REVIEW: B+W ND 110 Filter

B+W 10 Stop Neutral Density Filter

B+W is a optic company that was founded in Berlin, Germany in 1947.  They are renowned worldwide for their optical quality and functional designs; and many believe that B+W is the best company in the world. They make a wide variety of products that are very good and I own a few of them, but today I want to talk specifically about the ND 110 (their 10 stop filter).

Below is a before and after the filter shot which illustrates the effects that the filter has.

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You can readily see the effects that this filter enables you to give to your pictures. Granted similar effects can be achieved without this filter by taking pictures on a cloudy day or at the early light of the day or just as the sun is going down. Are you tired of missing the shot because of bright lighting? These pictures were taken seconds apart at 12:05 PM (usually  considered the worst time of day for taking pictures of waterfalls).  The sun was very bright and there were just a few wisps of clouds in the sky.  This filter allows you to get that perfect silky flow of water under any lighting condition.

Now some people argue that the B+W ND 110 gives a brown hue to the entire image. comparing the two pictures above there is little difference in color even though the scene is naturally very brown in color. Here is another photo that I used the filter for to show how there is not a recognizable hue shift. This image is still a very "cool" temperature to it even using the filter.

The use of the B+W ND 110 will introduce a whole new dimension to your photography.  It allows you to show movement or to eliminate movement (I will explain). This next photo shows both how you can show movement and eliminate movement.  This picture was a 5 min exposure.  As you can see there is a lot of movement shown in the water and the leaves.  The movement that was eliminated was people.  There was a constant stream of people walking across the bridge but because the shutter was open for so long, they weren't in the frame long enough to register on the sensor.  This is a trick that architectural photographers have been using for a long time.

Here is another example of the filter being used to eliminate motion.  This is a picture I took of the Latter Day Saint Temple in Washington DC.  The highway below me was filled with cars.  However, with the use of the  B+W ND110 It looks as if the highway is abandoned.  

Here is another example of what the filter can do when there is a breeze and clouds in the sky.

I would highly recommend the purchase of a  B+W ND 110.  Yes they are a little pricey but the price is matched with the quality of the product.  You will not regret your decision.

One purchasing tip I have for you:  When buying a filter (of any type) always purchase the largest possible size you would want.  That way you can use a step down filter converter to use the filter on other lenses.  If you buy a 52mm filter for a 52mm lens that you have and then you also have have a 72mm diameter lens you will not be able to use the filter on both lenses.  However if you purchase a 77mm filter you can buy step down rings for all your lenses and save a lot of money.