has anyone on here tried making a neutral density filter? there are a few guides on various ways, but given how much they are to buy i think trying to make one isn't such a bad idea?

Dan

Thought about it but seems you have to do quite a bit of work with PS (or similar) to remove the colour cast that seems to get added.

Went for the Light Craft Works variable nd filter in the end.

did that cost a fair bit? i didn't think about post photo editing of it, one video showed a guy cut a whole in foam board, taped some neutral density gel paper to the end and that was it! interested to see what could be done with them

I was looking at using welding glass - don't know about the nd gel.

There are plenty of guides for the welding glass method. You can get the glass for about £1 online.

I got my nd filter from http://www.premier-i...phic/-c-60.html who are fairly local to me and not that far away from yourself, although they do offer a mail order service too. I looked at many different makes of nd right from cheapo ebay stuff up to mega expensive lee filters. I decided on the lcw fader as it gave me anything from 2 stops up to 9 stops - getting that coverage even using fairly cheap stuff would cost a fortune. I don't notice any colour cast with it.

I would buy again given the choice.

Edited 11 January, 201313 yr by Chester

Yeah I looked into this before too however I never could decide getting glass or gel is better.. I suppose glass theres only regions of 10+ stops. whereas gel you can have less. Then again theres the quality/sharpness issue as-well as tint issue...

I would buy again given the choice.

The varying ND - is it simply a twist and go jobby? As per description I suppose one could get 2 CPL at two dimensions and one of those adaptor rings.. since I have lenses which are 55mm and 57mm... Interesting..

Yep - twist and go.

I have the 72mm filter and use it on a 62mm and 77mm lens with the appropriate step up/step down ring. Only problem is that I can't use my wide angle (77mm thread) at its widest setting of 10mm - I have to 'zoom in' to about 11mm to lose the darkening in the corners.

You can get cheap filters on eBay, less than a tenner, then you can see if you like the effect. I have a B&W 110, which was about £80, but it's great for mid-day long exposure