The difference between hard and soft graduated filters

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7 Feb 2012 - 5:06 PM

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mikehit (e2 Member)

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7 Feb 2012 - 5:13 PM

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Hard grads have a relatively quick transition from full ND to clear. Soft grads it is more gradual. The rate of change in both cases differs between manufacturers.

Hard grads are usually used for 'clean' horizonssuch as seascapes - if you used them for places where something like a tree or a lighthouse crosses the transition zone you may notice the effect across its middle. So for uneven horizons you would use a soft grad.
If you are using a APS-C camera the usual recommendation is to have a hard grad because the transition zone is proportionately more of the image size than on a 35mm sensor.

Lee (and HiTech) do NDs that are 150mm long and the advantage of these is that you have more latitude on where you place the transition zone, though the shorter 100mm NDs will still give you reach over a vast majority of the sensor.

mikehit (e2 Member)

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7 Feb 2012 - 6:48 PM

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My initial response would be 'yes' but it depends on how uneven the horizon is and what is causing it. For example on a white lighthouse the grad cutting through it will be more obvious than on a tree or a hillside, and even then you may think that it is worthwhile spending the time doing some exposure correction in post processing to avoid buying 2 sets of filters. I would say buy the hard set and progress to soft if you need it.

NEWMANP (Critique Team)

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7 Feb 2012 - 10:10 PM

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id buy 2 filters. Lee 0.9 hard and 0.9 soft. they cover most situations as the soft can be pushed up and down and used in tandem with the hard when required. to be fair i hardly use my 0.6s (and i have both) and i would never have used 0.3s even if i had bought them.

i think you would use a 0.9 soft more than hard if you only want to buy one, particularly with the cityscapes, with landscapes hard are really only totally suitable with pretty level horizons but are invaluable with seascapes.

see, thats my view and Mikehit above has his which are opposite but equally valid, you will just have to see what suits you best.

Phil

BillyGoatGruff (e2 Member)

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8 Feb 2012 - 1:17 PM

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I'd go for Hard edge grads on that camera.
On DX sensors they act like soft grads d on FX sensors.

You may find this of interest.

seoulsaver

8 Feb 2012 - 11:48 PM

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jeez, this isnt easy. looks like ill go for a mixture, they aren't cheap but i dont want to make the wrong choice either.