Anyone out there using one of these? I have crop body Canons...can I use these with the Canon 17-40 L and the Canon EF-S 10-22 without too much trouble?
I note the web site indicates there could be problems with wide-angle lenses so I was just wondering. Seems an ideal tool for folks like me who love to take moving water images.
Bob Wyatt
Jonesboro, AR.
NPN 02012009004463
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on April 15, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Bob, I think a Vari-ND would be good for shooting your Arkansas waterfalls, particularly as you move away from the sweet light of sunrise/sunset.
There are two versions of the Vari-ND and one of them is a slimline version. If you are concerned with vignetting then go with the slim version, it's about $50 more. My landscapes are taken with a full frame 5D and at 24 mm with my Vari-ND (standard) there is vignetting.
Posted by Doug Roane on April 15, 2009 at 12:08 PM
I have the Vari-ND and now consider it an essential part of my kit. The regular version is the about 1 1/2 x the thickness of my polarizer - I think you should be fine at 17 mm (but maybe not, based on the above), but I'd bet you'll get vignetting at 10 mm, so if you go that wide, go with the slim. I usually don't need to go that wide for the waterfalls I encounter. I like the ability to stack on an ND8, which is possible with the standard - probably not with the slim.
Posted by Julie Hatvany on April 15, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Don't know if cost is a concern for you but if it is there is a cheap man's (or woman's) version. You can take a slim regular circular polarizer and stack a slim linear polarizer on top of it. It works in much the same way and you can save about $300. Just a thought.
Julie
Bob, its not clear to me whether the people who responded to you are specifically describing the Vari-ND Duo, which is the one with the polarizer built in. Its a great filter, and well worth the $. I have tried the 'poor mans' filter technique that Julie described, but results with the VARI-ND Duo are so superior to this method its ridiculous. As for vignetting, I have a Canon 40D and use the filter on a 17-85 lens. Had to purchase a 'step-up' ring because the vari-nd duo is 77 mm, and the lens is 67 mm. There is vignetting at full wide (17mm), but if I back off just a bit (to around 19 mm) there is none. I really recommend this filter, but yes, you may have to get used to and work around some vignetting issues...
Thanks everyone for the help. I THINK this is something I will pursue. Just another way to spend $400. How do I squeeze this in with the list that includes a 70-200 IS L, a 10-22 EF-S, and another tripod so I can try some macro..guess I will be needing a macro lens or tubes also.
Discussion
5 repliesI note the web site indicates there could be problems with wide-angle lenses so I was just wondering. Seems an ideal tool for folks like me who love to take moving water images.
Bob Wyatt
Jonesboro, AR.
NPN 02012009004463
There are two versions of the Vari-ND and one of them is a slimline version. If you are concerned with vignetting then go with the slim version, it's about $50 more. My landscapes are taken with a full frame 5D and at 24 mm with my Vari-ND (standard) there is vignetting.
Julie
Bob Wyatt
Jonesboro, AR.