Better use of money - Photomatix or 2-stop soft GND?

[SchralphMacchio]

Photomatix - $120

4x6 Singh-Ray GND - $160


I'd rather have the Singh-Ray, but I can see the Photomatix being more useful in a lot of situations.


Debate.

[Lonnie]

For me, the 2 stop, hands down.

[systemoverblow'd]

You can find photomatix for free, you can't with the filter

[nobueno]

The filter for sure. I always prefer to change the shot while shooting rather than in post (quite possibly because i suck at post processing). Photomatix might be useful in more situations but I've had my ND filter make a few shots that I don't think would have been possible w/out it. Or it can turn an OK shot, which you'll probably delete, into a great shot. Plus the filter will always be useful but I'm sure HDR will probably lose some steam soon enough.

[dfinn]

Filters have better resale value too.

[Altmanator]

You got PM.

I would second the filters. I have a 3 stop soft and a 3 stop reverse GND. I would push for a 3 stop instead of 2. A hard filter would be nice but if you're shooting in the mountains the soft will be easier to blend.

[supermodel159]

I picked up Photomatix free on here from someone...who I can't remember now.


Get the filter.

[hitek79]

3 stop Singh Ray. Depending on your camera, you can easily overcome 2 stops in post, so by having a 3 stop filter you get about 5 full stops have DR. I have a 2 stop that I'll sell you if you want it though. $100.

[Lonnie]

3 stop Singh Ray. Depending on your camera, you can easily overcome 2 stops in post, so by having a 3 stop filter you get about 5 full stops have DR. I have a 2 stop that I'll sell you if you want it though. $100.

Not 100% sure of that advice (regard the 3 stop). I understand where your going with it, but here's the counter point.

It's easier to darken a file without consequence than it is to lighten it. Increasing the brightness of a file introduces noise (because the software has to start doing some interpolation of the data), where darkening does not (unless it's completely blow out to white, in which darkening the file simply turns those areas grey). There are only a few situations where I find I need a full 3 stops of compensation.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

To the OP, I'd just save $60 and buy hitek's 2 stop...

[SchralphMacchio]

I just wanted a debate about the GND versus software. It seems most people say "both" but the filter is more desirable.

How about this debate: 2 versus 3 for the soft GND? I was thinking 3 for the reverse, but that I could get away with 2 for the soft.

I'm not necessarily looking for "total balance" of exposure since I like contrasts. I'm just looking to partially neutralize the foreground, like in this shot which is a hand-blended composite of 2 images about 2 stops apart:


This one was done with Photoshop's built-in HDR automation, which confuses the hell out of me. I initially took two images to blend by hand but the treeline was a biiiitch so I gave up. Also closer to 3 stop difference ...

[Lonnie]

How about this debate: 2 versus 3 for the soft GND? I was thinking 3 for the reverse, but that I could get away with 2 for the soft.

Try this site.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...ty-filters.htm

[SchralphMacchio]

Try this site.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...ty-filters.htm

Is this what you were trying to tell me?

The most versatile strength is perhaps the 2-stop variety; anything weaker is often too subtle, and anything stronger may appear unrealistic. In either case, it's often not difficult to reproduce the results of a 1 or 3-stop GND filter in post-processing (by starting with an existing 2-stop GND photo).

That's certainly an opinion ... but a believable opinion.

[Lonnie]

Is this what you were trying to tell me?

Nothing in particular. It just has a lot of good (basic) info. Did you find the "test" image where you could compare the affects of different types of filters on the same image?

Edit: I will say this tho, about 75% of the time, I'm using my 2 stop filters. If the sun has yet to come up or has already set, the 1 stop is my next choice. My 3 stops only get used if I'm shooting directly into the sun and it's low on the horizon. However, most of my shots I'm shooting away from or perpendicular to the sun.

I think if I shot more around water (lakes, oceans and the like), then my 3 stops might get more use.

[SchralphMacchio]

It just as a "darker / lighter" option not a 1-2-3 stop etc. But the sentences I quoted are pretty convincing.

[Lonnie]

http://newschoolofphotography.com/wh...ers-guide.html

[SchralphMacchio]

Well, first time using the GND I bought from hitek79 on Saturday night. Pretty fun to play around with! I think this will work for my needs. (I wish I had a longer lens on this trip)




I also got an older version of Photomatix, but I think I'll be playing with the GND more often.