B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I received this filter expecting a 2 stop difference and I can barely even see the difference when I hold it against something white. When placed on my t4i with a 18-135 stm lens, I can't even tell where the dark portion of the filter is. I have to turn the camera around, hold the lens at an angle to distinguish the dark side, orient the filter then hope that it does its job. After reviewing the pictures, there is no visible difference from pictures against the horizon and a blue sky with or without the filter. Seriously a waste of money. Good build quality though. I might try a tiffen filter though.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I had wondered about the build quality upon order, but after receiving it - I am thrilled to have. This is a necessity item for the new wide-angle zooms for digital photography landscapes.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I've needed to pull down the bright areas, clouds, white shirts...in general, lower LV's on the lighter objects in some of my shots. This filter really helps. Rotation feels precise. B+W has done well. Might be interesting to have additional filters with graduated areas within the filter circumference, not just to the edge.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

It is excellent build quality filter, I use B+W from the date of my first DSLR, it always give me best image quality. highly recommended.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I have this filter from one week and It is good one.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I like this filter. It's compact and lightweight. YES: It is not as versatile as the Cokin P system, or other movable filters but it is cheaper (for fewer lenses) and fits in a bag better.

Mine seems to have a weird anomaly where the glass doesn't seem to be completely sealed in the ring, but I'm emailing B+W about that, but for now, it seems fine, and is still very well made. I agree that the filter needs marks for where the gradient ends, but you can add these with a silver sharpie, which works well. (My guess is that the glass element isn't aligned to any specific part of the ring when they're manufactured, but I'm not positive.)

CAVEATS: These aren't necessarily cons but work nothing. The filter is a bit thick and may vignette when used on wide angle lenses, especially if they already have a UV filter on. (It depends if taking a UV filter off would bother you.)
Also, for bright, direct sun, the filter could be a bit stronger but there's not a B+W 3-stop graduated ND. (Or the gradient could go through more of the glass, that would help too.) Still you can tell it makes a difference, especially if there are clouds in the sky.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

This is an excellent GND filter. It has a very smooth transition from dark to light. The ND gradient is so subtle you don't see it in your final shots, which is exactly what you want. All the balance you need for most landscape situations. This is much better than the Tiffen version of the GND which has quicker transition and can be noticeable in some shots.

Just note, that this will vignette a touch if you stack it with another filter, so if you need to stack filters, get the low profile version.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

Many photographers dismiss round ND grad filters, but some have their place. This B&W filter is useful as a compromise in situations where you don't want to carry the larger square filters, but will have a subtle effect.

The problem with this particular filter is that the area of transition is extremely diffuse, and is almost impossible to see, even when placing the filter on a sheet of white paper. I marked the top of the gradation for reference, something B&W should have done. While it's officially a 2-stop filter, don't believe it--my measurements with 2 digital spotmeters (both Pentax and Sekonic 558) indicate that this filter does not reach more than about a 1-stop difference, and that's at the very darkest part of the gradation, right up against the rim. Do NOT expect an actual 2-stop difference. Don't expect to be able to see the graduation, even if stopped down fully. Because of the diffuse nature of the graduation, this filter will of little use with a telephoto lens.

As a "better-than-nothing" filter, it will have some effect, but for serious landscape photography it will have the same utility as those table-top tripods: better than nothing, but not great. One advantage this filter has over the Cokin type is durability: the filter is much better protected from scratches.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

Used in high-contrast dawn situations in the Southwest desert and some forest and waterfall situations in the Northwest. The filter does its job, but having a variety of NDG filters or at least two of them is advisable - I was still fighting highlights from the early am Southwest sun on a recent trip.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I am currently stationed in Kuwait. I use this product while photographing desert landscapes.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

