For some time now I’ve been looking for a good filter pouch that wouldn’t break the bank. Like all photo accessories one can pay a fortune for something really well made (but not necessarily well designed) from a prestigious brand name or get one as “cheap as chips” that’s tatty and three parts next to useless. I’ve found one that’s really nicely made and affordable 🙂 . This pouch is made by JJC, it holds three filters up to 82mm diameter and has a strap fastening and belt loop. The elasticated neoprene pockets hold the filters securely. I haven’t got any 82mm filters but it certainly holds my biggest filter size, 62mm without a problem. I’ve had ones that are larger and also ones where one has to be very careful that the filters don’t fall out and the mesh-pocketed type can get snagged on filters with a “levers” like my variable ND/CPL filter but this one would seem to tick all of my boxes. I don’t have any affiliations with JJC but I do own several of their products including quite a few of their lens hoods and I’ve found their quality, functionality and pricing to be good. Oh, and the price £8.99 UK. 🙂
For my trip into Bognor yesterday I took my Olympus E-M5 II, Lumix 12-32mm lens, 58mm fit K&F Concept ND8-ND128, ND2-32/CPL and ND1000 filters. In the end I decided on taking my small Slik Tripod which I’ve modified by changing the ball head to one from a SLIK monopod that I had as it has a quick release plate. I also took my JJC radio remote trigger, a 62mm metal wide angle lens hood and a couple of step up rings.
All of these filters will attach to the 12-32mm lens with the aid of a 37mm-58mm step up ring. The 62mm hood will attach directly to the front of the ND8-128 filter, as it has a 62mm front filter thread, and with a 58mm to 62mm step up ring one can attach the hood to the ND1000 filter. The odd one out is the variable ND/CPL filter which has a 67mm front filter thread for which I don’t as yet 🙂 have a hood.
I chose the small SLIK tripod because it has five position adjustable leg sections and a screw in column extension should this be required. The whole setup worked very well and was reassuringly stable, I even used it, minus the tripod, ND filter/s and hood and fitted with my smaller regular lens hood to take some candid street shots using silent shutter with the lens set to 12mm and the camera triggered by the radio remote release with the camera hanging around my neck. Not something that I’m in a habit of doing but rather as a fun experiment. 🙂
Hope you’re all keeping safe and well. This morning I decided to update my blog design a bit to hopefully showcase my work a bit better. I have quite an extensive body of work which I’d like to attempt to present on my blog in addition to my website, particularly for those that are new to my blog and may not be familiar with my landscape work.
I’ m hoping to get out again soon and get some new shots. I’m keen to continue my experiments with long-exposure HDR. I made a start the other day with my brief visit to the seafront, it’s a learning curve. It was very sunny with a very cold wind on the seafront. I couldn’t really see in the LCD even with my LCD shade fitted and the camera position made the EVF too low down. The wind was so strong it was blowing the tripod around so it’s a miracle than anything was sharp!. 🙂 I also didn’t have a strong enough ND filter with me, it needed a 10 stop ND in such strong direct sunlight and the variable one I had with me only went to a maximum of 7 stops.
As I guess you all know, I absolutely hate tripods and lumping them around on foot. Even with the relatively lightweight one that I took with me my left shoulder and neck were pretty painful the following day. Next time I’ll take my Gorillapod which I’ve had for some years now and hardly used, and try and find something to rest it on or attach it to. At least it’s very light and compact and if I don’t end up using it then I’m not carrying something heavier around all day just on the off chance I’ll end up using it 🙂 . As my camera gear is small and lightweight then it’s well suited for the Gorillapod. I’ve also just taken delivery of a K&F concept combined variable ND + CPL filter which I’m keen to try out ASAP.
Finally manged to get out for a few hours this morning. Felpham beach, West Sussex. My first experiment with long exposure HDR. Not sure if I’m happy with it but it’s a start and it was magic to get out. 🙂
If you haven’t seen my previous post then the title will not make any sense at all. 🙂 . I’ve found a better solution for attaching one of my 58mm variable ND filters to my Lumix 12-32mm lens without vignetting. I attached a 37-58mm step up ring onto which the 58mm filter fits and then my 62mm metal wide-angle lens hood fits on the end of the filter. Simply unscrew my normal hood and screw on this arrangement instead, very quick and easy. 🙂 . The hood takes an 86mm lens cap and I can still leave on the 37mm protection filter on the lens if I choose so less fiddling about. Another advantage is that I can rotate the hood to rotate the filter which make adjustment quicker and easier.
I hope that I’m not boring too many of you with these kind of posts but, as we’re still in lockdown and I cannot get out I don’t have many new pictures to work with. I like passing on my finds as someone out there might find them of interest. After nearly four and a half months virtually confined to home, I’m chewing the carpet in desperation to get out, anywhere, preferably scenic, will do!. 🙂
