beach Sand or Bright Sun in Pure White Snow, you will likely require all of the three stops of attenuation.

But also I suggest that you also consider ND filters as a "kit of filters" - and if you like that kit idea and believe a kit would be useful to you: an ND2 + ND4 +ND16 is a good kit, IMO.

WW

PS >
Just as a curiosity question – why, specifically, would you want to shoot a 50/1.4 wide open, (and not at F/2 or F/2.2) when you have reasonable light?

And if the answer is “for the Shallow DoF” - what is the typical SD (Shooting Distance) going to be?