¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

ctrl + shift + ? for shortcuts
© 2025 Groups.io
  1. Nikon-DSLR
  2. Topics

Variable Neutral Density filters

 

Summertime in Texas can be brutal for many reasons. Shooting macro during the cloudless days in direct sun is one such challenge.? I have found even with the ISO set as low as I can go without hitting Lo1 at shutter speeds I can sync the flash with highlights being blown out. I¡¯m not wanting the crank the aperture down too much to avoid diffraction. It¡¯s worse on my Olympus when I do focus bracketing when my max allowed shutter speed with the flash is 1/50 during focus bracketing. Not as much of an issue to a degree with the D810 or Z6II with the 105mm macro for single shots but it still is an issue especially if I need flash to freeze motion or fill shadows.? I can gain a stop with a CPL but not sure if that is always the best solution.

Thus I am contemplating variable neutral density filters to give me more control in the field. I know that many of them introduce a cross pattern when turned up to maximum or near max values. I don¡¯t want to be swapping filters in the field to get things closer plus having to carry a small portfolio of filters, well at least for now.

What are your experiences with VND filters and any recommendations?

Jon
 

I shoot lots of macro with an older Lester Dine 105 macro and matching dine ring flash. I'm able to dial down the flash output as needed. I use my Nikon DSLR for most of my macro but sometimes use my Olympus Mirrorless with the 60mm macro.No filters of any kind and no issues like you speak of.

Scott http://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 12:40:57 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Summertime in Texas can be brutal for many reasons. Shooting macro during the cloudless days in direct sun is one such challenge.? I have found even with the ISO set as low as I can go without hitting Lo1 at shutter speeds I can sync the flash with highlights being blown out. I¡¯m not wanting the crank the aperture down too much to avoid diffraction. It¡¯s worse on my Olympus when I do focus bracketing when my max allowed shutter speed with the flash is 1/50 during focus bracketing. Not as much of an issue to a degree with the D810 or Z6II with the 105mm macro for single shots but it still is an issue especially if I need flash to freeze motion or fill shadows.? I can gain a stop with a CPL but not sure if that is always the best solution.

Thus I am contemplating variable neutral density filters to give me more control in the field. I know that many of them introduce a cross pattern when turned up to maximum or near max values. I don¡¯t want to be swapping filters in the field to get things closer plus having to carry a small portfolio of filters, well at least for now.

What are your experiences with VND filters and any recommendations?

Jon
 

Without flash I can adjust shutter speed up to not have problems. It¡¯s mainly on the Olympus mirrorless if I shoot with the flash while focus bracketing when I am limited on shutter speed and I have the biggest problem.?

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 12:02 Scott Ditzel via <scottditzel=[email protected]> wrote:
I shoot lots of macro with an older Lester Dine 105 macro and matching dine ring flash. I'm able to dial down the flash output as needed. I use my Nikon DSLR for most of my macro but sometimes use my Olympus Mirrorless with the 60mm macro.No filters of any kind and no issues like you speak of.

Scott


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 12:40:57 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Summertime in Texas can be brutal for many reasons. Shooting macro during the cloudless days in direct sun is one such challenge.? I have found even with the ISO set as low as I can go without hitting Lo1 at shutter speeds I can sync the flash with highlights being blown out. I¡¯m not wanting the crank the aperture down too much to avoid diffraction. It¡¯s worse on my Olympus when I do focus bracketing when my max allowed shutter speed with the flash is 1/50 during focus bracketing. Not as much of an issue to a degree with the D810 or Z6II with the 105mm macro for single shots but it still is an issue especially if I need flash to freeze motion or fill shadows.? I can gain a stop with a CPL but not sure if that is always the best solution.

Thus I am contemplating variable neutral density filters to give me more control in the field. I know that many of them introduce a cross pattern when turned up to maximum or near max values. I don¡¯t want to be swapping filters in the field to get things closer plus having to carry a small portfolio of filters, well at least for now.

