Focal length limits with Neutral Density filters?

[marler1957]

I am finally adding some prime lenses to my collection of zoom lenses. Which has me needing to decide on new filters and/or step up rings, as well as, at what focal lengths did I use when taking photographs while using solid ND filters.

Do you have minimum and maximum limits on which focal length you shoot when using ND filters? My shots have varied between 14mm to 120mm.

 

[bleirer]

That is not something I've thought about. I can't think of a limit except the usual vignetting you might get at wide angle with any filter. What do you see as possible issues?

 

[DRwyoming]

Do you have minimum and maximum limits on which focal length you shoot when using ND filters? My shots have varied between 14mm to 120mm.

As Bill points out there can be practical limits on the wide end depending on the specific ND filter, how thick it is and how prone the specific ultra wide lens is to vignetting. But with care in purchasing or by using oversized filters that can generally be avoided.

On the long end there's no real limit but from a practical standpoint there aren't many situations where I'd want to lose many stops of light on my longest telephoto lenses. For most telephoto applications like wildlife, sports and even things like moon shots we generally want as much light as we can get and even something like a couple of stops lost to a polarizer is something we avoid most of the time. Solar eclipse shots are a situation where we do want to knock down light levels a lot but then a dedicated solar filter is the safer choice. I'm sure there's some kind of special project where an 8 to 10 stop ND filter might make sense on the longest lenses like maybe shooting a freeway from a distance and having the cars disappear with a long time exposure but I can't think of many times I'd want to slap an ND filter on my longest lenses.

So for me practically I can't really imagine using an ND filter on anything longer than maybe my 70-200mm f2.8 but maybe someone has found good applications for using one on a 300mm, 400mm, 600mm or longer lens.

 

[PhilcTx]

....care in purchasing or by using oversized filters that can generally be avoided.

Yes - buy ND's to fit your largest lens filter threads and use reducer rings for smaller diameter lenses. I have 95mm ND's for my Sony 200-600mm and reducers for the others. ND's used on the 200-600mm mostly for video and long exposures.

 

[SoCalRick]

I am finally adding some prime lenses to my collection of zoom lenses. Which has me needing to decide on new filters and/or step up rings, as well as, at what focal lengths did I use when taking photographs while using solid ND filters.

Do you have minimum and maximum limits on which focal length you shoot when using ND filters? My shots have varied between 14mm to 120mm.

Min / max limits on focal length don't factor into the equation for me whenever I have a situation that calls for an ND filter. I'm not sure why you would need to worry about it, other than from a financial, or compatability standpoint (see below).

That being said, I chose to go with a 112mm filter system, in order to cover the widest lens opening that I currently have (Z 14-24) and use step up rings to make my filters useable on lenses with smaller maximum diameter (e.g., 77mm, 82mm and 95 mm).

If you don't need to go as large as 112mm, you can use the same approach with whatever the largest lens opening that you have is, (or plan to get). Such as, 82mm or 95mm.

There probably are some upper limits on FLs for considering the use of filters. I don't see myself ever using an ND filter on my 600 TC prime, but I might possibly use a polarizer.

 

[DsD]

Hudson Henry has a different take on ND filter use and perhaps is useful.

Following is a link where he describes using Auto bracketing to accomplish the same thing (according to him)! This is from his Zf Full Menu Setup guide starting at 15:30:

 

[marler1957]

That is not something I've thought about. I can't think of a limit except the usual vignetting you might get at wide angle with any filter. What do you see as possible issues?

Managing near term cash flow on expanding my kit with prime lenses (and filters and/or rings) while taking advantage of Nikon's latest sale. (Having a second camera body would be nice but I have decided to focused on expanding with faster lenses. Also my wife might kill me if she saw a second camera body attached to me at this time...)

