NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTER?

[metakephotos]

I just bought a lens from ebay and it came with a B+W 58MM NEUTRAL DENSITY GRAY FILTER. What is the difference between this type of filter and your everyday standard type?





thanks in advance

[peety3]

By "everyday standard type", we assume you mean UV/haze, the typical 'protection' filter that some people swear by (and others swear at). An ND filter is a darkening filter, used when you want a wider aperture and/or longer shutter time and/or lower ISO than you can otherwise get.


Example:


f/22, ISO 50, 1/15th


http://photos.templin.org/albums/pj-baptism-party/426C0261.sized.jpg


That was as slow as I could get the picture to be without an ND filter - the lens was as stopped down as it can do, and the ISO was as low as I could get it. (I suppose I could have dialed in some positive exposure compensation and taken it out in post.) If I wanted 1/15th but f/4 (for depth-of-field reasons), I'd need to "get rid of" five stops of shutter and/or ISO, or stick a five-stop ND filter on the front of my lens. Others may want an ND filter for shots of flowing water, as long shutter times create dreamy looks.

[Maleko]

ND filters can be used to create motion blur effetcs on water for one.


This is done by increasing the exposure time (shutter speed) allowing more light to enter and create a blur, but then the ND filter brings down the exposure so that the image isn't over-exposed as well.


ND filters come in different strengths, for example: ND2, ND4, ND8


Each srength becomes stronger (darker)


ND filters can also be used for portrait shooting for decreasing exposure as well.