B+W 52mm Grad ND 0.3-2X (501)

by B&W

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.1 x 2.1 x 0.3 inches ; 1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00017LRR2
• Item model number: 65-063806
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Size: 52mm | Style: 0.3-2X

From the Manufacturer

The images on the left was taken without any filter.
The image on the right was taken using a
B+W Graduated ND filter.Click for larger view.

B+W Graduated ND (501) Filter - Darken Half Your Image up to 1 F-Stop

This filter has a graduated density from clear to gray. The neutral gray half of this filter transmits 50% of the incoming light. You will use it to darken part of the scene by one f-stop (50%) without altering its colors. For example, when the sky is too bright in relation to the landscape, this filter can give you good detail rendition in the clouds. This keeps the sky from being “washed out” by over-exposure.

B+W graduated ND filters are preferably used for darkening mostly of the sky or sometimes of the foreground. They come in a rotatable mount that permits the exact upward or downward alignment of the neutral gray half when the filter is screwed tight.

Uncoated

This filter, made of CR-39 optical acrylic, is uncoated. This is common with special effects filters, where coating is either an impossibility or would work against the effect the filter is trying to attain.

Side view of F-Pro Rotating
Mount. Click for larger view.

F-Pro Brass Filter Mount

This filter uses a rotating B+W F-Pro filter mount for added creative options. The mount has a front accessory thread and is made of brass. Compared to the earlier standard mount, the F-Pro mount, introduced in 2001, has become thinner. Now it can be used with wide angle lenses, including most 24mm focal lengths on a full frame body, without vignetting. Another advantage of the F-Pro mount is its modified retaining ring, which is no longer threaded in from the front, but holds the filter glass in place from the back. When removing a filter or lens hood that has been screwed on too tight to the filter, the retaining ring is not at risk of loosening.

Product Description

The neutral gray half of this filter transmits 50% of the incoming light, so that it darkens the respective portion of the subject by one f-stop without altering its colors. For example, when the sky is too bright in relation to the landscape, this is an ideal amount for good detail rendition in the clouds and for preventing the sky from being "washed out" by over-exposure.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Filter, April 8, 2007

By 

B. Valentine "I am out to prove I have nothin... (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: B+W 77mm Grad ND 0.3-2X (501) (Electronics)

I'm not going to get into why one would want this specific type of filter - there are books on the subject that will go into a lot more detail - here is one example - there are many: The Photographer's Guide to Filters (Photographers Guide).

I will comment on the quality of this product. B+W filters are made in Germany. Germany is consistenly one of the best producers of high end glass and optics. I have been told the reason the quality of these filters is better than most is that they don't make them as separate units, but instead they build a cylinder of glass and cut each filter off of it. Consistent quality. Screw ring is hard metal, so it is very difficult to strip the threads. I have messed up the threads on cheaper brands by accident.

In my experience, buying filters falls into the category of you get what you pay for. Cheaper brands are out there, but if you want a very high quality filter, that is durable and consistent with what you want to achieve with it... you can't go wrong with B+W filters.

Be sure to choose the right size - for example, Nikon prints the size on the back of the lens cap.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still helpful even with Photoshop, September 5, 2010

By 

Shane O. Laake "camera nerd" (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: B+W 77mm Grad ND 0.6-4X (502) (Electronics)

These days many effects that old school filters used to be required for can now be done via software, alas there are a few that cannot be replicated. One is the graduated neutral density filter, such as this one. Sure you can darken part of an image in Photoshop, but you're missing the real benefit of having that ability at exposure on the lens. Sunsets or other scenes where bright lighting in part of the image can hinder the ability of the sensor to capture and record details in darker parts of the scene. This is also true of film, but most of you who are still using film probably already know this.

To be honest, most users will probably benefit from a setup like this Cokin U961 Z-Pro Grad Filter Kit, SQ/ Z Pro Filters, but I needed something compact that could work on my Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras without vignietting. It did the trick, and I never regretted going with a round grad ND vs a square one (which you can slide to adjust the horizon as needed). My only real complaint is that it does scratch quite easily.

For those of you debating between a 1 stop (B + W 77mm #501 Color Graduated Filter - Light Dark Grey Neutral Density (ND)) and 2 stop grad ND (such as this one, the 502), I strongly suggest a 2 or maybe 3 stop one.

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars You should really use the Lee 4X6 or Cokin P grad NDs, December 8, 2008

By 

DigitalMan "DMAN" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: B+W 77mm Grad ND 0.6-4X (502) (Electronics)

This filter is very hard to use because even with the depth of field preview button you struggle to see the gradation line. Also, you can't move the line up and down as the scene demands. I really recommend, and have personally gone to, the 4X6 rectangular graduated ND filters and the results are far superior. Hitech also makes an acceptable resin filter in both the 4X6 and Cokin P sizes (go for the 4X6 if you can). Singh Ray's are the absolute best as they are glass. A bit pricey though. Don't bother with the circular ones at all.

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