Filters
Author
Discussion

julianhj

Original Poster:

8,871 posts

293 months

Wednesday 18th April 2007
quotequote all
I have a couple of posh new lenses due imminently, and want to make the most of them with some basic filters. I've previously used Skylight 1B filters to protect the front element, but I've never experimented with anything else. I'm reading up a little on polarising filters, and will be buying one shortly. What makes/prices should I be looking for, and are there any other filters I should be considering?

GetCarter

31,313 posts

310 months

Wednesday 18th April 2007
quotequote all
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm Gradated ND

www.leefilters.com/CPEF.asp?PageID=77

Go Cokin if you want a MUCH cheaper option (90% as good)

bulb763

870 posts

265 months

Wednesday 18th April 2007
quotequote all
I've got Hoya UV filters on all of my lenses. I don't know how wise this is, but the theory is its cheaper to replace a damaged filter than lens. Prices for these vary greatly, depending on numerous things (size, shop, quality, etc) so you'd need to look around. I found Surrey Photography to be reasonable.

Circ-Pols are relatively expensive, so when I get the funds, my approach will be to get one that fits my largest lens (or largest lens I am likely to get, for future-proofing) and use adaptor rings to fit it to the smaller lenses.

One other thing - I've found the different "trim" levels on Hoyas filters to be very confusing, so my advice would be make sure you know what you're buying readit hehe

m12_nathan

5,138 posts

290 months

Wednesday 18th April 2007
quotequote all
Was investigating this myself today and was going to post the same.

Cokin are much, much cheaper, Mr gravy told me that Lee are the business but not sure I can justify the difference.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

285 months

Wednesday 18th April 2007
quotequote all
I'm thinking of getting some cokin stuff, mainky because its easy to switch lenses with them and there not too expensive.

Main problem I have is I want to use a CP on my 10-20, even with the wide angle P addaptor you still get vinigareting at 10mm with the cokin stuff.

I dont use any 'protection' filters.

V6GTO

11,579 posts

273 months

Thursday 19th April 2007
quotequote all
The best...



...and it's all mine! Mwa ha ha nuts

Martin.

omohat

361 posts

261 months

Thursday 19th April 2007
quotequote all
V6GTO said:
The best...

...and it's all mine! Mwa ha ha nuts

Martin.


[jealous]Git[/jealous]

omohat

361 posts

261 months

Thursday 19th April 2007
quotequote all
On a more serious note I've just bought this:

www.digitalrev.com/en/product_details.php?item_id=1480&category_id=

I think (but I could be wrong) that its their top of the line Polarizer. It worked out to just over £40 with delievry. If thats too much theres also this:

www.digitalrev.com/en/product_details.php?item_id=237&category_id=

However, the cheaper one doesn't have as many of the coatings as the Pro-1 and so could be more suceptible to flare/lack of contrast etc.

I bought 77mm so that I could use the one filter with all my lenses. Don't think I'll be able to afford a lens with larger than 77mm filter size any time soon.

bulb763

870 posts

265 months

Thursday 19th April 2007
quotequote all
omohat said:
On a more serious note I've just bought this:

www.digitalrev.com/en/product_details.php?item_id=1480&category_id=

I think (but I could be wrong) that its their top of the line Polarizer. It worked out to just over £40 with delievry.


How?! When I go through checkout it adds taxes and postage and comes to over £50! Tell me how and I'm going to buy one!

This was working out at around £60 last time I looked (a couple of weeks ago) so I was waiting for either a/ a price drop or b/ save some money

omohat

361 posts

261 months

Thursday 19th April 2007
quotequote all
bulb763 said:
omohat said:
On a more serious note I've just bought this:

www.digitalrev.com/en/product_details.php?item_id=1480&category_id=

I think (but I could be wrong) that its their top of the line Polarizer. It worked out to just over £40 with delievry.


How?! When I go through checkout it adds taxes and postage and comes to over £50! Tell me how and I'm going to buy one!

This was working out at around £60 last time I looked (a couple of weeks ago) so I was waiting for either a/ a price drop or b/ save some money


Let me check my receipt when I get home. My memory was telling me just over £40 but you may well be right.

omohat

361 posts

261 months

Friday 20th April 2007
quotequote all
bulb763 said:
omohat said:
On a more serious note I've just bought this:

www.digitalrev.com/en/product_details.php?item_id=1480&category_id=

I think (but I could be wrong) that its their top of the line Polarizer. It worked out to just over £40 with delievry.


How?! When I go through checkout it adds taxes and postage and comes to over £50! Tell me how and I'm going to buy one!

This was working out at around £60 last time I looked (a couple of weeks ago) so I was waiting for either a/ a price drop or b/ save some money


I've just checked my receipt and you're right - it came to £51 inclduing VAT/duty and delivery. Less than £60 though so maybe the price has come down or maybe they've added a cheaper delivery option. I went for the cheapest delivery avaiable and it took just over a week to get here.

le gravy noire

1,857 posts

279 months

Friday 20th April 2007
quotequote all
V6GTO said:
The best...



...and it's all mine! Mwa ha ha nuts

Martin.


you've a way to go yet old bean...thats a pathetic collection.

stuart b

281 posts

271 months

Friday 20th April 2007
quotequote all
I picked up a Hoya 77mm Pro-1 Digital circ pol. on ebay in Feb for £45 delivered from a UK trader. They don't seem to have anything for sale at the mo. but probably worth a look to see who else might have one.

Stuart

bulb763

870 posts

265 months

Friday 20th April 2007
quotequote all
omohat said:
bulb763 said:
omohat said:
On a more serious note I've just bought this:

www.digitalrev.com/en/product_details.php?item_id=1480&category_id=

I think (but I could be wrong) that its their top of the line Polarizer. It worked out to just over £40 with delievry.


How?! When I go through checkout it adds taxes and postage and comes to over £50! Tell me how and I'm going to buy one!

This was working out at around £60 last time I looked (a couple of weeks ago) so I was waiting for either a/ a price drop or b/ save some money


I've just checked my receipt and you're right - it came to £51 inclduing VAT/duty and delivery. Less than £60 though so maybe the price has come down or maybe they've added a cheaper delivery option. I went for the cheapest delivery avaiable and it took just over a week to get here.


Yeah looks like they've reduced the price. Think I'll bite the bullet...

V6GTO

11,579 posts

273 months

Friday 20th April 2007
quotequote all
le gravy noire said:
...thats a pathetic collection.



omohat

361 posts

261 months

Saturday 21st April 2007
quotequote all
I've found another option to the usual cokin/lee filters:

www.teamworkphoto.com//hitech.html

The Hitech 85 filters will fit Cokin P holders. They are made by a company called formatt and judging by the comments I've found are rated pretty well (much better than cokin but not quite as good as Lee or Singh Ray). I think I'll order the ND Grad Hard set (a set of 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 grads) at £30 and maybe add a 0.6 ND as well. Add a cheap Cokin P holder and £60 should be enough for nice set to experiment with filters without being too far out of pocket if I don't use them much.