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Garry Black Photography

Question:

I want to purchase a graduated filter, but I find with all of the choices available it's extremely confusing. What do you use and recommend?

Answer:

I am assuming that you are referring to split neutral density filters, I use Tiffen filters http://www.tiffen.com/ . They are available in 1, 2 and 3 stops - but they call them - ND 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 (just to confuse people). I have the ND 0.3 (1 stop) and ND 0.6 (2 stop) in the COKIN PXL TYPE. These are longer (rectangular shaped) filters than the standard square filter. The advantage of these filters is that you can use them even if the horizon line is near the top or bottom of the picture. You are more limited with the smaller square filter.

Another brand that is very good are the Singh-Ray Filters http://singh-ray.com/ . Daryl Benson uses this brand of filters; they have soft edged, hard edged and any other combination that you could dream of. That's to say that Singh-Ray's variety of split ND's is much greater. You can order directly from them and the delivery is MUCH quicker than ordering a Tiffen. I think my Tiffen's took 3 to 4 months to arrive, ordered through the Focus Centre. I don't think the Tiffen distributor in Canada stocks them, well at least they didn't 6 years ago. You could always order them from B&H Photo http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ in New York, they may keep them in stock.

Be warned these filters are not cheap, but they are very good. If you want to get a Singh-Ray filter and need advice on which one to get, just ask me. If I were to get only one of the Tiffen filters, it would be the ND 0.6 (2 stop) grad filter in the COKIN PXL.