B+W ND Filter?

Hi all,

I was looking for ND filters and found that locally a B+W 10 stop filter costs $380. I've checked Amazon and the B+W ND 10 stop filter is a little over $100.

My concern is it has F-Pro on it but my current B+W filter actually has B+W on it and "Made in Germany". Is this a scam or a lower quality filter at all? If not I'll grab one, but I don't want to let it slip away if it is the high end filter, it's just the naming which concerns me.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

I have never used Amazon. Probably never will.

This looks like the same filter.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...d_Neutral.html

On the one you linked it has the B+W on the inside (if that makes sense) but on the Amazon one it doesn't look like it does... unless I just can't see it

I don't use Amazon either, but to uy something for close to 1/4 of the price has me intrigued.

This is from the manufactures website. Shows an F-Pro, things that sound to good to be true usually are. The picture looks right but anyone can copy a pic off one website and put it on another.

https://www.schneideroptics.com/Ecom...D=679&IID=8119

Edit: Schneider Optics owns B+W

This is the correct link; Single Coating the one above is MRC (Multiple Coatings)

https://www.schneideroptics.com/Ecom...D=679&IID=8219

The Amazon link is fine. It's single coated, looks just like my 77mm #110. The MRC (multi coated) costs more. Since the point of multi coating is to increase light transmission, and the point of an ND filter is to reduce it, paying more for the MRC version isn't needed (it's easier to clean, though). F-Pro is B+W's name for their standard mount. Mine says that on one side, B+W on the other side.

Brick and mortar stores make a huge profit on accessories like filters. The prices on Schneider Optics' website are MSRP and way higher than 'street'.

Hi, I purchased mine from a trusted Swedish online store for approximately $140 (converted from Swedish SEK) when it was on a campaign. I’d say the standard price tag is around $160-$180 at different trusted online stores (in Sweden). To me $100 sounds like a really good deal and as far as I can see the Amazon link seems OK. I would rather consider asking $380 as a scam.

10-stop sounds awful aggressive. I started with a 3-stop, and later added a 6-stop which probably hasn't seen any use. I'd just stay away from 1-stop or 2-stop ND filters: if you're reaching for an ND filter, you're probably looking for more than two stops of help.

As others have said, the filter pictured is fine, it is just the back side of the B+W. Similar to Peety3, think about how many stops you need. My favorite filter is 6 stops. The 5DIII can AF through it, and there is very little color caste. I do enjoy my 10 stop ND filters for getting 30 sec exposures in daylight, blurring the pools under waterfalls, etc. But, sometimes, 10 stops is too much and sometimes I have trouble removing the color caste.

Fantastic, thanks heaps for the advice guys. Might get the single coated :)

To be honest I wanted a variable that went up to 10 stops but finding one is difficult to say the least. I had a Rodenstock, which was fantastic quality, but it only had 5 stops. 30 second exposures in daylight is what I'm after as I found with the Rodenstock I had to wait til very late afternoon before I could use it effectively.

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Originally Posted by Squidy

Fantastic, thanks heaps for the advice guys. Might get the single coated :)

To be honest I wanted a variable that went up to 10 stops but finding one is difficult to say the least. I had a Rodenstock, which was fantastic quality, but it only had 5 stops.

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Schneider (B+W's parent company) makes one that goes to 11-stops. However, like all variable ND filters, it produces a 'Maltese cross' artifact with ultrawide lenses, which makes it unsuitable for me. I'd stick with standard ND filters.

Hi all,

Just to let you know I took the plunge and got the ND filter from B+W. Wow, just wow. The quality of images when using it is just amazing. I can't believe it turns out that great. I've been using AV mode and I can now see why people recommend it over TV etc.

Found some old shipwrecks I'm going to use it on :)

Thanks for all your advice.

I wish I knew how to use the histogram hahaha. I knowe you can view it on taken images, but can you use it while composing to check for lights/shadows and whatever else?

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Originally Posted by Squidy

I wish I knew how to use the histogram hahaha. I knowe you can view it on taken images, but can you use it while composing to check for lights/shadows and whatever else?

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Some cameras show the histogram in live view.

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Originally Posted by jrw

I suppose that the next step will be for Canon to implement a live histogram for use in Bulb mode so that users can see how their long captures are doing and terminate based on that rather than guessing. If Sony can put it in their bodies.......... Any chance this is coming in Magic Lantern for 5D3?

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That sounds useful. That's now on my "want to have" list... which does not seem to be getting smaller.:o

ML has this for the video mode, it is in live view (three channel) though not during the exposure on bulb. (on their current official releases). It might be a nifty feature add for the 5d3 release. I will make the request (don't expect anything close to a miracle :) )

There is a "bulb ramping" feature which computes the exposure value for those sunrise/sunset events where the exposure doesn't change too fast - I have used this feature so I don't know much about it - it might work....

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Originally Posted by jrw

While composing, a live histogram is available in LiveView on many of Canon's more recent bodies.

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Oh yeah, found that one, got no idea how to read it though. I guess I'm just used to the one in Lightroom etc.

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Originally Posted by Squidy

Oh yeah, found that one, got no idea how to read it though. I guess I'm just used to the one in Lightroom etc.

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Check this out: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...stograms.shtml

Here is a video as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htY_ZzvEUTc

Weird, I was thinking it would be like shadows on the left, exposure in the middle and highlights on the right. I'm going to go out and experiment with it today though :)

The edit to my previous post didn't bump it up. So here is the 2nd thought on ML and long exposures.

There is a custom "bulb" timer that can be configured as well as "bulb ramping" (think sunrise/set) which is a feature which calculates the changing exposure values and makes adjustments accordingly - though I believe from the 1st exposure vs. used to set the first. I have not used it so two pinches of salt, but everything else these guys come up with is pretty darn cool.