I chose (did research and wasn't bound by equipment) Nikon because of much better support for work with off camera flash (CLS and better sync speeds).

I'm still heavily in DX. If Pantax had 1/250+ snyc speeds back then, I might have considered.

I love msmoto's Nikon F with its patina of use and love. Very nostalgic and romantic!

My last film camera was a Nikon F100 that I still have and I had several lenses for it that carried over into my first digital body- a D200. The F100 remains the best 35mm film camera I have ever used. What impressed me at the time was the seamless transfer to the D200, with almost all the controls being instantly familiar. I cannot comment on Canons as I have never used one but several colleagues of mine have them and they seem to produce very good results. They like them.

It might be worth remembering that before about 1990 or so, I don't think Canon really featured on the professional scene at all (mostly being used by keen amateurs) and therefore many photographers from the 60s, 70s and 80s grew up with Nikon as THE professional 35mm. camera and continued to use them after that. They had a reputation of being literally bullet proof- Don McCullin's Nikon F stopping a bullet in Vietnam that would have otherwise killed him as I remember.

My favourite camera is in my camera cupboard, unused for a couple of years now, my beautiful Horseman 5X4 monorail. I aim to shoot some B&W on it in the spring. I regret no longer having my stunning Nikkor lenses for it though!

Other than being heavily invested in Nikon-compatible equipment, my reason for sticking with Nikon is that I find the ergonomics better than the Canon-equivalent cameras, particularly at the semi-pro and pro end. Button and dial placement is much more comfortable to me on Nikon cameras.

Safyre.......don't worry about what "some people" think about K.R.; the guy's sharp as a tack on a lot of stuff; I just think he's "all wet" about "never needs no stinkin tripod"! Lotta people around who are just jealous of Ken; (how many guys you know who can make a great living with just a website ?) (answer: not many!)

Now;
Way back in "the day" I had a very nice Canon F-1; I loved that camera! I had a bunch of focusing screens for it, a REALLY cool flexible right angle "or straight through gadget that replaced the penta prism.......(wish I could use that thing on my D SLR); also had some VERY nice Canon FD lenses; then BAM! Canon went digital.....just like that ! "but what am I gonna do with all this "glass" that cost me a bundle ?" Canon: "Not our problem.....use 'em for door stops"!

I guess they figured if they came out with a new lens mount, everyone would just "run out" and buy all new glass ! I gotta tell you....that kinda pissed me off; (and please forgive my "course" language) So.......even before I went digital, I "upgraded" to a Nikon F-5; as far as I'm concerned, the thing has the finest view finder of any 35mm camera I have EVER looked through; I even bought a 300mm/ f:4 MF for it, an 80-200 / 2.8 , and about 4 more; guess what.........Nikon "went digital too"........and all that glass still works ! How's that ? Say you can't "get by" without auto focus ? Poor you! For some stuff, I prefer MF. (And I REALLY appreciate that Nikon didn't leave all of it's thousands of customers sitting with a pile of useless "glass" that they spent a fortune on !)

(I don't tell tell anyone who asks all of that; I just say "I prefer Nikon")

Charley

my hood was damaged-got a new one all is good!

I too am interested in one of the Variable ND filters and like many have stated I don't much care for the price(s).

Is there anyone here who can facilitate a group buy and perhaps help us all save a little?

Also, what about the Lee Big Stopper? No one has commented on said filter.

I have always wondered about the variable stop filters, at this moment I have an ND4 and an ND16.

One day I might just buy or rent if I can one of these.

I wanted to resurrect this to see if anyone has had a chance to purchase and use any of these. I'd been thinking of buying a straight 10 stop ND filter, but noticed that B&H is having a killer deal on the Tiffen 2-8 stop variable filter. I don't have a lot of experience with Tiffen filters (the only one I own is a 58mm ultra clear that I keep on my 50 1.4g) as I mostly use Marumi filters on my better lenses. Anyone have a point of view? B&H isn't taking orders until later today and the deal lasts through 12/20.

The reviews on the site were pretty instructional. Some complained of an "X" across the image at higher stops. Others warned of color cast. Others said it didn't really work at shorter focal lengths. Some however, were over the moon. Not really psyched to drop $400+ on a Singh Ray, although I do know you get what you pay for.

