GND filters

[Hank]

The quick and easy way to find the edges for placing will cost you about 50 cents.  Buy a pad of the very small "sticky notes" and store it with your filters.  Before putting the filter into the holder, place one of these sticky notes so that the edge marks the boundary on the filter.  Now you can see it easily, but you have to remember to remove the note before taking the shot.    The adhesive on the paper does not leave a mark on the filter.

As for choosing between hard and soft edged filters, I let the scene decide for me.  If the horizon is forested or irregular I use the soft ones.  For strong horizons I use the hard edge.  I use my light meter to determine which density of filter to choose.

[TeddyLoves]

thank you very much. i forgot to ask another question that is, there is such thing as a reverse ND filter. in which situation would you use this one?

another question. is it better to use a single filter instead of a combination of filters? for example is it better to use a 3stops instead of a 1 stop and a 2 stop put together?

[TeddyLoves]

i recently purchased a couple GND filters but i feel im getting a hard time using them.
there are hard edge and soft edges GND filters. how should i decide which one to use in which situation?
on the other hand, i feel it's so hard to put the edges in the right place. can someone help me with this? i.e., what are the proper procedures/steps to put the GND filters in to the place?
i apreciate your helps very much!

[dmerger]

Also, when adjusting the filter, stop down your lens to the f stop that you wil be using for the shot.

[francois]

thank you very much. i forgot to ask another question that is, there is such thing as a reverse ND filter. in which situation would you use this one?

another question. is it better to use a single filter instead of a combination of filters? for example is it better to use a 3stops instead of a 1 stop and a 2 stop put together?

To answer your first question (reverse GND), Singh-Ray do offer such filters. You can find these here (scroll down to "Daryl Benson's Guide to Reverse Neutral Density Graduated Filters").

As for your second question, a single 3-stop is better than using 1-stop & 2-stop together. I have not made tests and I guess that in most cases, you won't be able to tell the difference between the one filter set-up vs the two filters combo (provided your GND are not scratched, dirty etc).

Francois