What are your experiences with VND filters and any recommendations?

Jon
 

Can you adjust the flash output?


Scott http://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 01:31:20 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Without flash I can adjust shutter speed up to not have problems. It¡¯s mainly on the Olympus mirrorless if I shoot with the flash while focus bracketing when I am limited on shutter speed and I have the biggest problem.?

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 12:02 Scott Ditzel via <scottditzel=[email protected]> wrote:
I shoot lots of macro with an older Lester Dine 105 macro and matching dine ring flash. I'm able to dial down the flash output as needed. I use my Nikon DSLR for most of my macro but sometimes use my Olympus Mirrorless with the 60mm macro.No filters of any kind and no issues like you speak of.

Scott


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 12:40:57 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Summertime in Texas can be brutal for many reasons. Shooting macro during the cloudless days in direct sun is one such challenge.? I have found even with the ISO set as low as I can go without hitting Lo1 at shutter speeds I can sync the flash with highlights being blown out. I¡¯m not wanting the crank the aperture down too much to avoid diffraction. It¡¯s worse on my Olympus when I do focus bracketing when my max allowed shutter speed with the flash is 1/50 during focus bracketing. Not as much of an issue to a degree with the D810 or Z6II with the 105mm macro for single shots but it still is an issue especially if I need flash to freeze motion or fill shadows.? I can gain a stop with a CPL but not sure if that is always the best solution.

Thus I am contemplating variable neutral density filters to give me more control in the field. I know that many of them introduce a cross pattern when turned up to maximum or near max values. I don¡¯t want to be swapping filters in the field to get things closer plus having to carry a small portfolio of filters, well at least for now.

What are your experiences with VND filters and any recommendations?

Jon
 

Oh, I don't worry about diffraction. Most people wouldn't notice it anyway. I adjust aperture and flash output as needed and leave my SS? (1/250th) alone unless I want more ambient light on the background.

Scott http://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 01:53:25 PM EDT, Scott Ditzel via groups.io <scottditzel@...> wrote:


Can you adjust the flash output?


Scott http://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 01:31:20 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Without flash I can adjust shutter speed up to not have problems. It¡¯s mainly on the Olympus mirrorless if I shoot with the flash while focus bracketing when I am limited on shutter speed and I have the biggest problem.?

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 12:02 Scott Ditzel via <scottditzel=[email protected]> wrote:
I shoot lots of macro with an older Lester Dine 105 macro and matching dine ring flash. I'm able to dial down the flash output as needed. I use my Nikon DSLR for most of my macro but sometimes use my Olympus Mirrorless with the 60mm macro.No filters of any kind and no issues like you speak of.

Scott


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 12:40:57 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Summertime in Texas can be brutal for many reasons. Shooting macro during the cloudless days in direct sun is one such challenge.? I have found even with the ISO set as low as I can go without hitting Lo1 at shutter speeds I can sync the flash with highlights being blown out. I¡¯m not wanting the crank the aperture down too much to avoid diffraction. It¡¯s worse on my Olympus when I do focus bracketing when my max allowed shutter speed with the flash is 1/50 during focus bracketing. Not as much of an issue to a degree with the D810 or Z6II with the 105mm macro for single shots but it still is an issue especially if I need flash to freeze motion or fill shadows.? I can gain a stop with a CPL but not sure if that is always the best solution.

Thus I am contemplating variable neutral density filters to give me more control in the field. I know that many of them introduce a cross pattern when turned up to maximum or near max values. I don¡¯t want to be swapping filters in the field to get things closer plus having to carry a small portfolio of filters, well at least for now.

What are your experiences with VND filters and any recommendations?

Jon
 

Yes, I do manually adjust the flash outputas needed, that is not the issue.? It's the ambient direct sunlight during the day where I have the problem.