As always, thanks for the valuable input.

I know that this is not gonna be a popular answer, but it was originally Ken Rockwell that got me on the Nikon bandwagon. Back when I got my first SLR around 5 years ago, Ken's site had a large amount of information that helped make the foray into the DSLR market less intimidating. I know a lot of people have strong opinions of him, but one needs to realize that his target audience is beginners and amateurs; and for that he does a good job of telling people whats important to get out there and shoot, and not worry too much about the technical jargon. Now, that I've developed my craft, I very rarely check out his site anymore, but but his message still applies to this day, which is spend less time analyzing on the computer and more on actually shooting.

Nice thread.
I keep it simple.
I just say it has great glass and consistent reliability over time, any conditions, under a sickening amount of use by me.
I don't have to think so much or treat it like it's fragile.
I can just count on it, and I really like that.

fjota said:
Well, it is a good and easy question to be answered.
My first camera was a Nikon FE purchased in 1982 with a 55mm 2.8 MF MICRO lens that I use until now with my D7000 DX camera. There was others many steps between both cameras.
Since 1982, Nikon, for me, is a lifestyle, that reflect the attitudes, values and worldviews of your users and mine. The yellow color in the Nikon logo and in the square logo of the National Geographic Society are representations of adventure and proficient’s photographers living together, surrounded by the yellow color of the sunset in the Africa. Romantic, probably… But it is a real connection for many.
Our lifestyle controls our use of technology, while technology influences our lifestyles, Nikon did this with me.
fjota

Well, it is a good and easy question to be answered.
My first camera was a Nikon FE purchased in 1982 with a 55mm 2.8 MF micro lens that I use until now with my D7000 DX camera. There was others many steps between both cameras.
Since 1982, Nikon, for me, is a lifestyle, that reflect the attitudes, values and worldviews of your users and mine. The yellow color in the Nikon logo and in the square logo of the National Geographic Society are representations of adventure and proficient’s photographers living together, surrounded by the yellow color of the sunset in the Africa. Romantic, probably… But it is a real connection for many.
Our lifestyle controls our use of technology, while technology influences our lifestyles, Nikon did this with me.
fjota

msmoto said:
Here is my plan...as I have had good results with Hoya, I am planning on Hoya ND filters, 77mm, one 8X (3 stops) and one 64X (6 stops). My thoughts are if I want less light reduction I can use one , and a full 9 stops of reduction, use both. Thus, it would seem that in many cases I would be going through only one piece of glass, while with a variable filter one always goes through two filter elements, four surfaces.

The issues of vignette will always be present with almost any multiple filter setup on a very wide lens.

Any thoughts on this? Negative results with Hoya? Recommendations?

Reread your post. I got it.

Wow, I think I caused some confusion. The Singh-Ray, is a stacked filter, polarizing, I presume, and when rotated so the angle of polarization of each lens is 90°, then the maximum density is in effect. About 8 f stops. When the angels are in alignment it gives a density of 2 2/3 f stops. And of course the benefit is it is variable in between this limits.

The way I usually do a shoot is I know what I am trying to do, before I go into the field. I will have scouted the location, or at least have an idea in mind as to what I need in terms of f sot reduction. So, I can with the Hoya filters have either 3, 6, or 9 f/stops of ND. The 3 and 6 would be with only one filter in front of the lens. And I have in my B & H wish list the rings to step down to both 67mm and 72mm as this will cover the lenses I want to shoot with. The 16-35mm f/4VR, the 24mm f/3.5PC, the 24-120mm f4VR, and the 85mm f/1.8.

Now, the convenience of the variable aspect is nice. But for $130 I can do this vs. the $390 for the Singh-Ray.

And I have coming in a day or so a filter to cover the front of the 400mm f/2.8 so I can not only look at the sun, but shoot with this filter and do it safely with no heat build up internally in the lens. So, I kinda want to spend only a small amount as I have never done this long exposure thing with the ND filters and may decide I really do not like it. Ha, ha,, ha...never have found a photographic challenge I did not like.

