How Graduated Neutral Density Filters Work

First off, let me explain to you that I am a self-proclaimed anti-graduated-neutral-density (GND) filters user. I prefer doing 3 exposures or more and then exposure blend in the computer. However, as I was out and about with my latest Zeiss family member, a rather rare (and relatively expensive) Zeiss F-Distagon 2.8/16, the first & only fisheye for the 35mm system Zeiss has ever created, I felt compelled to try this out. I couldn't bring the filter closer to the lens without risking scratches on the filter plate. And yes, this is my reflection on the plate.

 

This lens is quite the charmer, it has four built-in filters! Blue, orange, yellow and UV - like they use to use with b/w landscapes in the old days!

 

This is a Lee 0.9 Hard Graduated Neutral Density (aka. 3-stop GND) filter held in front of a Zeiss F-Distagon 2.8/16 Rollei>EOS converted lens mounted on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera body.

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Uploaded on September 13, 2010
Taken on September 13, 2010