Not what was expected from Graduated Neutral Density filter

[bmcdougald]

A friend of mine purchased a Tiffen 58mm .6 nd grad filter to use for landscape pics on his Canon Rebel XTi w/ EF-S 18-55mm lens. However, when he uses the filter he cannot tell any difference in his pics. I have a 77mm SunPak .6 nd grad filter that I use on a Nikon 12-24mm DX lens, and the difference is very obvious. When I look at the two filters side by side, they look exactly the same except for the size.

What might the problem be? Is 58mm to narrow for an nd grad filter?

??

[bob_r]

What might the problem be? Is 58mm to narrow for an nd grad filter???

Tiffen makes a lot of different quality filters and that could be the problem. The fact that it's a 58mm shouldn't make any difference. Has he tried testing the filter? A .6 ND filter should reduce the available light by 2 stops. To test it, have him set up his camera outdoors, preferably on a tripod and on a nice sunny day. Set the camera to shutter priority without any filters, focus on a subject and see what the camera calculates for the f/stop. Add the filter (use the same subject) and take the reading again. The camera should adjust the aperture 2 stops to allow for the filter. If it doesn't, the filter could be a low quality one that doesn't work properly.

Hope this helps.

[gldiana]

I would start by making sure that your friend is using the filter properly.

[Wanderer47]

I would start by making sure that your friend is using the filter properly.

You know I am new here to this forum, however I don't see the humor in your response, re: "making sure your friend is using the filter correctly"
If you can't help someone out why waste your time responding.
I think the questions were legit and your response should have been a honest atempt to help.

Regards,
Wander47
"All who wander are not lost"