ijm5012
Mu-43 Legend
I started really getting in to photography about a year ago. I started out with an NEX-6 and the 18-55 kit lens, and the 55-210. I really liked the photos that the camera produced, but there were some inherent issues that I didn't like (menus, camera customization, lacking lens line-up), so I sold off my NEX gear, and bought in the m43. Since then, I've aquired quite the collection of gear (2 G6 bodies, FL-360L flash, 5 lenses, etc.), as well as accessories. One thing I've really come to appreciate here recently is long exposure photography, no only at night, but also during the day. The problem with long exposure photography during the day is you either need to stack filters, which leads to vignetting and loss of image quality, or you need to pony up for a 10 stop ND filter.
I had been looking at a number of ND 3.0 filters from a variety of manufacturers (Hoya, Tiffen, B+W), and managed to stumble across a 10 stop filter made by Haida, a company I had never heard of. I did a bit of research, and found a number of positive reviews for their 10 stop filter. I bit the bullet, and ordered one from ebay for under $40, shipped from China (I got a 58mm diameter filter, as it'll fit on my 14-140 II, 12-35, and both primes with a step up ring). The filter came packaged very well. It has a Polypropylene carrying case with foam inside to protect the filter. The carrying case has "Haida" molded in on the front of it. It looks to be exactly like the filter cases you get with a B+W filter.
Below you can see three photos, one without the filter, one with the filter without WB adjustment, and one with the filter with the correct WB adjustment. I didn't do ANYTHING to the photos other than import them in the LR5, and adjust the WB. As the images show, the natural color cast is very mild. It might not even be noticed if it weren't for having a "control" to compare it against. The images were focussed to the right side of concrete walk, where the mulch bed meets the grass. Looking at 100% crops from the images, the filter doesn't seen to affect sharpness at all (look at the detail in the grass and mulch). One thing that is interesting is that it appears to be about 10.5 stops, not 10.0. The initial image was shot at 1/320s, where as with the filter it shot it at 4s. If the initial image was at 1/250s, that would be 10 stops of exposure, but I seem to be getting slightly more than 10 stops (which doesn't both me).
Overall, I am VERY happy with this filter. It'll allow me to take the great, smooth water photos I see all the time, all while saving me at least $40-50 over a similar filter from B+W or Hoya. I would not hesitate to recommend this filter to anyone looking to get a 10 stop ND filter, but doesn't want to pay the price for a Hoya Pro or B+W MRC filter.
Original image, shot without the filter. Focal point is where the gray card is located
View attachment 371156
Image shot with the filter, but with no WB adjustment
View attachment 371157
Image shot with the filter, with WB adjustment taken from the first photo
View attachment 371158
I had been looking at a number of ND 3.0 filters from a variety of manufacturers (Hoya, Tiffen, B+W), and managed to stumble across a 10 stop filter made by Haida, a company I had never heard of. I did a bit of research, and found a number of positive reviews for their 10 stop filter. I bit the bullet, and ordered one from ebay for under $40, shipped from China (I got a 58mm diameter filter, as it'll fit on my 14-140 II, 12-35, and both primes with a step up ring). The filter came packaged very well. It has a Polypropylene carrying case with foam inside to protect the filter. The carrying case has "Haida" molded in on the front of it. It looks to be exactly like the filter cases you get with a B+W filter.
Below you can see three photos, one without the filter, one with the filter without WB adjustment, and one with the filter with the correct WB adjustment. I didn't do ANYTHING to the photos other than import them in the LR5, and adjust the WB. As the images show, the natural color cast is very mild. It might not even be noticed if it weren't for having a "control" to compare it against. The images were focussed to the right side of concrete walk, where the mulch bed meets the grass. Looking at 100% crops from the images, the filter doesn't seen to affect sharpness at all (look at the detail in the grass and mulch). One thing that is interesting is that it appears to be about 10.5 stops, not 10.0. The initial image was shot at 1/320s, where as with the filter it shot it at 4s. If the initial image was at 1/250s, that would be 10 stops of exposure, but I seem to be getting slightly more than 10 stops (which doesn't both me).
Overall, I am VERY happy with this filter. It'll allow me to take the great, smooth water photos I see all the time, all while saving me at least $40-50 over a similar filter from B+W or Hoya. I would not hesitate to recommend this filter to anyone looking to get a 10 stop ND filter, but doesn't want to pay the price for a Hoya Pro or B+W MRC filter.
Original image, shot without the filter. Focal point is where the gray card is located
View attachment 371156
Image shot with the filter, but with no WB adjustment
View attachment 371157
Image shot with the filter, with WB adjustment taken from the first photo
View attachment 371158