Long Exposure Photography with the DLX Stretch

The Process

The DLX Stretch is well known for being a macro lens adapter that comes with three neutral density filters: ND4, ND8, and ND16. These filters mount to the rear of the adapter which has a magnetic base. This capability was added to make the adapter compatible with various shooting scenarios.

One way to use the included neutral density filter is with long exposure photography. When doing long exposures, the goal is to slow down your shutter speed to anything longer than one second. This can be done organically with available light or by using a neutral density filter. If you use a DLX Stretch, you can utilize any of the three ND filters to slow your shutter down to the desired speed.

ND16 will provide you with 4-stops of light reductions, ND8 with 3-stops, and ND4 will give you 2-stops.

In my example, I used the Leica R to Fujifilm X DLX Stretch on a warm winter day at the beach. The available light at ISO 160 only gave me a shutter speed of 1/8 of a second at F22. Using the ND16 brought my shutter down to two seconds, a speed suitable for blurring the motion of the water.

Things To Note

The DLX Stretch lens adapters have a shorter flange distance than our other adapters. When the DLX Stretch is at its minimum extension, you will likely be unable to focus to infinity at your lens' native infinity mark. With my lens set to infinity, everything that was 30ft and beyond was out of focus.

To calibrate your lens, first set the focus to the infinity mark. By gradually adjusting the adapter's focus ring and extending the adapter (usually between one to three millimeters), you will see the distance come into focus. This is how you know your lens is properly calibrated.

There's another reason why the DLX Stretch adapters have a shorter flange distance. When adding a filter between the lens and the sensor, the filter extends the focal flange distance; this is known as refraction. This is easily corrected by refocusing the lens after adding the neutral density filter.

When using the DLX Stretch adapter for long exposures, be sure to care for the drop-in filters properly. We include a complimentary filter pouch but it's best to use your preferred method of storing filters. Always dust off your lens, sensor, and filters when out on the field.

To swap out filters we recommend removing the adapter with the lens still attached and gently tapping the base against the palm of your hand. One or two taps is enough for the adapter to pop out.

Lastly, having rear filtration means your image quality is less affected by degradation which is common with standard threaded filters.

Are You Ready To Try It Out?

The DLX Stretch gives you the ability to try out various photography subjects such as long exposure. Whether you're new or experienced, trying long exposure with this method is a fun challenge and one we will continue to try. Stay tuned for the refined version of this method. We will provide an update on using the DLX Stretch for long exposure photography in the year, so make sure you're subscribed!