Filters: cheap against expensive?

[Tony Starks]

What are the main benefits of buying expensive filters over cheaper ones?

Is it like the audio world and all snake oil or are there benefits to be had buying Cokin filters over Zomei ones?

Alex

[Simpo Two]

I bought a cheap CP once and it put odd colours into the sky.

I think Rob D is the resident filter expert.

[markmullen]

Better quality filters give far reduced colour cast, particularly an issue when stacking multiple filters, and are more resistant to flare when shooting into the sun.

They don't wear out so if budget permits I'd recommend a set of Lee, they'll last you.

[pidsy]

the breakthrough photography ones are very good.

expensive but very good!

http://breakthrough.photography/product/x3-neutral...

i have the 3 stop and 6 stop (combined giving a 9 stop)

[bullies180]

I was looking at the Lee filter system the other day, they are not cheap either!

[K12beano]

Tony Starks said:

What are the main benefits of buying expensive filters over cheaper ones?

Is it like the audio world and all snake oil or are there benefits to be had buying Cokin filters over Zomei ones?

Alex

What would you like filters to do for you? Which are on your shopping list?

All filters present an immediate compromise in the image quality; probably, there's some correlation between £££ and compromised quality - depending upon the situation (for example - pointing your lens towards s light source is always going to be .... "fun".)

But maybe for your purposes you won't notice much difference, or maybe it will be critical?

[RobDickinson]

Cokin are plain nasty sorry. You can spot a cokin shot a mile away. That magenta sky colour :spew:

If you are talking about just straight ND filters you can correct a little colour cast with white balance but you cant ever fix strong (usually magenta or blue) cast completely.

Lee overall are awesome but not a cheap option, their grad filters are neutral but resin so scratch (but dont break), the big stopper has a cold/blue cast but its not huge. The little stopper is ace.

NiSi are a new chinese brand making a lot of noise online, tried some of their filters, great system, has some pluses vs lee, some -ve , overall cheaper, thinner 2mm filters but glass.

Format hitech are another brand that do decent filters, cheaper than the above 2 and reasonable quality

[mizx]

I have no experience beyond the few filters I have nor any other product from those two makes, but I can't fault my Tiffen ND3.0 and Marumi cpl considering they were 20 odd quid each, though. Bought the ND on a whim, but I did my research into the Marumi and they seem a good value proposition.

[steveatesh]

I use the Formatt Hitech filter system as a compromise between Lee and the cheap Cokin etc.

I have had no problems once I learned how to use them that is. The 10 stop filter does give a colour cast but it is easily removed in Lightroom or whatever.

[DavidY]

steveatesh said:

I use the Formatt Hitech filter system as a compromise between Lee and the cheap Cokin etc.

I have had no problems once I learned how to use them that is. The 10 stop filter does give a colour cast but it is easily removed in Lightroom or whatever.

The Hitech Firecrest range has less colour cast, even my 16 stop has only a little colour cast

[ecsrobin]

So I'm after a 77mm adapter ring and 100mm filter holder to replace my cokin set.

Looking at Wex (any recommendations on where to purchase would be great)

hitech adapter and holder £83
Lee adapter and holder £91
Nisi adapter and holder (Amazon) £75

Then for a 10 stop filter

Hitech £90
Lee £100
Nisi (Amazon) £78

So for £18 I'd say the lee is better over the hitech?

[DavidY]

No, but maybe, but yes, but no !!!! If it's the Firecrest Schott glass Hitech 10 stopper, then personally I would say that the Hitech is better than the Lee (but that's a personal opinion)

But if you decided that filters weren't for you then, the Lee will get you more money back. I view it a bit like Hewlett Packard, no one is going to shoot you for buying an HP printer, but you might not have bought the best available!

Shot with a Hitech 16 stopper (220 second exposure), very minimal colour temperate adjustment in lightroom afterwards.


Long Exposure Week 9 - Steam Mill Chester by Mr Perceptive X100, on Flickr

But as you know loads of people have shot great shots and swear by Lee

Edited by DavidY on Thursday 3rd March 16:50

[Tony Starks]

Thanks guys,

It was the magenta hue that got me asking, I got myself this kit http://www.aliexpress.com/item/ZOMEI-20-in1-Gradie... as it was a good introduction. With out breaking the bank and giving me scope to upgrade the filters as and when funds and skill allow and have an adaptor set and holder.

I only listed Cokin as that was the only brand I knew lol.

In my first play I did when any normal numpty would do and wacked on all 3 ND filters and that's when the magenta really came through.

[RobDickinson]

If you are purely after a 10 stop I'd rate the lee big stopper 3rd if that hitec is a firecrest

[ecsrobin]

That was the normal hitech. Wex are out of stock of firecrest 16stop but Amazon (sold by Amazon) have it for £100

[RobDickinson]

Not sure what hitec filter it is, I bought the old one and it was the worst thing camera related I have ever bought utterly unusable

[Craikeybaby]

What are the availability of Lee filters now? When I bought mine a few years back they were pretty hard to get hold of.

I'm thinking of moving back to screw in filters, as most of my lenses are 77mm and I haven't used my grads in years.

[peter tdci]

ecsrobin said:

So I'm after a 77mm adapter ring and 100mm filter holder to replace my cokin set.

Looking at Wex (any recommendations on where to purchase would be great)

hitech adapter and holder £83
Lee adapter and holder £91
Nisi adapter and holder (Amazon) £75

Then for a 10 stop filter

Hitech £90
Lee £100
Nisi (Amazon) £78

So for £18 I'd say the lee is better over the hitech?

This is a good resource for checking prices of all things photographic (it's also highlighting an 10% off deal Wex have in March on filters!):

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Lee/Lee-100mm-F...

I've bought some Lee stuff from Teamwork in Central London. They don't seem to be on the site above though, but their prices are about the same as Wex. They stock the Hitech Firecrest 10 stop 100mm ND filter, but it looks like it's £120 (their prices are shown ex-VAT)

[ecsrobin]

Craikeybaby said:

What are the availability of Lee filters now? When I bought mine a few years back they were pretty hard to get hold of.

I'm thinking of moving back to screw in filters, as most of my lenses are 77mm and I haven't used my grads in years.

Everywhere seems to have them in stock.

Thank you to the poster above about the 10% off at WEX that makes it £171 for lens adapter, filter holder and big stopper.

[RobDickinson]

IMO lee have been getting a huge kicking from NiSi online recently. Massive marketing campaign and heaps of freebies out there lots of reviews and positive energy.

Lee have bumbled along not giving a st, I've even talked to them about it but its like they just dont care, they are Lee and that is all. This might have worked back in the day there was no actual competition...