Beginner! Advice need on buying Neutral Density filter

[guy_incognito]

I'm looking for something which will help me with long exposures on landscape shots that feature the sea, waterfalls etc - so I think I'm right in thinking that a Neutral Density filter is what I should be looking at?

Choosing a Camera Lens Filter

My kit is a Sony A200 - however that lens diameter is 55mm, whereas a search of Jessops etc results in hardly any filters at that size, only 52mm?

And the more f-stops the filter reduces, the longer the exposure you can get away with?

Finally, can anyone recommend any cheap places to buy!?

Thanks in advance

[mbell]

Yes. That's the primary purpose of an ND filter - it simply reduces the amount of light getting into the camera. Try experimenting with your camera settings first, though, before shelling out any cash. If you can reduce the ISO setting sufficiently and use a small aperture, you might get some pleasing motion blur results as is. Or take your snap when it's getting dark!

Some filters can, apparently, introduce colour casts as they don't filter perfectly across the entire spectrum. Something suitable for your camera (Carl Zeiss is great quality) can be found for £60 at

Sony VF55NDAM 55mm Neutral Density Filters For DSLRA: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by mbell

Something suitable for your camera (Carl Zeiss is great quality) can be found for £60 at

£60 for an ND filter
I was heavily into photography in the 1980s using mainly Canon 35mm SLRs...good quality filters were around a tenner...I can't believe the price of gear/lenses/filters etc these days...someones taking us for mugs...how come the price of most electronic equipment like TVs/DVDs etc have taken a tumble in real terms but the price of photographic lenses skyrockets?...what's so different about grinding precision glass these days...surely it's all under computer control which should aid mass production and therefore cheaper prices?

[anthony566]

This link might help i posted this some time ago

Choosing a Camera Lens Filter

[Faldrax]

If you are wanting the ND for landscapes, etc, you might want to consider the square filter systems (Cokin, Lee).
These will work out more expensive for a single filter, as you have to buy a filter holder and lens adaptor, but make up for it if you start wanting to have multiple filters, ND Grads (which you probably will, for landscape) and then later get a second lens with a diffeent filter diameter.
With the square systems, you just get a different adaptor and you can then use all the filter on the new lens.

[AlanBryant]

This is the ND kit i have to go on my Canon 17-40.

Clicky here - Cokin P ND Graduated Kit H250A Speed Graphic online sales