Mike and Sue – I’ve used it on my 24mm lens so not sure where that guy gets that information. Maybe you have a bad filter, I’d take it to the store and try a different one or ask them.

Or get another 3 stop and add them together.

The guy at the camera store told me that effect happens wider than about 50 mm. I have not used it since that weekend but a few pictures zoomed in more didn’t have the problem. Also backing off from full darkness on the filter also helped. Since the variable filter is 2 polarizing filters the not using below 50 mm makes sense since you really can’t use a single polarizing filter at real wide angles because it gives different darkness to the sky. I would like to be able to use it at full strength but it may only work in certain situations. Hope that helps some.

Hi.I just bought the Promaster variable ND Filter this past weekend.I had the same problem.if i backed off it helped,but i did not get the effect i was looking for..Have you figured it out yet? I was using it on my 18-55mm lens. I haven’t had much time to practice with it,so any help you can give will be much appreciated.

2 stop is a good choice. You want one that is darker?

it shouldn’t but may if you haven’t shelled out for the more expensive filters. If there are flaws in it or scratches and you are shooting at a small aperture it could affect image quality.

Thank; I did combine my 2&8 to achieve the ten, then went out and did some shooting. I was surprised at the color tint that it added, but that shouldn’t be a problem because I usually shoot raw and edit in PSE. My filters aren’t expensive ones but there was only a very minimal drop off in sharpness viewing at 100%. Does adding any filter cause some drop-off in sharpness due to the extra element for light to pass through?

Lee

This is my problem with variable ND filters. I know others have a lot of success with them, but I don’t like them. I agree about backing them down as suggested by Mark. In addition, the problems seem to happen mostly at very wide angles, so perhaps try to avoid that.

What Darlene said. Plus you can also use a polarizer since it reduces light by 2 stops.

Guess what, 2+8=10! You can stack them!

Thank you.

Great suggestion

If you are using Bulb and pressing the button directly you need to hold it down the entire time. So yet a remote release would be better so you aren’t touching the camera during the exposure, possibly adding shake and blurring your image. Check Amazon.com for remotes or visit a camera store near you – take your camera they can help you get the right one.

Awesome!

Indeed!

http://www.manzanita-ent.com

Exactly Mark

I know that with my variable neutral density filter if I adjust it past it’s marked maximum range I will also get the X pattern across the middle of the image. When it happens I have to just back down some on how dark I’m pushing the filter.