nofilmschool » ndfilter

HolyManta VND: Canon EF to NEX/MFT Lens Adapter With a Built-In Variable Neutral Density Filter

Joe Marine — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:53:28 +0000

Thanks to cameras being made with mounts very close to their sensors, we can adapt all sorts of older lenses that were made to be farther away from the sensor/film plane. The two most adaptable and supported so far, the Sony E-mount and the Micro 4/3 mount, have seen a wide range of adapters for lenses like Canon, Nikon, and PL, and we’ve even got adapters now that can make your lenses faster, wider, and sharper. If you’re shooting in brighter environments, and you want to keep your shutter speed and f-stop consistent, you need ND filters, so it was only a matter of time before someone decided to put a variable ND into a lens adapter. That’s exactly what Thomas Läräng did with the HolyManta internal ND lens adapter, and he’s running a crowdfunding campaign to try to get the project off the ground. (more…)

Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED EPIC, and Arri Alexa RAW Camera Test Part 1: IR Pollution

Guest Author — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:59:37 +0000

If you’ve been using a newer large sensor digital cinema camera, you may have noticed that your image takes on more reddish tones when using increased neutral density filtration. This is related to the way many of these ND filters block visible light, but let in more infrared light which can pollute the image. We’ve seen a few examples showing what IR pollution can do, and today, we have a video comparing RAW cameras, specifically the Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Arri Alexa, and RED EPIC, and how each of them handles black cloth when using IR cut filters of different strengths along with increased ND filtration.

This is a guest post by Cinematographer Ryan E. Walters. (more…)

Choosing Neutral Density Filters with Infrared Protection: Necessary or Overboard?

Dave Kendricken — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:30:19 +0000

At this point, solid state image sensors have matched or exceeded film in a lot of ways, including light sensitivity, responsiveness to shadow detail, and overall dynamic range — but that doesn’t mean our chips aren’t susceptible to certain problems previously avoided by the nature of emulsion. Indeed, ‘sensitivity’ nowadays means something different altogether — and with the virtual necessity of neutral density filters as a result, this often means vulnerability to infrared pollution. Unless you like shooting at f/22 or you’re already using the Aaton Penelope Delta, you may also require an IR filter with your ND. AbelCine has recently shared a great rundown of which cameras suffer the most from IR pollution — and what filters work best to correct each. (more…)

Neutral Density Shootout from Dave Dugdale: Which Variable ND Filter Should You Buy?

Dave Kendricken — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:19:50 +0000

By now Dave Dugdale and his site Learning DSLR Video should be fairly familiar to you because of his honest personal experience and no-nonsense gear reviews. In our modern, lovely era of acquisition technology — particularly regarding the proliferation of low-cost, high native ISO cameras — the need for Neutral Density filters inevitably arises. That said, there’s quite a few options out there, but like lenses themselves, quality concerns must be heavily weighted against price-point. Dave has recently created an ND filter shootout that incorporates both of these key considerations into his conclusion. Read on to find out which ND filter just may be the right choice for your needs. (more…)