Hi Stan, the best way of focussing I have found is to use Live View. Even with little or no light, Live View presents a pretty good image and enables accurate focussing (BTW, this even works with an Infra-red filter attached which cuts out even more light). With regard to the filter and shutter speed adjustments, I take several test shots and once happy with the exposure I leave it as is. The histogram is vital for this as it is very easy to overexpose the relatively brighter areas if you are not careful.

Regards
David

Does the mark on the 50-200 manifest in any way on your images?

Regards
David

Stan, the banding your images exhibit are caused by turning the variable ND filter too far to the maximum setting. Tweak it back a little and these bands will disappear. I know that many will say 'what's the use if you can't set them at maximum', but to be fair these filters are not expensive and to get the same darkening effect with a single filter you would have to buy a strong one and costs therefore get higher. The beauty of the variables is that you can adjust from a mild setting to cutting out a fair amount of light without any banding occurring. I've also had success with mine by using in tandem with a circular polariser - this cuts out much more light without any banding and has enabled me to get 10 second exposures on bright sunny days. They are never going to compete with a Lee Big Stopper and I don't think anyone would expect them to.

Regards
David

Along with the other comments I do prefer the second shot as it is more balanced. Very nice.

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David

Beautiful images.

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David

I also have the 7 day shop variable ND filters and have had good results with them. You do lose a little sharpness, but the only colour cast I have noticed is a slight warming effect which helps to bring the colours out. The best advice I can give is not to turn the filters too far to the max, otherwise the images will have dark blotches on them. Regarding exposure, I think you should always shoot in manual mode whenever you use any ND filter that cuts out a lot of light, whether it's cheap or expensive. All DSLR's will have a tendency to underexpose when there is very little light and the darker it gets the more this will happen.

Spend £100 or more and you will get better ND filters, but for the price I have no complaints about the 7 Day Shop ones and I have used them quite a lot.

Regards
David

It's a cute image, but the highlights still look clipped to me and it needs to be a bit sharper on the eyes rather than the nose.

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David

I actually like No. 2, it is different from the norm. I have no idea what a camera club judge would look for, I just know what appeals to me and what doesn't!

It would be boring if we all thought the same.

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David

That's a great lens, I have one and can highly recommend it. It is one of the lenses I most frequently shoot with, not just for macro as it's great for all sorts of shots.

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David

Great shots Shaun, did you use the 135mm lens on these?

Regards
David