Lee Big Stopper vs Variable ND filter

10 years 8 months ago #292183 by Kristy Blake
I'd like to get some longer exposures during the daylight and lighter situations. I'm reading reviews on both and it would seem the Lee Stopper has some good points and I'm hearing it has some tone issues. Then I'm getting some good reviews on the variable ND filters, but then some say theirs a blind spot, oh wait they called it X pattern.

I do like the idea of having variable ND, because let's face it. 10 stops of ND is really dark!


Which would you recommend? Do they make a dark ND filter that doesn't have tonal issues, or a variable ND that doesn't give you X patterns?


Thank you :P


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10 years 8 months ago #292191 by Stealthy Ninja
I've heard variable ND filters aren't worth the price.
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10 years 8 months ago #292212 by Kristy Blake

Stealthy Ninja wrote: I've heard variable ND filters aren't worth the price.



I read that too, but if you want the variable action you have no other choice. Like going prime lens vs zoom.


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10 years 8 months ago #292244 by Jim Photo
Go with the 10 stop Lee filter and just fix white balance in Lightroom


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10 years 8 months ago - 10 years 8 months ago #292273 by effron
Adrian is correct. I have a Tiffen VND and its not bad at the lower setting, but near max its awful, with a bad color cast. It would be fixable if it was universal, but its not. The Big Stopper is a nice piece of kit. I waited over a year for it and you couldn't get it from me for twice what I paid for it. The variable is for sale, if you want it.... :P
btw, I also have a four stop ND that gets as much use as the ten stop Lee..... ;)

Why so serious?
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10 years 8 months ago #292427 by Luca
So you bring up a good point, why is the Lee filters always on back order with a long wait? Is that intentional to keep demand in the sweet spot?


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10 years 8 months ago #292457 by NickSano
Look on ebay for used :thumbsup:


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10 years 8 months ago #292461 by Joves
Well most of the VNDs are junk from what I have heard, that almost everyone has some bad false color cast towards the dark end. About all you can do for that problem is measure and manually set your WB for it, if you plan on shooting in the darkest end. One of the only VNDs I have not hear a lot of complaints about is the Singh-Ray Vari-Duo ND with Polarization as well. But it is not inexpensive. I have had my gels cause false casting, and I measured for it and it was good to go. The Lee is always out because it is the best one for the price out there. I am old fashioned in that I still use gels for most ND subjects. I still do have a couple of screw ins, and only use them when I know I have to travel with less, due to the fact they can go in one of my vest, or BDU pockets.


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10 years 8 months ago #292464 by Foxy Girl
I borrowed a friends variable ND and I used it one day and gave it back. You get this weird set of lines in the photo


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10 years 8 months ago #292561 by Ira Weber
I have used a big stopper and it's a nice filter, you can just change the white balance in LR


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10 years 8 months ago #292597 by EOS Man
Variable ND's are good on the soft side, but darker side :huh:

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