Center Filter on US eBay

[greg]

Click here to see on Ebay

Today I decided to purchase a center filter.

Before the nay sayers reply-

I realize that the experts will say the filter and lens have to be delicately engineered to result in the absolute optimum result.

I am a hardware person who likes to experiment. This will be used with any and all lenses I have to see what the results may be. I have no preconceived notions as to the results.

This post is just for those who might like to play with a brand new copy of this type filter.

[SkedAddled]

That's very interesting, Greg.

I've known of solid and graduated ND filters, but have never come
across center ND filters before. Quite a neat trick.

Thanks for sharing the discovery.
It's certainly something to consider.

[cooltouch]

Yup, center filters are pretty useful for folks who shoot with very wide angle lenses -- most typically seen in large format applications, as the eBay auction suggests. Coincidentally, though, I've been wondering about how well one would work with my Vivitar 17mm f/3.5. I was looking at some images I took with it recently and it appears to have a fairly obvious 'hot spot'. Think I'll wait a while though. I knew CFs were pricey, but I didn't realize they were quite that pricey.

Let us know how it works out for you, Greg.

[Attila]

Please share your experience with us! This is completely new thing for me.

[greg]

Just a follow up - today Feb 2, 2010, I received via registered mail the filter. It is as described- brand new.

It took 15 days on the calendar for it to arrive here in New York State.

I have purchased many items from the seller with no problems.

As soon as the Sun returns and the snow melts a bit, I will go out and take some pictures with and without the filter to post.

[F16SUNSHINE]

Thx Greg
I'm following this thread to see how it works out for you.
What lens(s) will you be testing it with?

[kds315*]

I made tests once using my ZEISS S-Biogon 40mm with and without center filter with about neglectable difference.

[Sevo]

This seems to be a clone of a Schneider Center Spot II, which would match older and less extreme Super Angulon types. Personally I rarely use center spots on such a relatively "long" focal length, as the light falloff there is relatively negligible, and still seems natural. Besides, it is one of the lesser things to deal with in printing or digital postprocessing - no real point in a separate treatment there, the more so as these filters cannot be as optically neutral as a non-graduated one.

More extreme lenses do indeed need such a filter, but they require a highly dedicated (and considerably more expensive) CS filter, or you'll get a bright or dark ring zone which is much worse than any falloff.

The Biogon has very well suppressed falloff in any case - all my CS filters do visibly overcompensate on my Biogon (Mamiya 50mm/75mm, Fuji 65mm) type MF lenses.

[greg]

I will just grab a bunch of various lenses and head out with the intent of experimenting with them. I have no foregone conclusions to work around.