Cokin filters? Or another make?

[steveatesh]

Hi all, bit advice please. I have a Nikon D5100, still using the stock 18-55 lense in the main and have a zoom lens too.
Following a thread on here a few weeks ago I would ike to try my hand at some filter work, ranging from ND Grad filters to the 10 Stop for effects.

I see Cokin, Lee and Hi Tech appear a lot, Lee seems expensive for a hobby, Cokin seem quite cheap. Don't know anything about Hi Tech.
I'm favouring the Cokin at the moment subject to comments here but want to make sure they are suitable for my kit using the appropriate adaptor.

Are they easy to use, and in particular will the 10 stop ( I think it has to be a 85mm Hi Tech as Cokin don't seem to make one?) filter bleed light through the holder edge or are they a tight fit?
Also will the fact my lens focus by exteral rotation cause any problems or does the Cokin system rotate easily?

Thanks in advance.

Edited by steveatesh on Thursday 12th September 19:16

[markmullen]

Hitech are the best compromise between cheapness of cokin and the quality of Lee.

Externally focussing lenses aren't as easy to use with filters but not impossible. Focus, then knock it on to manual focus, then align the filter.

If you have a look at the other thread I linked to a blog post I wrote explaining what you need.

[steveatesh]

Great thanks Mark, I read it and got me interested, now I'm sorting out the detail for which one to go for.

Appreciate your help, cheers

[Kermit power]

If you're going for the really dark filters, you'll find you need to focus first, then put the filter on, as typically there won't be enough light coming through the filter for the AF to work (or to see to manually focus). Of course, you'll need a tripod, but then that would be the case anyway, given the exposure time required.

[markmullen]

When it comes to the longer exposures here is another blog post I wrote.

http://www.markmullenphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/8...