My thoughts on using Polarising filters, ND Grads and ND filters with all that digital technology offers these days. I discuss Hi-tech, Nisi and Lee filters.
My E-Book: http://geni.us/onlocation
My 2017 Calendar: http://amzn.to/2aQJj9T
____________________________________________________________
FAQ: http://www.thomasheaton.co.uk/faq/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThomasHeatonPhotography
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasheaton
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theatonphoto
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatonthomas/
Website: http://www.thomasheaton.co.uk
____________________________________________________________
Here are some links to some of the kit shown in this video.
These are affiliation links, I get a small commission if you buy. This has nothing to do with why I made this video 🙂
LowePro Filter Pouch – http://geni.us/FilterPouch
Lee Lens Caps: http://geni.us/LensCaps
Lee Foundation Holder – http://geni.us/wKWK
Heliopan Polariser – http://geni.us/Heliopan
This Attches my Polariser to my Filter Holder – http://geni.us/LeeAdapt
Lee Soft Grads: http://geni.us/LeeSoftEdge
Lee Hard Grads: http://geni.us/LeeHardEdge
Lee Super Stopper: http://geni.us/LeeSuper
Lens Cloth: http://geni.us/LensCloth
Original source
47 responses to “Landscape Photography – Do We Need Filters Anymore?”
I thought it was just me Lee didn't reply to haha
Great video mate 🙂
Right on Thomas, God bless.
@thomasheaton Hey Tom, first I want to say your videos are amazing and pushed me to buy my first set; Big Stopper, Super Stopper, and 2 stop soft grad with the lee 100 system. Thank you so much for the inspiration. I was wondering if you had any recomendations for polarizer? I was going to get the Lee one but after seeing your Heliopan I'm so sure anymore, any advice would be helpful. Thank You!
For a second there, I was pumped I didn't need to spend hundreds of dollars on ND filters. But it's true! There's no greater joy than seeing the results right there out in the fresh air. I've been using resin filters for a while, but am now looking around for a top notch replacement.
Thanks for making fantastic videos Thomas. Really good stuff.
"Photography if it was easy, it'd be boring" Simply Amazing, thanks for sharing!
Is there a reason why you use the Heliopan polarizer over Lee's? Thanks for the video, I love your work!
We're only human. Use what ever fit your own individual wants and needs. I believe your way of attacking photography is very healthy mentally, but there really is no right or wrong here. If it works it works, if it's constructive and it actually give you something, it simply doesn't matter what anyone else does. Do your own thing 🙂
Nisi are glass I understand and better optically,,, What your experience .
Do they make threaded polarizes too? I would hate to buy one online and it just be a UV filter or something that wouldn't help. (unless they are one in the same, i'm new lol)
Have you ever used Singh Ray filters?
Hum… I thought the Nisi filters were cheaper than the Lee filters – the Lee polariser filter is about 200€ while the basic Nisi V5Pro system (including adapter rings, filterholder, polarisier) is less than 170€….
Hi, I have a quick question, I am a beauty/runway photographer, but I shoot long exposures just for fun and to relax… they are not that good lol… my question is, I lose so much contrast from filters, is this because I am using cheap filters? I just dont want to spend on them when LE is just a pass time, just so I can find out.
Can you suggest me the good budget polariser filter
Do i realy need almost a $500 Heliopan 105mm Slim High Transmission Circular Polarizer ? Why its so expensive ?
well said Tom. less time in front of a computer the better.
your Nisi-Set inkludes a Polariser as well. Have you compared it with the Lee-Polariser?
I lost it when you turned on the music, i laughed so hard. You tell them Thomas, you tell them about what its really about!
I use Hitech filters. great and reasonable priced
Fantastic you are!
Hi Thomas, do you do worshops? I would love to have a landscape shot tour with you!
What about Haida-Filters ? I´m quite confident with my Gradual ND 0.9 Filter from Haida which has no visible color fading and costs much less than the one from Lee Filters.
Hi Thomas! Just want to point out that laying the filters flat on a table greatly exaggerates any minor differences between two different filters, since the light passes twice through the ND.
The Nisi filters should also be around 10% brighter from the start because of the multicoating (but this would affect both the clear part and the ND part equally)
I love my filters, I use filters in my studio as well. For those that say they are not needed, thats fine, they are digital artists first, photographers second. I have the skill to do a not of post production (I do it in fact on my horror shots) but I like to create on scene with filters.
what holder do you use to hold Nd filters and polariser ?
I keep my Lee filters wrapped in the wax paper they came in and put them in the pouch to help keep the scratching down.
I still feel that filters are very useful and good to have filters. You can do a lot in PS but why not help get it "more" right in camera, it'll save you time in Post.
uhh, you need ND filters (more than the polarizer IMO), dont ever tell noobs that you dont. Good luck doing a 0.5-2 second exposure during golden hour.
Hi Thomas, what type of polariser do you use? like the fact you can adjust it as you need!
hi Thomas, I absolutely love your videos. very useful and realistic videos. can you do a video on how do you plan for location, sunlight, reading maps and stuff like that?
