{"id":13804,"date":"2011-06-04T19:31:41","date_gmt":"2011-06-04T19:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/philipbloom.net\/?p=13804"},"modified":"2011-06-06T17:58:50","modified_gmt":"2011-06-06T17:58:50","slug":"the-best-variable-nd-filter-i-have-used","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/the-best-variable-nd-filter-i-have-used\/","title":{"rendered":"The best Variable ND filter I have used?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script src=\"http:\/\/wpc.102A.edgecastcdn.net\/00102A\/jwplay\/swfobject.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script> <a href=\"http:\/\/store.zacuto.com\/idevaff\/idevaffiliate.php?id=107&amp;url=92\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13655 lazyload\" title=\"evf2\" data-src=\"http:\/\/staging.philipbloom.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/evf2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"468\" height=\"60\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/evf2.jpg 468w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/evf2-310x39.jpg 310w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 468px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 468\/60;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13655\" title=\"evf2\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.philipbloom.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/evf2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"468\" height=\"60\" srcset=\"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/evf2.jpg 468w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/evf2-310x39.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B004Y7FFI2\/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=philipblcouk-20&amp;camp=213381&amp;creative=390973&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B004Y7FFI2&amp;adid=1N5FYVSFQ4BESK87E0WV&amp;\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B004Y7FFI2\/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=philipblcouk-20&amp;camp=213381&amp;creative=390973&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B004Y7FFI2&amp;adid=1N5FYVSFQ4BESK87E0WV&amp;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-13805 lazyload\" title=\"DSCF9305\" data-src=\"http:\/\/staging.philipbloom.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9305-670x444.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"444\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9305-670x444.jpg 670w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9305-310x205.jpg 310w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9305.jpg 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 670px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 670\/444;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-13805\" title=\"DSCF9305\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.philipbloom.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9305-670x444.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9305-670x444.jpg 670w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9305-310x205.jpg 310w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9305.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/noscript><br \/>\n<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-13807 lazyload\" title=\"DSCF9301\" data-src=\"http:\/\/staging.philipbloom.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9301-670x444.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"444\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9301-670x444.jpg 670w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9301-310x205.jpg 310w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9301.jpg 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 670px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 670\/444;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-13807\" title=\"DSCF9301\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.philipbloom.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9301-670x444.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9301-670x444.jpg 670w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9301-310x205.jpg 310w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSCF9301.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Today I got to use the German made Heliopan Variable ND filter and I have to say it&#8217;s probably the best out of them all and I have tried them all!<\/p>\n<p>Solid construction, glass apparently from Zeiss. Light control of 1-6.6 stops (0.3 to 2.0 ND density). Markings with hard stops (NOT clicks, it is still smooth, it just has hard end points) so ND is repeatable. It&#8217;s also very thin so will vignette on only the widest of lenses. I tried it on my Tokina 11-16 at 11mm on the T3i and only the very corners showed signs of vignetting. It&#8217;s tack sharp with no colour shift that I can see!!<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s surprisingly heavy, actually i would say reassuringly heavy! Though of course there is a downside. It&#8217;s not cheap, but few really good things in life are!<\/p>\n<p>You can get it at Amazon.com below or special order from your local retailer. I have the 77mm one, probably the one to go for and you can use step rings for smaller filter lenses.<\/p>\n<p>I managed to get it much cheaper than the below price in Portugal, I paid 225 Euros which is about $330. The Singh-Ray thin 77mm my main Variable ND filter does not vignette at all at 11mm on the Tokina but there is a slight colour shift and it&#8217;s not as tack sharp as this or precise but it retails for for just under $400.<\/p>\n<p>On a budget then the newer batch of Light Craft Workshop Fader NDs are still good. I used their superb 4&#215;4 drop in mattebox fader filters on the Alexa shoot and they were superb. Otherwise the new generation of Genus Fader ND filters are also good. It&#8217;s just if you want absolutely pin sharpness then this Heliopan is the clear winner.<\/p>\n<p>Nice.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" frameborder=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=philipblcouk-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=B004Y7FFI2\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" frameborder=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=philipblcouk-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=B004VS0O3K\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" frameborder=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=philipblcouk-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=B004OTY8OC\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-13811 lazyload\" title=\"IMG_2833\" data-src=\"http:\/\/staging.philipbloom.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_2833-670x446.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"446\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_2833-670x446.jpg 670w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_2833-310x206.jpg 310w, https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/IMG_2833.jpg 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 670px; 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