My first use of neutral density filters in the field. I was gifted a set of Urth Plus+ ø49mm filters for the Canon R50 and have never used them. The set consist of a ultra-violet (UV) filter, a circular polarising filter (CPL) and ND8 and ND1000 neutral density filters.
After realising last week that I could do with a CPL for my 55-210 lens with a ø55mm filter, I’ve spent too much time looking at the filters I had and how to best purchase new filters for the larger lens with some future proofing.
Along the way I learned ND filters were not just for making waterfalls look smooth, but were for cutting down sunlight in all sorts of situations. So today, after remembering I have a body of water close by, I did my first field test.
Smooth water and fluffy clouds. A contrived scenario with 120sec, f25.0 and ISO 100
Here’s what I learned:
- I’m now competent enough that setting correct exposure in manual mode doesn’t phase me.
- The adjustments for the ND8 (3-stop) filter are easy enough to do in my head.
- The adjustments for the ND1000 (10-stop) need a bit more care.
- I have to add shortcuts in my camera menu to set it to manual focus mode. There are two changes I have to make to adjust the control ring function and to turn manual mode on. My Canon R50 doesn’t have a switch for that. Manual mode is needed because once the ND1000 is on the lens, it’s too dark for me to focus via sight and I can’t trust auto-focus doesn’t move.
Urth magnetic filter set
- As much as the Urth magnetic filters are sexy and compact when stacked together, the are a royal pain in the arse to manage. I need a case that can store each in a separate pocket.
- My intervalometer app pauses if I change app focus while it’s taking a photo. I was out of sync with the camera’s countdown.
- My intervalometer also loses bluetooth connection when I run back to the car to replace my sunglasses with my normal prescription lenses. If mid-shot the camera continues on and only ON → OFF → ON makes it respond again.
- The big tripod is too heavy to carry long distances by hand. I need to see how it feels attached to the backpack.
- It is worth purchasing ND filters for the 55mm lens so that I have them when needed.
I rate that a successful half hour.