[Pavel]

I have been using ND filters for a while for landscape photography - mostly water. I would like to use it more often, but I find ND8 (3 f-stops) is often not enough and ND400 (8 f-stops?) is dark and I have to remove the filter each time to compose and focus. I dread that the barrel will move during this delicate operation. And thus Variable ND Filter -- (perhaps 2-8 f-stops?). Here you can compose and focus at ND2, and than just turn the filter. Singh Ray was the only game in town, but now there many, many brands to chose from ranging from $15 ( ) - to $ 300 +. What do you guys recommend. Personal experience?, good review?, comparison of results? Please help me out. Price matters, but I do not want to waste money on crap

Thanks Pavel

[Zig]

I used to use Lee filters for my medium-format work, as I found them consistent, smoothly graduated and without the unwanted colour castes of other makes I'd tried. I have absolutely no idea if Lee do what you need, but I do remember their filters being first-rate. I quite agree about wasting money on crap, Pavel; we're talking about adding another surface between the lens and subject, and it's obviously of paramount importance to keep that surface as flawless and "invisible" as possible.
I wonder, then, if you'd considered the "external slotted holder" solution for filters? You could then stack/remove at will, without the need to touch the lens barrel, if I've understood your need correctly.

[shuttertalk]

Whoops, missed this thread before I posted this:
http://shuttertalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=12356