What’s Your Preference?

longren · #1 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 03:35 AM

Reason I said it is an Old Issue is I've seen lots of discussion on Flickr and other sites. However, I still have not seen a method that could get rid of the color cast. Here is a sample photo I took with HOYA ND 9-Stoper ND filter (77mm circle filter, almost totally dark):

EXIF Info etc.:
Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II with 17-40L @17mm
Exposure 108 sec
Aperture f/11.0
Focal Length 33 mm
ISO Speed 50
HOYA 9-Stopper ND filter
Condition: overcast

My problem: unlike many of you, the color cast I normally got while using a ND filter or from a long exposure is kind of dark blue (vs. magenta as many folks complain). Followed some advise, I've tried PS the white balance etc., but still unhappy with the result.

I do see many photographers take great land/seascape photos with a heavy ND filter's on and still produce very natural color, and always wonder how they do it.

I don't like spend too much time in front of a computer screen (rather like spend more time behind the viewfinder :-)), so I wonder if there is a silver bullet can kill this annoying color cast right at the time the picture is taken? Thanks in advance for any advise!

Jonbar18 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 03:59 AM

I dont`t know much about your problem, but i think the blue helps here 100%
This shot is amazing it`s just so still and perfect

navcom · #3 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 01:30 PM

I feel your pain. I've had similar problems in the past and the filter quality and/or manufacturing process was the cause. And the cheaper the filter, the worse it was.

ND filters are supposed to be "color neutral"...that is, they are not supposed to affect the color of the light, only it's intensity. But in reality many do affect the color slightly. Manufacturers try hard to get it as neutral as possible but the closer you get to neutral, the more expensive the manufacturing process becomes. So what it boils down to is that the more you spend, the better the filter will be...for the most part.

That being said, Hoya makes some good filters but they make some "cheap" ones too depending on what your expectations are. They are certainly better than Cokin-brand ND's (not Cokin filter systems...the actual Cokin filters themselves) which are notorious for color-casting but I've heard people complain about "Hoya cast" as well.

I had similar issues years ago and tried many different brands. I finally broke down and pried open my wallet for Singh Ray ND's (grads and variable ND). They are expensive and it was really hard to do but I couldn't be happier. I do not notice any casting...at least any that is noticeable to me. But you do pay for them so unless you are really serious, it may not be an option for you.

Have you tried different filter brands? I would try another brand if you haven't...any brand...just something to compare results with.

BTW...I agree with jonbar18..it's a great shot the way it is.

RecurrentNerve · #4 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 02:42 PM

I know you said you wanted to fix this in camera, but you might be able to sort this in PP with a proper Curves adjustment, a la this tutorial. It really doesn't take too long.

dakwegmo · #5 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 03:25 PM

How are you setting your white balance at capture? I've had a good bit of success using an expodisc to set a custom white balance with my CP and ND filters.

longren · #6 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonbar18

I dont`t know much about your problem, but i think the blue helps here 100%
This shot is amazing it`s just so still and perfect

Thanks for the comments! I did take some shot without any filters on --- just to get a comparison, and the shot I took with naked lens shows more realistic color (unfortunately, don’t know how to show that image since it’s not on flickr...)

inkista · #7 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longren

....unlike many of you, the color cast I normally got while using a ND filter or from a long exposure is kind of dark blue (vs. magenta as many folks complain).

That's because you used a Hoya. Those of us with the magenta complaints are using the B+W 110. The B+W leaks near the infrared end of the spectrum. The Hoya leaks up at the blue end. And navcom, neither of those are cheap--it's just that they're extreme NDs, so a little bit of leak shows a lot more.

Quote:

I do see many photographers take great land/seascape photos with a heavy ND filter's on and still produce very natural color, and always wonder how they do it.

White balancing mad skillz.

But the basic technique I've heard of is to take a shot with a greycard with the filter on and the same settings (iso, aperture, shutter speed) as you used for the shot to use as your whitebalance reference. I have a whibal that I keep forgetting to use for this with my B+W. Whitebalancing with a whibal if you shoot RAW and use Lightroom is a cinch: just use the damn eyedropper tool and you're done.

longren · #8 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 10:24 PM

[QUOTE=navcom;1089210] Have you tried different filter brands? [QUOTE]

I do have couple Singh Ray 4”x6” (GND and the variable ND), and couple of LEE’s too --- made my investment after had enough bad experience with other cheaper priced ND filters. The results with these name brand filters are definitely way better than those cheapies but still … just not 100% natural! I meant even if sometimes the color cast actually made a particular scene looks even more dramatic, which is not bad, but that result is not coming from my intention (plus I need to convince my wife that there IS a reason why people spend $100+ more on this brand over that one --- for her, they’re “just a piece of glass” which is true :-)) On another note, I notice that this color cast phenomenon becomes more obvious on long exposed shots especially with a “big stopper” filter’s on. I read from the Web, someone said that this actually has something to do with IR or “the ability a camera can filters out the IR” to be precise. If this is true, will a IR filter (is there an IR filter?) help to reduce the IR meaning to get rid of the color cast?