Try Rollei filters, and you'll nvr get back to that plastic;)
Hey Thomas. I stumbled onto your vlogs a week ago and I'm loving them. Great work… very inspiring!!! I haven't read all the comments in this thread, so I hope my question hasn't already been asked. Is it better to remove your UV filter from your lens before adding other filters, or does it not really make a difference?
I gave up on grads years ago because it's such a painfully slow way to do landscape photos, at its most basic it's 1 exposure for the foreground and 1 for the sky and 30 secs work in Photoshop to merge them. In the time it used to take me to set up 1 image with grads I've now probably got 5 totally different compositions at the same location because i don't use them anymore. So keep your big stoppers, polarisers and infra red filters but try not using grads and see your images improve. Hdr is good also and it can be as subtle or ott as you want.
What's a good camera for a beginner? I've looked at the Nikon D3400 and the Pentax K-S2. I hike a lot, and I want to start capturing the moments.
How has the Heliopan held up through your use? Still on your first one?
send me your scratched filters if u don't use them :p i cant afford such pricy filters lol :p :p :p
you can soak your lens cloths in lukewarm water, and then air dry them over night thanks for the vids I have learned so much from them,keep them coming,thanks again Thomas.
When you hit the music , I burst out laughing
Hey! I like your videos very much!
What do you think about Cokin filters? Or what brand you can advise to an amateur photographer? (i.e. not too expensive)
What is a bracketed exposure?
Great and very informative video! Thank you very much for that. I also use filters for my landscape photography, but over the years, a few manufacturers have found their way into my photo bag: GND-Filters from Lee. I agree with you that they have the best price-quality ratio. ND-Filters from Haida. They are not really expensive, but absolutely colorless. And finally the filter holder V5 from Nisi. It comes in a nice box together with polarizer and adapter rings. The only disadvantage of this combination is that the Lee Filters are slightly thicker than other filters and therefor it is a bit harder to push them into the filter holder. But slightly loosen the screws of the brackets of the holder solves the problem.
Greetings, Thomas
I was hoping to hear about how you decided on the 105mm Heliopan Circular Polarizer, as I am currently trying to decide on which circular polarizer to purchase. I have already invested in the Lee Foundation kit, the necessary adapters for my lenses, and the 105mm adapter ring. I'm looking at the options from Haida, NISI, HiTech Formatt, Lee Filters, and B+W, as well as Heliopan. Do you have experience with CPLs from these brands, and is there anything that I should be wary of? What circular polarizers did you have previously, and what was your experience with them? Or did you get lucky and happened to pick your current Heliopan CPL in the beginning? By the way, you've made an outstanding channel! Please keep the great content coming!
Thomas Heaton, You are clearly a man after my own heart. Your aside starting around (maybe a little before) 2:45 about why you use & carry all the different filters into the field touched a nerve.
I would rather spend more time in the field than on the computer. I love technology & computers and all the things they can do for us, but when it comes to photography, I want to spend that time out there, where the image is real, immersive, and I am seeing it for the first time… The excitement of capturing and then being able to share it. The play between the light and dark in it's raw form that you want to share with others just never seems to be as authentic when you have to touch it up heavily and rely on imperfect memory to assist you with that…
Anyhow, I am very miserly with my subscribe button (time being finite), and this tipped the balance for me. Props for the quality of your work and on another subscriber! 😉 Please keep it up… Sincerely, your newest fan.
Is that polarizer circular or linear?
Hey Tom, I know this is a little older Video. I hope you find this comment. I really like the NiSi foundation kit that comes with a polarizer and Lee for the filters. Do you know whether these 2 work together? Did you try putting Lee filters in Nisi holder ever? If so, are they a snugly fit?
Regarding videography, NDs are often more necessary there as A you don't have the same options for shutter speed plus you don't have the stacking option, or HDR option. Also if you are using log profiles this often forces your lowest ISO way up. 🙁
So nd is a forced necessity unfortunately.
Good vid. Made me think about polarisers again. And those lens caps that cover adaptor sounds like a good idea.
G'day Thomas
I thought this was going to be anti-filter so pleased that it wasn't.
Like you I shoot a lot of landscape primarily with polarising filters as I live in Western Australia where the light is very intense so filters are a necessity. I cant be arsed sitting on my arse in front of a screen and would prefer to be outdoors like you rather than in front of toxic electronic equipment. its a lot quicker anyway and I prefer to craft the shot in situ.
I'm slightly anal in that the majority of my Canon lenses are all the same size which avoids buggerising about with adapters which saves time and space. Otherwise I would need an acclimatised Sherpa to carry my gear around.
I have the big set of Cokin filters and haven't had a problem with them. I like what you said about the extreme technicalities that some people go to. I liken it to foot ball, you have backs,centres forwards or strikers. Each plays a part and is as valuable as the other.
This is just the second of your video's that I have watched and enjoyed. Well done fanks mate.