Singh-Ray Filters

[ddt0725]

Hi All -


I was wondering if anyone is using any of the Singh Ray filters. If so, which one and is it really worth the extra $$ to you? I currently have a variety of B+W filters but this morning I was looking at the Singh-Ray for the first time. There are a few of them that really have my interest but man they are expensive! The rings justscrew on like the B+W one's I have and the square ones are for use with Cokin filter holders, correct? I don't know much about those holders but the reverse graduated ND filter seems cool & I think it only comes w/ needing a holder.

Any input on these filters appreciated and if anyone has photos taken using any of these, I'd love to see them!

Thanks Much!

Denise

[Jonathan Huyer]

Oh I'm a big fan of these filters. I also follow the Singh-Ray blog which is really good:
http://singhray.blogspot.com/
I own the Vari-ND duo, which is a combo polarizer and ND filter that is adjustable up to 8 stops darkness. It is rather thick so I can't use it below 35 mm focal length on my full-frame camera without vignetting. I also have a few of their 'Galen Rowell' ND grads, in 4x6 format. These are my favourite by far. Yes they are all rather pricey... I can't understand how they can charge that much for a piece of smoked plastic, but they sure work and there is zero distortion, even when you stack them.

[ddt0725]

Hi Jonathan,


Thanks for the link to the blog! I am currently looking at getting the LB ColorCombo Warm Polarizer/LB Color Intensifying Filter and the Vari-ND Filter. I just think they would be great to use especially come fall and catching the intense colors of the leaves ...fall colors in Wisconsin are awesome! But at these prices, I would think they would have to be pretty magical!

Denise

[Sean Setters]

Oh I'm a big fan of these filters. I also follow the Singh-Ray blog which is really good:
[url="http://singhray.blogspot.com/]http://singhray.blogspot.com/[/url]
I own the Vari-ND duo, which is a combo polarizer and ND filter that is adjustable up to 8 stops darkness. It is rather thick so I can't use it below 35 mm focal length on my full-frame camera without vignetting. I also have a few of their 'Galen Rowell' ND grads, in 4x6 format. These are my favourite by far. Yes they are all rather pricey... I can't understand how they can charge that much for a piece of smoked plastic, but they sure work and there is zero distortion, even when you stack them.
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Does autofocus work adequately with the Vari-ND duo on? I have a Fader ND Mark II and the camera never seems to nail autofocus when using the filter (I'm using it with portraiture...so a "little bit off" is quite noticeable. The following shot was taken using manual focus and live view:





Canon 7D, 85mm f/1.8 -- f/2, 1/200, ISO 100

[Jonathan Huyer]

That's right, auto focus doesn't work at high ND settings. So I learned to operate the Vari-ND duo this way:
- first set the ND effect to minimum
- adjust the polarizer ring as desired
- focus the image, then switch the lens to manual focus to essentially lock it in position
- adjust the ND ring to desired level, and take the photo


Obviously, this isn't so convenient when taking a portrait picture! So far I have only used it for landscape work.

[deltasun]

The spending never ends! Thanks for this tip, folks. I am so close to purchasing this Vari-N-Duo now.

[ddt0725]

The spending never ends! Thanks for this tip, folks. I am so close to purchasing this Vari-N-Duo now.
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Isn't it amazing! I thought I was near done for awhile ...that is until I ran across these!! I could really have used a couple of them this past weekend!

[neuroanatomist]

I haven't used the Vari-ND, but I'd think it would be convenient.


I've been quite happy with the combination of a B+W 103 (3-stop ND) and 110 (10-stop ND). For 'routine' uses (e.g. waterfalls/fountains, light trails at night, or wide-aperture outdoor portraits), I've found 3 stops to be sufficient, even with theEF 85mm f/1.2<span style="color: red;"]LII, although shutter speeds are often &lt;1/2000 (it's nice that the hood can be mounted over a 77mm filter with a 72&rarr;77mm step-up ring). With a 3-stop ND, AF and metering perform just fine. When I want a really long exposure for creative effects, the 10-stop is perfect (pre-focusing and manual exposure are needed).


I have been considering the B+W Redhancer for the fall foliage this year. But then I start wondering how that will compare to Canon's Autumn Hues custom picture style, especially since the latter can be downloaded for free... In general, I think most optical filter effects can be achieved digitally (polarization and ND effects on exposures in terms of DoF/motion blur being the exceptions).


The Singh-Ray graduated NDs do look quite nice. That's one area where you want to stay away from the standard B+W offerings, since a round grad ND filter is a bad idea. Schneider Optics (B+W's parent company) does make rectangular and square grad NDs, available as special orders from B&amp;H. They are ground/polished glass filters, meaning they are more homogeneous and planar than the optical resin versions like the Singh-Ray ND grads. The Schneider glass filters also cost about twice as much as the Singh-Ray resin filters.


Keep the widths of the rectangular filters and the size of the holder in mind - a 100mm/4" wide filter in a holder (e.g. Lee or Cokin Z-Pro) will work fine with a 17mm lens (on a 1.6x crop body), but will likely be visible with a UWA lens like the EF-S 10-22mm. For those, you'd need the Cokin X-Pro series.


Personally, I don't think I'm ready to go down the grad ND road yet. I'm reluctant to use 'ok' filters (Cokin, etc.). Good quality filters (Singh-Ray) are expensive, and rectangular filters in general are unwieldy. So far, for situations where I'd be inclined to use a grad ND, I've been quite pleased with the results of bracketed exposures and exposure fusion ('natural-looking' HDR). In some ways, that has advantages (e.g., with trees jutting above the horizon line); the disadvantages (especially ghosting due to wind, etc.) are somewhat mitigated by shooting at 8 fps.

I thought I was near done for awhile

Don't worry, you'll never be done... [:P]

[ddt0725]

But then I start wondering how that will compare to Canon's Autumn Hues custom picture style, especially since the latter can be downloaded for free

Thanks for reminding me of this...I am going to download this a give it a try!

Don't worry, you'll never be done... [img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]

Oh, I'm finding this out...believe me! I still have my eye on that 85L, it may take me alittle while but it will be in my bag some day! Maybe I should get started on my Dear Santa letter early!

Denise

[Iguide]

Question:


Does anyone have experience with Sing-Ray Filters vrs B+W filters? When reading and viewing each's respective descriptions on their own sites Sing-Ray comes off as the best thing since sliced bread. Are they or is it marketing?


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