A graduated netural density lens is helpful in those situations with great contrast such as a sunset or bright sky/darker landscape. The circular type limits where you place the transition, but it is much cheaper than the square type.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I received this filter expecting a 2 stop difference and I can barely even see the difference when I hold it against something white. When placed on my t4i with a 18-135 stm lens, I can't even tell where the dark portion of the filter is. I have to turn the camera around, hold the lens at an angle to distinguish the dark side, orient the filter then hope that it does its job. After reviewing the pictures, there is no visible difference from pictures against the horizon and a blue sky with or without the filter. Seriously a waste of money. Good build quality though. I might try a tiffen filter though.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I had wondered about the build quality upon order, but after receiving it - I am thrilled to have. This is a necessity item for the new wide-angle zooms for digital photography landscapes.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I've needed to pull down the bright areas, clouds, white shirts...in general, lower LV's on the lighter objects in some of my shots. This filter really helps. Rotation feels precise. B+W has done well. Might be interesting to have additional filters with graduated areas within the filter circumference, not just to the edge.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

It is excellent build quality filter, I use B+W from the date of my first DSLR, it always give me best image quality. highly recommended.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I have this filter from one week and It is good one.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I like this filter. It's compact and lightweight. YES: It is not as versatile as the Cokin P system, or other movable filters but it is cheaper (for fewer lenses) and fits in a bag better.

Mine seems to have a weird anomaly where the glass doesn't seem to be completely sealed in the ring, but I'm emailing B+W about that, but for now, it seems fine, and is still very well made. I agree that the filter needs marks for where the gradient ends, but you can add these with a silver sharpie, which works well. (My guess is that the glass element isn't aligned to any specific part of the ring when they're manufactured, but I'm not positive.)

CAVEATS: These aren't necessarily cons but work nothing. The filter is a bit thick and may vignette when used on wide angle lenses, especially if they already have a UV filter on. (It depends if taking a UV filter off would bother you.)
Also, for bright, direct sun, the filter could be a bit stronger but there's not a B+W 3-stop graduated ND. (Or the gradient could go through more of the glass, that would help too.) Still you can tell it makes a difference, especially if there are clouds in the sky.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

This is an excellent GND filter. It has a very smooth transition from dark to light. The ND gradient is so subtle you don't see it in your final shots, which is exactly what you want. All the balance you need for most landscape situations. This is much better than the Tiffen version of the GND which has quicker transition and can be noticeable in some shots.

Just note, that this will vignette a touch if you stack it with another filter, so if you need to stack filters, get the low profile version.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

Many photographers dismiss round ND grad filters, but some have their place. This B&W filter is useful as a compromise in situations where you don't want to carry the larger square filters, but will have a subtle effect.

The problem with this particular filter is that the area of transition is extremely diffuse, and is almost impossible to see, even when placing the filter on a sheet of white paper. I marked the top of the gradation for reference, something B&W should have done. While it's officially a 2-stop filter, don't believe it--my measurements with 2 digital spotmeters (both Pentax and Sekonic 558) indicate that this filter does not reach more than about a 1-stop difference, and that's at the very darkest part of the gradation, right up against the rim. Do NOT expect an actual 2-stop difference. Don't expect to be able to see the graduation, even if stopped down fully. Because of the diffuse nature of the graduation, this filter will of little use with a telephoto lens.

As a "better-than-nothing" filter, it will have some effect, but for serious landscape photography it will have the same utility as those table-top tripods: better than nothing, but not great. One advantage this filter has over the Cokin type is durability: the filter is much better protected from scratches.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

Used in high-contrast dawn situations in the Southwest desert and some forest and waterfall situations in the Northwest. The filter does its job, but having a variety of NDG filters or at least two of them is advisable - I was still fighting highlights from the early am Southwest sun on a recent trip.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

I am currently stationed in Kuwait. I use this product while photographing desert landscapes.

Comments about B+W 67mm 502 Graduated 0.6 ND Filter:

A graduated netural density lens is helpful in those situations with great contrast such as a sunset or bright sky/darker landscape. The circular type limits where you place the transition, but it is much cheaper than the square type.