[Seminole]

Quick question for you guys. I bought a 1.2 GND filter a few weeks ago. When I was using it during my vacation I noticed it created a lot of lens flare as well as the clear portion of the filter having some haziness to it (best way I can describe it). The only example I have right now is this photo:



Not really a great photo, but you can see there is a random lens flair at the top of the photo and the area around Veronica is hazy looking. The glare off the cars is due to the sunlight.

Is this caused by it being a poor quality filter or is it something that I'm doing wrong? This is the filter I bought (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...l_Density.html), fyi.

[dcstep]

There's also a blob in the upper right.

I'm not big on GNDs for this very same reason. I would have exposed for the woman and just let the sky wash out, particularly since nothing was going on in that sky. I keep my lens hoods on ALL the time. If I'd really been worried about the sky, I would have taken two exposures and combined them.

You had no choice here but to shoot into the sun. I spend a lot of effort trying to avoid that, planning when I'll arrive at a site and where the sun will be when I get there, but you can't always do that. Back with film, the GND was our only choice, but I really like combining images now to solve problems. (HDR, stitch and composite are your friends).

Dave

[Chewy734]

Maximus, care to give us a quick review of your new tripod and the Promote Control you bought?

[M_Six]

Seminole,

I'm surprised a GND that pricey would give you issues, although I don't know much about that brand. I use B&W MRC filters and even though I've experienced some minor flaring in direct sunlight shots, it's been minimal and easily correctable. I've never had the issue with the washing out like you did. That's also somewhat correctable. I played around with the shot a bit. Hope you don't mind. I took out the flaring and toned down the washed out area. I also cropped the sign and tail end of that car from the right side.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Seminole,

I'm surprised a GND that pricey would give you issues, although I don't know much about that brand. I use B&W MRC filters and even though I've experienced some minor flaring in direct sunlight shots, it's been minimal and easily correctable. I've never had the issue with the washing out like you did. That's also somewhat correctable. I played around with the shot a bit. Hope you don't mind. I took out the flaring and toned down the washed out area. I also cropped the sign and tail end of that car from the right side.

I can get flare with a $7000 lens. I think it's a physics thing.

Nice job on working up the shot.

Dave

[rodi]

[M_Six]

^^^All kids love pancakes, right rodi?

[rodi]

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

Maximus, care to give us a quick review of your new tripod and the Promote Control you bought?

Sure.

Didnt took enough time to work with the promote control since I got a new job since beginning of june with pretty much unlimited overtime which pays too much to say no. But here we go.

The promote control is an amazing toy. Time lapse, up to 45 shots hdr and stacked focus are the most interesting features i've played with so far, but didnt make any decent shootings with it yet. I dont see myself carrying it with me all the time since you lose the shutterclick pleasure, but for home shooting or in controled conditions, it can be a powerful and creative tool.

The paintball season is ending in a month or so. So I should get my life back and resume enjoying my favorite hobby again. There's a fireworks contest in a couple weeks and I plan on bring both my cameras there. I want one fixed on a tripod to work with the promote in bulb hdr or bulb ramping and take usual shots in long esposure handheld with the other one.

As for the tripod, it really is worth every dollar. Sturdy, light, adjustable to every possible height from 6 inches to 6 feet. It actually feels nice to just having to get behind the camera when my older tripod asked me to litteraly bend over it. I am a tall guy and my old tripod was giving me serious neck pain. So I never use it. Every cheaper tripod i've looked at wasnt high enough. My old one was flinching even with a single mirror flip; very frustrating. It wasnt made for SLR; even if labeled as it was. The pistol grip is a very nice addition too. Very precise and very strong. I can put my 70-200, SB900 flash and battery grip on my camera and fix it on the tripod and handle the whole rig just with the pistol grip; it wont flinch. The latest version is made all metal to compensate the wear experienced on older models with time so its made to last. Now the grip is fixed horizontally on the tripod, but I want to try it in vertical mode too.

Its so lightweight, I fix it on the side of my backpack and litterally forget i'm carrying it. And its the same size as my backpack, so you dont get stuck anywhere just because you have it on your back.

Big expense, but I dont think I will ever need another tripod in my whole life. (unless something really bad happens)

[dcstep]

Maximus, remind me, which tripod did you buy?

[Chewy734]

where are you going on vacation next week, Dave?

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by dcstep

There's also a blob in the upper right.

I'm not big on GNDs for this very same reason. I would have exposed for the woman and just let the sky wash out, particularly since nothing was going on in that sky. I keep my lens hoods on ALL the time. If I'd really been worried about the sky, I would have taken two exposures and combined them.

Dave

Yeah I'm a bit disappointed in it so far. It attracts dust and dirt very easily so I need to give it a good once over with the Lenspen if I'm putting it on. I didn't have a hood for the lens that I used but I just ordered one so we'll see if that takes care of the issues.

Originally Posted by M_Six

Seminole,

I'm surprised a GND that pricey would give you issues, although I don't know much about that brand. I use B&W MRC filters and even though I've experienced some minor flaring in direct sunlight shots, it's been minimal and easily correctable. I've never had the issue with the washing out like you did. That's also somewhat correctable. I played around with the shot a bit. Hope you don't mind. I took out the flaring and toned down the washed out area. I also cropped the sign and tail end of that car from the right side.

Thanks Mark! Looks a lot better. I'm going to try some different thing like using a lens hood during the daytime to see if it helps get rid of the flare at all. If it doesn't I'll just send it back.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

where are you going on vacation next week, Dave?

Mayport, FL for a reunion. I grew up in Jacksonville. I'll be shooting a lot of seabirds next week.

Dave

[vachss]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Mayport, FL ...
Dave

Wooof.... Florida in July, best of luck. I took a trip there last July after having birded there many times in the winter - never again. Swampy, steamy mosquito hell.

[dcstep]

I'll be 20-feet from the ocean, so it's actually pretty nice most of the time. I will venture into the swamp for a shoot one or two mornings, but I'll come back, shower and take a nap in the AC.

Dave

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Maximus, remind me, which tripod did you buy?

I bought the Gitzo GT 2531 with legwarmers and the Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol grip. I paid about 590 for both; shipped.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I'll be 20-feet from the ocean, so it's actually pretty nice most of the time. I will venture into the swamp for a shoot one or two mornings, but I'll come back, shower and take a nap in the AC.

Dave

It'll be nicer there than here, I bet.

[Chewy734]

With all this talk about GND filters... which would you recommend? soft or hard?

[Chewy734]

For Dave and other wildlife photogs

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

For Dave and other wildlife photogs

Thanks buddy, I hadn't seen that yet.

I think that the 5D3 will be a better body for wildlife, except for the fps. I'm excited that mine will be in next week. The Series II lens is another matter. I want one, but the price is steep.

[Chewy734]

Dave, I don't think the 5D3 will be a better body than the 1D X for wildlife, but it'll still be a great body to use with its new AF system. I hear the metering system is much better on the 1D X.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

Dave, I don't think the 5D3 will be a better body than the 1D X for wildlife, but it'll still be a great body to use with its new AF system. I hear the metering system is much better on the 1D X.

In good light the 5D3 will provide superior detail in focal length limited situations (which equals most of my situations, which will be further aggravated by using a 500mm on a full frame body instead of a 600mm). Neither will AF at f/8 fast enough to follow many birds in flight. The killer bird and wildlife body may actually be the 7D MkII, with the Digic 5+ processor and a new gapless pixel sensor.

The 1DX will be KING in low light, fast action situations and/or when no cropping is required. I think it's the ideal sport photog's body. I'll bet they're the go-to body at the Olympics this year.

Dave