Metering with a ND filter question

10 years 8 months ago #292455 by Johan Alonso
I see a couple other questions regarding ND filters have recently been posted here and it reminds me of one question I had myself regarding using a ND filter. When you have a ND filter on your camera is the cameras metering system aware that a ND filter is being used while it sets the exposure? Is there ever a time when you have to offset your exposure based on the number of stops the ND filter is?


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10 years 8 months ago - 10 years 8 months ago #292458 by effron
I meter without the filter, adjust the required number stops, (shutter speed) install filter and take the shot(s). There are handy charts for the longer (darker) filters, and apps if you own a smart phone..... ;)
a good source.... www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/neutral-density-filters.htm

Why so serious?
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10 years 8 months ago #292460 by Joves
No your camera is not aware of the ND filter being on, it only sees the light as it is affected by the filter. All your camera cares about is the light, and tells you if you have too much, or not enough, and hopes you will adjust it so it is right. Actually it does not care it will still take the shot, it only warns you that the shot is screwed. :lol:


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10 years 8 months ago #292519 by Remy Hedrick
Are you guys doing this with all ND filters, even the 2 stop filters? Or are you referring to the darker ones towards 10 stops?


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10 years 8 months ago #292528 by effron
I do it with all NDs, I even meter without filter using grads. I've seen some who don't, but I like to maintain the control..... B)

Why so serious?
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10 years 8 months ago #292531 by Shadowfixer1

effron wrote: I meter without the filter, adjust the required number stops, (shutter speed) install filter and take the shot(s). There are handy charts for the longer (darker) filters, and apps if you own a smart phone..... ;)
a good source.... www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/neutral-density-filters.htm

Interesting. I've never heard of anyone doing this. I'm not sure why you would do that, but if it works for you, it's all good.

There is nothing magical about ND filters. They just cut down the amount of available light. Slap one on and go about shooting as you normally would. The camera will take care of the metering. If the shutter speed is slow use a tripod. All the same rules apply to shutter, aperture and ISO.
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10 years 8 months ago - 10 years 8 months ago #292587 by Joves

Remy Hedrick wrote: Are you guys doing this with all ND filters, even the 2 stop filters? Or are you referring to the darker ones towards 10 stops?

Me I only meter with the NDs on. Doing the WB, I only do that when stacking, and know that I will get a false color cast. For grads I tend to check where the metering comes in on each side, and then split it if I am doing one shot. But I am rarely doing one shot with a GND, I am usually shooting several different exposures to stack later to get the total Dynamic Range. So in essence I am making an HDR. As Shadow points out this means using a tripod.


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10 years 8 months ago #292678 by effron
You guys metering with filter on, when using a dark ND, how are you focusing? ...Just curious.....

Why so serious?
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10 years 8 months ago #292952 by Shadowfixer1

effron wrote: You guys metering with filter on, when using a dark ND, how are you focusing? ...Just curious.....

Manual focus before putting a real dark ND filter on.
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10 years 8 months ago #293001 by Remy Hedrick
I see, well that makes sense


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10 years 8 months ago #293044 by Joves

Shadowfixer1 wrote:

effron wrote: You guys metering with filter on, when using a dark ND, how are you focusing? ...Just curious.....

Manual focus before putting a real dark ND filter on.


Yep! Focus first meter after. I have always done it that way, it is an old habit from when I shot with my Pentax MX where the aperture was not open all the time. It would get to dark past f/11 to get good focus. So I would focus then stop down, same with the NDs, when I saw the camera would lie to me about the focus being right.


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10 years 8 months ago #293057 by Shadowfixer1
This is also where using the rear focus technique helps. Focus won't change on you with a shutter button press if you want to stay with auto-focus.
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