Tuesday
Aug252009
My Neutral Density Filter Arrived Today!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 11:28PM 
I ordered a £5 Neutral Density Filter (ND4) off eBay the other day, and it arrived today.
Not knowing much about how to use this type of filter (beyond that they increase your exposure time), I headed to the beach at dusk, set up my tripod and waited for the Sun to set...
What I did learn, is that its really cold waiting on a beach, even in Summer, that at F22 all the dirt shows up on your Sensor, Lens and Filter, and that I need to stay out a bit later to get really long exposures...
Cheers, Rob.
Reader Comments (4)
Hiya Rob,
Is that a true NDx10^-4? Just that I've seen some strange markings for ND filters over the years, ND4 which is a 2 stop drop and NDX4 which is a 4 stop(?!) If it is a true ND4 then 2 stops drop is not a lot for long exposures and you've already seen some issues by stopping down the lens. An ND8, (3 stops), is useful for allowing wider apertures with daylight shots for shallow DOF, but for good long exposures I'd recommend at least an ND64, (6 stops). An ND1000, (10 stop drop), is even better for longer exposures, especially daylight types.
Two polarisors fitted together can give you a useful 'variable' ND type filter but you can also stack ND's, (careful of vignetting).
Great for long water exposures but also useful for architectual type shots - An ND1000, camera on tripod and long exposures of buildings, (two seconds plus), mean that people walking in frame won't register. So useful for those landmark buildings where there are always people walking about. Makes for great 'misty' seas with waves lapping on the beach too!
Looks like you're having fun Rob. Must dig out my ND's now that I have a camera that can take advantage of it again :)
All the Best,
Victor
Hi Victor,
The filter says ND4 on it, but as you say, I'll need to screw a few together, or get a stronger one, for really long exposures. (Or stay out later!)
Cheers, Rob.
Hi Rob, Nd4....Ndx4....Nd1000!??!?!! boy im glad you guys are around to take the confusion out of the technical aspects of photography!!!! , i think i will have to dust off the Cokin filter system and get down to my local camera shop for some new filters!...........lol speaking of dust , i noticed a few spots on some pictures of the sky i took , lol , i keep zooming in on any pics i take now looking for more !!! (i think the nikons dust cleaning system has sorted it tho!)...did`nt stop me ordering a dust blower of ebay though!
Matt
Hi Matt,
Dust. Never worried about it before I got a dSLR. I probably clean my sensor about once a month, but only when I see some blobs in my pictures (and I've checked my lenses first....), and then just with a blower.
Cheers, Rob.