2011-10-02T21:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
Does its job
B+W filters are high quality. The filter thread never cross-threads but always glides on & off with ease. B+W filters are mid to high grade. Filters cheaper than B+W either have threading problems or construction problems. Due to this, B+W filters are my bottom grade and I only go up from there, although it should be noted most the filters in my inventory are B+W.
It should be noted this filter does not have a hard demarcating line, but rather, is a soft graduation from Neutral Density to clear. I am not necessarily for or against that, I am just letting the customer know in case they have a preference.
monochromatics
2011-09-03T21:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Well made, compact
I purchased this filter primarily because of its portability, intending to use it in high-key outdoor situations for event photography.
Like every other B+W filter I've used, this one is well-made in every respect. The rotation of the graduated element is stiff, enough so that I can manipulate a circular polzarizer on the front without fear of rotating the graduated element. Because this is a two-stop filter, the effect is subtle; in many situations, I feel I would benefit from a stronger filter, but two stops is better than nothing at all.
The filter works 100% as expected on my 24-70mm zoom, but curiously enough, it has a terrible effect on my 70-200mm zoom, at least at the infinity focus. No observable problems with the autofocus, but the resulting images are too blurry for use. I did not at all expect this; I just tested it again, and got the same results.
Even with that caveat, the filter does what I bought it to do. I'm satisfied.
KYLE L.
2009-07-23T21:00:00
Rated 3 out of 5
Seems to work but hard to tell.
Difficult to tell where the gradient starts & stops.
I have to look at the filter in the case against a white background to see the gradient. When I mount the filter on the lens the type engraved inside the lens has to be on the bottom to place the gradient at
the top.
DAN C.
2009-07-22T21:00:00
Rated 3 out of 5
Only partly dimmer
It helps, but I'd prefer shading to a darker gray. It does have B&W's high mechanical and optical quality, and I do use it.
THEODORE T.
2009-03-29T21:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Well Made, One Thing Missing
I use this to shoot waterfalls and other landscape scenes that require a graduated filtering of sky highlights. It's heavy, well made, and screws on/rotates easily. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a dot or arrow indicating when you have the filter perfectly rotated for darkest at top and horizontal gradation. I have had it "off" by 5 degrees or so, with unfortunate effects. I can never remember whether the top says "made in Germany," "F-Pro," or "B+W." I think the top center is over the "a" Germany, which is very difficult to remember. A red arrow or dot would be nice, but I'm not sure the competitors have that either.
Marylynne D.
