Long exposure advice

[ctrollen]

I'm going to Suffolk again in May (and Norfolk in Sept) and was thinking that I'd like to have a go at some LE photography whilst I'm there.

Obviously, I'm going to need a sturdier tripod than I currently have and some ND filters. For the tripod, I think I'm likely to get a Manfrotto - either a BeFree or 190Go! - with a ball head but the main question is to do with the filters as I'm not sure what I'll need!

I assume that if I get a set of filters, such than I can "double up" on them when required, then that would give me the most flexibility?

I generally like to us my 15-85 (72 dia lens) for general landscapes but I have recently also acquired a 10-18 (67 dia lens). Is it worth getting 72mm filters and and adaptor so I can use both lenses, or will one lens be better than the other anyway, and should I just get one size? I'm also assuming that it's best to stick with the like of Lee or Hoya for the filters.

Finally, I'm thinking of using Live View and then just my phone for the shutter release. Good idea or bad?

Any advice gratefully received.

[Tigger]

Re: Long exposure advice

wheres Tony and Alan when we need them - they are the LE guys

agree about a decent tripod, although I would use something that will give more support especially for LE - so the 055 would be what I would use.

Lee filters is my choice, but you have to be careful stacking them. The few LE I've done I've just used the viewfinder with a cable remote

[TonyT]

Re: Long exposure advice

I use Lee filters they are 100mm by 100mm, you then get an adaptor ring for the lens that attaches to the holder, beware there can be two types of adaptor, my lenses use the 77mm and there is a 77mm normal and 77mm wide adaptor to prevent it showing at the corners at extreme wide angles on the image, but it still does. yes you can double them up, indeed you can load 3 on the normal holder, you can also get an adaptor that takes up one slot but allows you to add another holder and more filters total of 5, which you would use if saying taking a picture where say you have a building edge on one side, so you can rotate one filter 90 degrees so it does not effect the building part of the image while using a filter for the rest of the image in the other holder. one excellent item for landscapes is the use of a polariser.

the ND foilters are not cheap and I have heard of people having the damned thing drop out of the holder so i bought some of the extra leaves for it and added a stop across the bottom on the slot it goes in.

[TonyT]

Re: Long exposure advice

There are some excellent guides on You Tube as to using them etc

[antoeknee]

Re: Long exposure advice

Agree, that especially for wide angle some of the 100mm square filters are probably the way to go.

You just have to think about how much LE work you plan to do as the filters, holder and adapter ring will cost a fair amount.

I don't do a great deal of LE work so bought the Cokin set and for the few shots I take tweak the colour balance if necessary.

If I was doing a lot I'd certainly consider something like Lee filters.

[ctrollen]

Re: Long exposure advice

Thanks for the advice so far. To be honest, I can't see me doing a great deal - I just thought I'd like to have a go. If it turns out that it's going to get too expensive just to dip my toe in the (milky) water, as it were, then perhaps I'll drop the idea!

However, time spent in reconnaissance is rarely wasted, so all input gratefully received.

[Tigger]

Re: Long exposure advice

in that case I would just buy a round ND6/10 from Hoya, if you enjoy it invest in square filters later... if you were local I've got a ND8 & 10 Hoya that I don't use and you could try them

[ctrollen]

Re: Long exposure advice

Good point Ian, thanks - a single, round Hoya might just be the simplest option for now. I will have a look on YouTube as well later.

I was just looking at the Cokin P Series set which is £50.99 plus the adaptor ring although it looks like there could be some issues at the widest setting of the 15-85. I'm sure I could work round that as the next one up for wider angles, the Z series, is double the price which is getting way over what I thought I'd have to spend!

Thanks all.

[Tigger]

Re: Long exposure advice

I have the Cokin Z series with soft grads / nd's ( I think 3/6/10) and a 77 mounting bracket. its yours for half price if you want to check it out just let me know the figure , you would need to cover postage as well

[ctrollen]

Re: Long exposure advice

That's very much appreciated Ian, and I will bear it in mind, although I have to say I'm veering towards the one Hoya circular for now.

[TonyT]

Re: Long exposure advice

Hitech is another cheaper option

[ctrollen]

Re: Long exposure advice

Cheers Tony.

On the tripod front, I just missed out on a Manfrotto 055 Carbon last night. Although it didn't quite go over my budget I was about to place a bid and didn't realise that my phone app wasn't logged in. By the time I'd faffed around sorting that out (I'd forgotten my password as I'd not needed it for so long, of course!) it had finished!

[Tigger]

Re: Long exposure advice

Manfrotto 055 Carbon

how much did it sell for in the end - its a great tripod and whilst not a small one to lump around its very good

[ctrollen]

Re: Long exposure advice

how much did it sell for in the end - its a great tripod and whilst not a small one to lump around its very good

£201, plus p&p (£14, iirc) and I was willing to go more than that, if I hadn't had "issues" with my bidding!

Any reason why this isn't a decent deal? https://www.cameraworld.co.uk/used-e...ball-head.html

[Tigger]

Re: Long exposure advice

£201, plus p&p (£14, iirc) and I was willing to go more than that, if I hadn't had "issues" with my bidding!

Any reason why this isn't a decent deal? https://www.cameraworld.co.uk/used-e...ball-head.html

for £200 seems high for 2nd hand, but i suppose it depends the head it had on. the 190 I've seen and its very light, also that ball head i have and its sat on the shelf as I upgraded it as I did used to find it drifting when locking up