The point of a variable ND is speed and convenience. I'm sure you could stack NDs out the wazoo and crop out vignette and make it work, but you'd still be screwing filters on and off in the field, worrying about dust and so forth. That said, there was a company doing cool work with rare earth magnet mounts for filters that could solve some of the convenience issues around stacking filters. Like PB said, different purposes depending on what you're shooting; stills, video, landscapes, portraits, etc.

Stacking filters can cause problems, in direct sunlight there can be a lot of flaring. I have a vari ND filter as well, and it degrades sharpness more, but it has a different purpose.

I like the idea of a Vari filter but for $390 i can get 3 or 4 filters and maybe an extra battery. As far as stacking. Say you had 77mm filters could you use step down rings to say 62mm or 52mm to stack or not and would that help with vignetting or would it cause some other problem? If you stack filters does the distance between each filter glass cause a problem? Maybe $390 is not so bad.

msmoto said:
@ tcole1983

The SinghRay is 10.5 mm thick and is a stacked filter set which rotates. Each Hoya is only 4mm, combined 8mm, so actually thinner than the Singh-Ray. And, the price is $390 vs. about $130 for both of the Hoya filters.... And when one is used, it would seem logical that the optical performance would be better.

Any experience with either?

Good point...I am just talking mostly :) Sorry no experience with them yet. Because of the cost and all my lenses using different sized filters I haven't invested in a set yet. Maybe after we see what bodies are released and if I need a new zoom lens or not.

@ tcole1983

The SinghRay is 10.5 mm thick and is a stacked filter set which rotates. Each Hoya is only 4mm, combined 8mm, so actually thinner than the Singh-Ray. And, the price is $390 vs. about $130 for both of the Hoya filters.... And when one is used, it would seem logical that the optical performance would be better.

Any experience with either?

Msmoto...seems to me you would be better off with a variable ND filter like the singh ray then stacking filters like that. I can't comment on the performance, but from my knowledge the more is not the merrier...and vignetting would obviously be more of an issue with multiple filters.

Here is my plan...as I have had good results with Hoya, I am planning on Hoya ND filters, 77mm, one 8X (3 stops) and one 64X (6 stops). My thoughts are if I want less light reduction I can use one , and a full 9 stops of reduction, use both. Thus, it would seem that in many cases I would be going through only one piece of glass, while with a variable filter one always goes through two filter elements, four surfaces.

The issues of vignette will always be present with almost any multiple filter setup on a very wide lens.

Any thoughts on this? Negative results with Hoya? Recommendations?

Thanks guys, Adamz I would like the screw on 77mm Vari ND Filter from Singh Ray and will purchase one probably next year in January or so because of the cost. That takes care of my ND problem. I believe Fargo is right and that 2 stops is not enough, but soft edge is the way to go over hard edge because the results are more forgiving. Therefore I'd like to get a Galen Rowell 3 stop softy and place it in Cokin Holder. Thats a Cokin Holder only so Adamz, thats just the Holder from Cokin, which I already have. This Rowell graduated ND is $99 and then I'd like a Daryl Benson 3 stop reverse for $120. $90+$120 I can do right now. Thanks tcole and yeti as well for your insights. Donaldejose that video is so true! How many great shots are had after the sun disappears? For example I was out last night shooting our last sunset before a Typhoon the size of Poland hits us today called Bolaven and wow the results after everyone else packed it in early were astonishing. Check this out! Shot with an ND 0.6 by the way.

I never got a ND filter although I mean to at some point. I was just looking at some in a camera store here last friday, but they wanted $200 for an off brand which seemed a bit steep. My friend has a variable ND filter that he is going to let me use when we go camping at the end of September...luckily the same size to fit my 17-55 and his 16-35. I am not sure if I would use one enough to justify the cost...that being said I already have the picture in my mind that I want to try out with it :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0wkp9aRFZ8&feature=em-uploademail

http://www.adorama.com/searchsite/default.aspx?searchinfo=vivitar+variable+neutral+density+filter

My experience with Singh=Ray is excellent. A two stop seems to work ok with me, and as Fargo811 indicates a soft transition is very useful. Would like to try a reverse ND filter at some point.