What I have now:
Nikon Z8
Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S
Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S
Nikkor Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
Dedicated Nikon NC filters for each lens
NiSi Lens Hood for Nikon Z 14-24mm F/2.8 S with 112Mm Filter Thread
112mm Nikon CPL filter
112mm NiSi 6-stop ND filter
112mm NiSi 10-stop ND filter
77mm Nikon CPL filter which is shared between the 24-120, 70-200, and 100-400
77mm Breakthrough Photography X4 6-stop ND filter which is shared between the 24-120, 70-200, and 100-400
77mm Breakthrough Photography X4 10-stop ND filter which is shared between the 24-120, 70-200, and 100-400
95mm Nikon CPL for the 600mm

What am I considering/thinking?:

So I have CPL, 6-stop ND and 10-stop ND covered on my owned zoom lenses from 14-400mm. I need to try some shots between 120-400mm with NDs. A couple I could have tried last month were sunrise from the fishing pier (or along the length of the beach toward the rising sun) and sunset on the bay.

Shamefully I have not used 35mm/SLR/DSLR prime lenses since the early 1980s. I bought and used the 600mm at the Austin F1 races in October which impressed me greatly. While on a trip to Ireland in August, I used the 24-120mm for walk around and shots through the tour bus window. The lens was very functional for the extra up-to-120mm range vs my old AF 24-70mm f/2.8. I missed being able to stop down to f/2.8 for some shots (definitely night shots).

I can push up the ISO on shots with f/2.8 on the 14-24mm (or use a tripod/ball-head). Similar for the 70-200mm as well (add in a monopod with/without RRS monopod head).

My first thought is to buy fast prime lenses with a focal length between 24mm-to-120mm. The low hanging fruit is a 50mm lens. Since I do not do photography as a living (hardly a decent amateur), the cost of lenses with apertures at or less than f/1.2 are out. So far any Nikon Z lens which I have purchase have been S line models which will probably be my choice for future lenses. Considering the Nikon engineers are trying to manufacture the best new Z lens for a specific focal length, they are not exactly focused on common filter sizes (besides I wonder how much different lens design teams "cross-design" such decisions).

If I do not spend money on new filters, then I might be able to consider "just one more" lens purchase. Hence my ND / focal length curiosity.

So my first new prime lens is a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 which uses 62mm filters from Santa (I sure do wish Santa would hurry up). I always buy a Nikon NC filter for lenses -> $40 is cheap insurance for this lens (oh and I did watch @Steve testing UV filters on YouTube ) . $100 for a Nikon 62mm CPL?...or a brass step up ring to use for all my 77mm filters?

Now my problems/questions start. Which focal length prime lens am I considering to buy next? Nikkor Z lenses: 85mm f/1.8 S ($697 US) (67mm filter) , 20mm f/1.8 S ($950 US) (77mm filter) , 35mm f/1.8 S ($597 US) (62mm filter) , MC 105mm f/2.8 VR ($847) (62mm). The 135mm f/1.8 Plena looks awesome but is $2300 US vs buying up to another three lens at the cost, so I would need to understand us cases to justify.

I mostly shoot landscape, vacation/walk-around, family/party, and car races. Recently adding-in/trying wildlife, street and "people" photography.

Some thoughts:
1) My 100-400mm is good up close and I have extension tubes. My 70-200mm is very good at 100mm and just okay for portraits (poor bokeh). So the MC 105mm is out as all I see gaining is some higher shutter speed on macro.
2) Surprised me when checking focal lengths which I shot recently that I shot more at 24mm, 50mm, 70mm and 120mm with my 24-120mm. So I am thinking that 35mm is something to consider as later purchase. Mixed reviews on this lens.
3) My 14-24mm is good at 20mm and is f/2.8. The 20mm f/1.8 reviews are very positive. Online photos look wonderful, especially Astro shots. Also, I already own 77mm ND filters. Reviews are good on this lens. Other night shots or Astro shots is just over a stop of light helping you control ISO for other types of shots?
4) My 70-200mm is my better lens for portraits only has f/2.8 DOF. I really (I mean REALLY) need practice shooting portraits stopped down below f4, but darn if the f/1.8 to f/1.2 pictures which I see online look stunning to me. The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S pictures which I see online look good and the reviews are good.

At this time, I am leaning toward the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 as my next lens purchase. Then not sure which to consider next. All advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Mike

 

[bleirer]

I was just asking why you thought nd filters might cause a problem at certain focal lengths.