On Fri, Jun 21, 2024, 12:53 Scott Ditzel via <scottditzel=[email protected]> wrote:
Can you adjust the flash output?


Scott


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 01:31:20 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Without flash I can adjust shutter speed up to not have problems. It¡¯s mainly on the Olympus mirrorless if I shoot with the flash while focus bracketing when I am limited on shutter speed and I have the biggest problem.?

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 12:02 Scott Ditzel via <scottditzel=[email protected]> wrote:
I shoot lots of macro with an older Lester Dine 105 macro and matching dine ring flash. I'm able to dial down the flash output as needed. I use my Nikon DSLR for most of my macro but sometimes use my Olympus Mirrorless with the 60mm macro.No filters of any kind and no issues like you speak of.

Scott


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 12:40:57 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Summertime in Texas can be brutal for many reasons. Shooting macro during the cloudless days in direct sun is one such challenge.? I have found even with the ISO set as low as I can go without hitting Lo1 at shutter speeds I can sync the flash with highlights being blown out. I¡¯m not wanting the crank the aperture down too much to avoid diffraction. It¡¯s worse on my Olympus when I do focus bracketing when my max allowed shutter speed with the flash is 1/50 during focus bracketing. Not as much of an issue to a degree with the D810 or Z6II with the 105mm macro for single shots but it still is an issue especially if I need flash to freeze motion or fill shadows.? I can gain a stop with a CPL but not sure if that is always the best solution.

Thus I am contemplating variable neutral density filters to give me more control in the field. I know that many of them introduce a cross pattern when turned up to maximum or near max values. I don¡¯t want to be swapping filters in the field to get things closer plus having to carry a small portfolio of filters, well at least for now.

What are your experiences with VND filters and any recommendations?

Jon
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I have a 3 stop and 6 stop ND to tame the mid day sunlight when doing macro flash

Walt

On Jun 21, 2024, at 1:04?PM, Jon via groups.io <kd5sfa@...> wrote:

?
Yes, I do manually adjust the flash outputas needed, that is not the issue.? It's the ambient direct sunlight during the day where I have the problem.


On Fri, Jun 21, 2024, 12:53 Scott Ditzel via <scottditzel=[email protected]> wrote:
Can you adjust the flash output?


Scott


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 01:31:20 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Without flash I can adjust shutter speed up to not have problems. It¡¯s mainly on the Olympus mirrorless if I shoot with the flash while focus bracketing when I am limited on shutter speed and I have the biggest problem.?

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 12:02 Scott Ditzel via <scottditzel=[email protected]> wrote:
I shoot lots of macro with an older Lester Dine 105 macro and matching dine ring flash. I'm able to dial down the flash output as needed. I use my Nikon DSLR for most of my macro but sometimes use my Olympus Mirrorless with the 60mm macro.No filters of any kind and no issues like you speak of.

Scott


On Friday, June 21, 2024 at 12:40:57 PM EDT, Jon <kd5sfa@...> wrote:


Summertime in Texas can be brutal for many reasons. Shooting macro during the cloudless days in direct sun is one such challenge.? I have found even with the ISO set as low as I can go without hitting Lo1 at shutter speeds I can sync the flash with highlights being blown out. I¡¯m not wanting the crank the aperture down too much to avoid diffraction. It¡¯s worse on my Olympus when I do focus bracketing when my max allowed shutter speed with the flash is 1/50 during focus bracketing. Not as much of an issue to a degree with the D810 or Z6II with the 105mm macro for single shots but it still is an issue especially if I need flash to freeze motion or fill shadows.? I can gain a stop with a CPL but not sure if that is always the best solution.

Thus I am contemplating variable neutral density filters to give me more control in the field. I know that many of them introduce a cross pattern when turned up to maximum or near max values. I don¡¯t want to be swapping filters in the field to get things closer plus having to carry a small portfolio of filters, well at least for now.

What are your experiences with VND filters and any recommendations?

Jon

1 - 7 of 7