Garry From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 183 posts, RR: 3 Posted (6 years 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 3380 times:
Guys I'm looking for some advice on the drop in filters available on the 500 f4 and 300 2.8 canon lenses.
There is a polariser option (pl-c) which apparently allows for easy adjustment similar to a conventional polariser, has anyone any experience of this and how easy is it to operate?
The drop in holder takes a 52mm screw in nd grad (amongst other things) - how many stops of an nd grad have people used when shooting into very bright light and even solar shots? Again any feedback would be appreciated.
DC3 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 50 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (6 years 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3324 times:
Hello Gary.
The 300 f2.8 I have here takes 48mm drop-in filters (it's the older non-IS version). Anyway, it's the same for all practical purposes and operating the polarising filter is very easy. A small thumb-wheel on the top of the holder allows you to adjust it very precisely. Certainly easier than using a conventional front-of-lens polariser when you are using a lens hood.
No experience of ND filters on this lens but I often use a Cokin two-stop ND for slowing down shutter speed (running water, etc.). According to my information, the only 52mm drop-in filter is the polariser (£189.99!), although there is a 52mm drop holder for gelatin filters - perhaps this is what you had in mind.
Javibi From Spain, joined Oct 2004, 1370 posts, RR: 46 Reply 4, posted (6 years 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3229 times:
Quoting Garry (Thread starter): how many stops of an nd grad have people used when shooting into very bright light and even solar shots?
I use ND 64x (6 stops) and 8x (3 stops) in my 500, both to obtain a reasonable f number when panning in full daylight and for some solar shots (not really needed for those during sunset/sunrise, unless you want to get a "very high contrast" effect).
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Dehowie From Australia, joined Feb 2004, 1045 posts, RR: 37 Reply 5, posted (6 years 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 3124 times:
I have the PL for my 300 and 500 and yes its very easy to use.
Same filter for both.
Drop in and has a small wheel on top of the filter to allow rotation.Easier than a standard PL to use.
Not cheap but you will get good results with it as it is easy to use.
Garry From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 183 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (6 years 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 3088 times:
Thanks Darren / Javi - the polariser is on order and I took delivery of the 8x (3 stop) ND this morning. Looking forward to trying it out over the weekend.
Thowman From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 361 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (6 years 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3052 times:
Quoting Javibi (Reply 4): I use ND 64x (6 stops) and 8x (3 stops) in my 500, both to obtain a reasonable f number when panning in full daylight and for some solar shots (not really needed for those during sunset/sunrise, unless you want to get a "very high contrast" effect).
Javibi, how does the auto focus cope when you have such dark NDs in the lens?
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From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 183 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Oct 2004, 1916 posts, 
I have the same gear and have been looking at the drop in filters as well.
From Spain, joined Oct 2004, 1370 posts, 
From Australia, joined Feb 2004, 1045 posts, 
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