SixSeven
Member
Ever since I purchased my first rangefinder (a Mamiya 7II) a few years back, I've been told by many that graduated neutral density filters are extremely difficult if not impossible to use properly with it or any other RF. The oft-repeated line was that there's no way to properly align a GND filter, and even if you think you have it lined up properly, once you stop down to f16 or f22, the filter really won't be where you think due to the now smaller aperture hole.
Being predominantly a landscape photographer, I wanted the 7 for its incomparable sharpness and contrast, and went into it with the thinking "well, how bad can the GND problem be?".
I can confidently tell you that there is no problem whatsoever, and I have proven it, at least to myself, with some fairly exhaustive testing. I had two Lee filter holders, both the standard size. One, I made indent marks on it myself to indicate halfway, 1/4, 3/4, etc. down the face blades of the filter holder. The second filter holder I have has marked face blades directly from Lee, that have multiple different lines on which to base your filter placement.
Basically, I set up the 7 on a tripod using the 50mm in front of a plain featureless wall, and took 10 shots for each aperture: 10 at f/4.5, 10 at f/11, 10 at f/22. For some shots I switched holders just for the sake of variety. For each shot the filter was set at a different marking on the holder, and I recorded each shot's intended filter placement in a notebook.
After developing the film and looking at the negs tonight on a light box, I am pleased to say that every shot's recorded filter placement matches perfectly with what is actually on film. There is absolutely no problem using GND's on rangefinders if you have a filter holder with precise, accurately-placed indents on the faceblades so you can see exactly where to put the graduated line.
MYTH = BUSTED.
Go forth, and use your RF's for landscapes immediately!
Being predominantly a landscape photographer, I wanted the 7 for its incomparable sharpness and contrast, and went into it with the thinking "well, how bad can the GND problem be?".
I can confidently tell you that there is no problem whatsoever, and I have proven it, at least to myself, with some fairly exhaustive testing. I had two Lee filter holders, both the standard size. One, I made indent marks on it myself to indicate halfway, 1/4, 3/4, etc. down the face blades of the filter holder. The second filter holder I have has marked face blades directly from Lee, that have multiple different lines on which to base your filter placement.
Basically, I set up the 7 on a tripod using the 50mm in front of a plain featureless wall, and took 10 shots for each aperture: 10 at f/4.5, 10 at f/11, 10 at f/22. For some shots I switched holders just for the sake of variety. For each shot the filter was set at a different marking on the holder, and I recorded each shot's intended filter placement in a notebook.
After developing the film and looking at the negs tonight on a light box, I am pleased to say that every shot's recorded filter placement matches perfectly with what is actually on film. There is absolutely no problem using GND's on rangefinders if you have a filter holder with precise, accurately-placed indents on the faceblades so you can see exactly where to put the graduated line.
MYTH = BUSTED.
Go forth, and use your RF's for landscapes immediately!
