Help! Trying to learn how to use ND Filters!

[kirbinster]

I don't really like liveview, but I have seen some webcasts from pro's that swear you can get a better manual focus using liveview zoomed all the way in that you can get in your viewfinder.

[martindk3]

Originally Posted by twilner

Thanks all for the advice all! I took my camera out this morning and tried some shots. I didn't seem to be having quite as much problem with blur, I tried manual focus in combination with Liveview mode 10x zoom to focus. This seemed to help quite a bit although still not as sharp as I would hope. Thanks Avail for that!

The other problem I've encountered is that the photos are coming out really overexposed. I guess there is probably not anything I can do about that other than get a faster shutterspeed, I maxed out aperture, and I don't really want to bump up the ISO because it will look all grainy. But I might be wrong there..

Anyway. If you guys could take a look any feedback would be great! Thanks again!

IMG_1382 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1376 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_1375 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Inkista, I have been using a tripod so I don't think it's motion blur, but thanks for the advice anyway, I'll keep in mind that shutter speed tidbit!

Also, for future reference should I post directly on forum with photos or is Flickr better? Thanks

Great pictures.

Btw. what does ND stand for?

[inkista]

ND = Neutral Density, i.e., it's the same darkness all the way across the filter, and no color cast is added.

[wilswong]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

I don't really like liveview, but I have seen some webcasts from pro's that swear you can get a better manual focus using liveview zoomed all the way in that you can get in your viewfinder.

The reason you have to zoom all the way in is because the liveview resolution is not as good as optical.

You can do the same with optical...just zoom all the way in, focus, switch off the auto focus and recompose....simple. So it is not really an advantage the liveview has...just a marketing gimmick IMHO and does nothing to stabilise your stance by forcing the camera AWAY from your body.

[wilswong]

What Neutral Density does is very simple: Cut the bright light across the whole frame so that those cameras that cannot have very fast shutter speed so it won't over expose the shot.

It is very useful for snow covered shots.

The ND is primarily used for prolonging the shutter speed so you can arrive at a more silky effect on the stream/waterfall. The other use is for not to capture more light trails of vehicles.

As for snow, I personally would use the polariser as it will cut glare as well as making the whole frame darker so it has double advantages.

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by wilswong

The reason you have to zoom all the way in is because the liveview resolution is not as good as optical.

You can do the same with optical...just zoom all the way in, focus, switch off the auto focus and recompose....simple. So it is not really an advantage the liveview has...just a marketing gimmick IMHO and does nothing to stabilise your stance by forcing the camera AWAY from your body.

I have liveview in my viewfinder - 1.4 million pixels, and autofocus with manual focus interrupt-Fantastic!

[wilswong]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

I have liveview in my viewfinder - 1.4 million pixels, and autofocus with manual focus interrupt-Fantastic!

sorry to say the optical viewfinder has much more resolution which is equivalent to the resolution of the eye.

But i agree...autofocus then manual focus interrupt is ok.

Still like the split focusing mechanism of the old viewfinder cameras...the split works wonders and is always almost accurate.

[kirbinster]

A ten stop neutral density filter is great for taking pictures where there are people walking around but you don't want the people in the picture. Lets say you want to take a picture of a building but there are people walking by on the street. Take a long exposure with an ND filter and the results will look like there were no people there.