Need to buy filters for my camera and could use some advice?! - General

Hey guys, I want to film and take some out door photography, i noticed more often i the sky is always washed out. I understand an ND filter or a Graduated ND filter will solve this problem to make the clouds pop while not effecting the landscape or colors. I have a canon rebel t3i with the 50mm 1.8 f lens and the 18-55 mm kit lens. I was wondering if any of you could tell me the difference between the ND filter and the graduated. Which one would be best to get and if anyone can send me a link to the one to buy that will fit my lens?! Thanks.

a normal ND filter will block out a specific amount of light. a graduated ND filter will have more light blocked out on one side of the filter rather than the other. but it sounds like what you want is a circular polarizer. They block out specific light based on how it is rotated, and you just twist it and it will change the exposure of the sky. this is more what you need, and just look for a b/w or hoya, they are good brands. this will explain more [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizing_filter_%28photography%29[/url] i would recommend getting a 58mm one, and a step up ring from 52-58 (should be about $1.50 shipped on ebay). this will allow it to work on both of your lenses, and 58mm is a more common filter size.

awesome do i have to look for one that has a specific strength like how some ND filters take it down 1,2, or 3 stops? or is it one circular polarizer and i am good to go?

One polarizer you are good to go. And it will block 1 stop of light l just FYI.

And one stop is 50% of original also just FYI.

Variable ND filters are a pretty handy investment, but be weary that they can cause a slight colour cast. Nothing that you can't fix with a little white balance though. As Trogdon said, buy to fit your larger filter thread and buy a stepping ring. Saves you a fair bit in the long run. Also, something to look into is a cokin filter setup. Not something you'll use every day, but quite handy in a few situations.

From the sounds of it tho the Graduated neutral density filter is the same as the polarizer, just the polarizer you can rotate...couldnt you just put the graduated neutral density filter on turned differently? Could you guys maybe clear this up. Let me explain my situation. I am photographing a wedding in a couple weeks and the couple wants a shot where they are standing and the sun is in the background...I know for a fact the sky will be completely blown out if i don't have a filter. Which one should i get to get this shot perfect?

you want a polarizer. polarizers are in no way similar to a grad ND filter. Polarizers circulate light, and bring more saturation to colors. They even out the sky exposures by the way the blue light is reflected into the filter. ND filters just block light.

woo! Thanks man, i trust you!

Be sure to get a circular polarizer, a linear one will mess with the autofocus of your camera.

Yes yes circular please. Often called CPL

[QUOTE=Southpaw1991;37419935]I am photographing a wedding in a couple weeks and the couple wants a shot where they are standing and the sun is in the background...I know for a fact the sky will be completely blown out if i don't have a filter.[/QUOTE] If you are doing a shot with the sun in the background I recommend using ND filter and a flash. Use the ND to stop down the sky and use flash to compensate otherwise your subject will be under exposed. A ND filter will stop down the entire composition.

After looking that the polarizer. i would need an 82mm to fit my 24-70mm tamron lens. However, the price jumps from 30$ ones to 80-100$ ones that are 82mm. Why is this, or does anyone know where i can get one for cheaper?

Because more glass is present so it brings up the price. If you can get one for cheaper it probably won't be as good. Check amazon

right on. But if i buy the 82mm i can buy an attachment that would make it fit my 50mm as well right?

Of course! Might be a lot of rings, but you can do it. Probably like a 52-58, 58-67, 67-82. Believe that's plausible if a bit intense

Get ready for Wedding Photography: Extreme Stepping Ring Edition. But a couple that wants a photo of them with the sun in the background... they sure know how to make it difficult / bring up the costs!

Do a well done, not as fucking idiotic as the usual hyped shit, HDR? What I mean is do an HDR that actually does what HDR was intended for, not the stupid "HDR look". Bad: [img]http://www.lowbird.com/data/images/2009/05/bahnhof-hdr.jpg[/img] Good: [img]http://www.canoncam.de/data/media/15/IMG_0232_HDR_001.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Killuah;37439158]Do a well done, not as fucking idiotic as the usual hyped shit, HDR? What I mean is do an HDR that actually does what HDR was intended for, not the stupid "HDR look". Bad: [img]http://www.lowbird.com/data/images/2009/05/bahnhof-hdr.jpg[/img] Good: [img]http://www.canoncam.de/data/media/15/IMG_0232_HDR_001.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] DPReview did a good write-up about realistic HDR just the other day: [url]http://www.dpreview.com/articles/1944596440/hdr-for-the-rest-of-us[/url] [editline]28th August 2012[/editline] I've never personally done HDR shots, but from what I've seen of them, the best ones emulate the dynamic range of the human eye, not the crazed delusional vision of someone on mushies.