Hitech ND3.0 test - take 2

I have a new Hitech ND3.0 filter. This post shows the colour variation with and without the filter attached:

Without any filters:


With the ND3.0


I tried to use ACR Calibrator to create a profile to correct the problem but as you will see there are a few colour patches that aren't fixed. Particularly 2nd row, third from the right.


Without filter:


With ND 3.0:

Hitech ND 3.0 test

I am now in possession of some Hitech filters. This post is to show the colour first without the ND 3.0 in place and then with it.

Without:



With the ND3.0

More on filters

Further to yesterdays experiment, I had the opportunity to have another dabble with the filters. Again on a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L IS USM. My eventual aim is to make the clouds blur as they move on the wind.

This first shot is with the filter holder reversed. In this position, it can hold a single lens, I used the Z154.


Note the presence of the filter in the corners of the shot. I still have a Hoya D-Pro 1 UV filter on the lens. Next I'll try removing that (but that's for another day).

My next experiment was to try to get the longest exposure possible by adding filters.
I placed the Z154, Z153 and furthest from the lens, the Z121M. Here are the results.

I was rather shocked to see the colours in the sky. Honest, the sky wasn't purple/pink!

6.0 secs at f/22, ISO 50.

6.0 secs at f/22, ISO 50.

I've yet to figure out the best way of solving the unexpected colour cast or to find an explanation for it. For now, desaturating masks the problem.

6.0 secs at f/22, ISO 50.

Any explanations for the colour cast would be welcomed.

Cokin Filters

I took delivery of a nice set of Cokin filters and accessories yesterday:

All Z Pro

• Z121L Grad ND2
• Z121M Grad ND4
• Z153 ND4
• Z154 ND8
• filter holder and 77mm adapter ring.

Today I got out into the local countryside and had the chance to try them out.

I wondered how wide I could go before the monster on the front of my lens got in the way. At 17mm with the filter in the slot nearest the lens here's the result (with Grad ND4). I will need to try experimenting, for example having the holder reversed to reduce its forward projection to see if I can shoot unhindered at 17mm.

A slight crop and the shot is looking much better.

Done for Now

I've had another go at cleaning my sensor this morning. After methodically cleaning all my lenses, I decided to persevere with the sensor in the 5D. First I tried using the Arctic Butterfly and I did remove a number of specs, but there was one big speck that just kept sliding around, I could even see it with my eye on the sensor (if I caught the light just right). So, what next? I tried using a Giottos Rocket Air blower to blow the bit out, so with the camera held in the air, sensor facing the floor, a squirted a few blasts of air into the chamber. It seems to have done the trick. There are still a few small spots in the last test shot but it's a heck of a lot better than it was. I wonder how long it will be before I need to go through this exercise again?

More EOS 5D Sensor Cleaning

After figuring out that I needed to get rid of the dust using another method (rather than the pec-pads), I decided to order a Arctic Butterfly® SD800 Pro Kit, it arrived today. I had a quick go at using it to clean the sensor in my EOS 5D and it picked up a lot of the dust.

Here's the new shot after the clean.

There's still some dust, but I now know it's coming out, I've just got to concentrate on the edges and corners a bit more. It could be that I stuck them on a bit with the eclipse liquid?

EOS 5D Sensor cleaning

So I used the cleaning kit, it's a wand, pec-pads and eclipse fluid. So far, it looks like I just moved the dust around. Here are the before and after shots, I had a second attempt to see if things got better.

I'm currently in correspondence with the supplier to get further advice.

Bye for now.