Rangefinders And Filters.

[Dave Green]

Hi all

My Yashica Electro 35 G is my first rangefinder.

I like to shoot outdoors - and I like to shoot wide aperture - so the max 1/500" shutter speed is quite limiting for me - even with ASA100 film.

I have a 55mm polariser - which I believe cuts out 2 stops?

Would this surfice asd a 2 stop ND filer on the camera? I realise that the metering won't adjust for this and that I'd need to adjust the film speed accordingly. But - I know that the polarising effect of the filter varies as you rotate it. Does the ND effect also vary? And as I'm not looking through the lens - could this be a problem?

Any other advice on this setup gratefully received - even if it's "Forget it - get a proper ND filter"

 

[Lesley Jones]

Forget it - get a proper ND filter. Seriously though... I used to use polarising filters quite a lot, but tired of the extreme darkening in the top corners. It's an effect you won't see with a rangefinder. The only filter I take anywhere with me now is the ND

 

[Pete Askew]

Forget it, get a proper ND filter! Yes a polariser will act as an ND but as you can't see / meter the orientation / effect you won't be able to get what you are after.

 

[Dave Green]

Thanks - so the ND effect does change with the orientation? Bugger!

55mm CircPol for sale

 

[Lesley Jones]

It's years since I used my polariser, but apart from changing with the orientation of the filter, it is stronger at 90 degrees to the sun. Have I remembered that right @Pete Askew ? I also seem to recall that the circular polarisers are for digital only - or that you can't use the old polarisers with digital. Good grief... what's happened to my memory tonight?

 

[Pete Askew]

Exactly right Lesley. You need to use a circular polariser with most modern AF cameras otherwise the focusing system and metering won't work.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Forget it... Get a proper ND filter.
Couldn't resist either.

Spot on what Lesley is saying.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

And Pete

 

[Chris Dodkin]

3 Stop ND (x8 ND) is typical Dave, although 2 stop filters are available (x4) - Hoya, Tiffen, B+H - all good

 

[Beth Carter]

you could get a variable nd filter, but i'm not sure what the quality is on those. i remember one that was released a few years ago could be rotated from 1 - 10 stops.

 

[Pete Askew]

The problem with the variable NDs (aside from the cost) as I understand it is that the calibrations are not really f-stops but just intended to allow one to repeat a setting. Again, without a TTL meter it will be difficult to us if that is the case.

 

[Dave Green]

Ta folks

I'll get a 3-Stop ND I think.

 

[Lesley Jones]

I only have the 3 stop and find it useful in most situations