Filter Advice

[Downton Mini]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at getting some filters ND and Polorising for my camera I have 3 lenes which makes it more diffcult as they are all different sizes.

I was looking at the round filters but I have now started to look at square filters as I could get adapters for the different sizes.

I've been looking at the Cokin filters I now LEE are the best but sadly they are a bit out of my price range. SO basically what I wanted to know are the square filters as good as the round ones and are Cokin a reasonabel filter?

[markmullen]

If you're looking at slot in filters but want better quality than Cokin but not as expensive (or, to be fair good) as Lee then Hitech is the answer.

IMO slot in filters are a lot better than round, aligning grads for example is much much easier with slot in filters, particularly if your camera has liveview.

Depending on what lenses and body you're using you've got a choice of 85mm (P series in Cokin) or 100mm filters (Lee size). If you're shooting on ultrawides, or full frame, go for 100mm. You can also get two lengths of 100mm filters, 100mm or 150mm. I'd go for the 150mm for grads as it gives you a lot more flexibility in aligning them.

You don't need hundreds of filters, I'd avoid 1 stop (if you've only got 1 stop difference between sky and foreground you can afford to expose for the sky and bump the shadows in post processing without bringing in loads of noise), 2 and 3 stop would be my recommendations. My favourite is a 3 stop hard edged grad which I use an awful lot. I prefer had to soft, the only time I would use soft edged grads is in a scene like a wood with loads of bits of tree at the top of the scene, otherwise I use hard edged.

[Downton Mini]

Thanks Mark I'm still new to all of this so I'm ashamed to say some of your post has lost me sorry

But I am hoping to learn I have found out thaat there is a local camera club so plan to go along and see them at some point I also have a copy of Understanding exposure which I have just started to read.

I have a Nikon D3100 and the lenses are Nikon 18-55 whihc came with the camera, Tamron 55-200 and I have just brought a used Nikon 70-300

[markmullen]

Downton Mini said:

Thanks Mark I'm still new to all of this so I'm ashamed to say some of your post has lost me sorry

My apologies, I'll try again, sorry if I rushed ahead.

Downton Mini said:

I have a Nikon D3100 and the lenses are Nikon 18-55 whihc came with the camera, Tamron 55-200 and I have just brought a used Nikon 70-300

Right, with those you can use 85mm filters, which are the cheaper size.

Hitech brand are better than Cokin but cheaper than Lee, you can order them through http://www.teamworkphoto.com/

I would go for the following:

• Adaptor rings for your lenses, http://www.teamworkphoto.com/hitech-standard-adapt... - have a look at the end of your lenses, there will be a symbol like an O with a strike through it, that is your filter size, get one for each lens, unless they happen to be the same sizes in which case you can share them across your lenses.

• A filter holder, http://www.teamworkphoto.com/hitech-series-cokin-s...

• A 3 stop hard edged filter, http://www.teamworkphoto.com/hitech-grad-filter-ha...
• A 2 stop soft edged filter, http://www.teamworkphoto.com/hitech-grad-filter-so...

That should be a good starting point, if you particularly enjoy sunrises and sunsets (who doesn't) then a reverse grad is worth a look;
http://www.teamworkphoto.com/hitech-reverse-grad-0...

I hope that helps.

[Downton Mini]

No need to apologise your help and advice is very much appreciated. I will have a look at the lenses tonight and see what size adaptors I need.

I'm doing LEJOG agian this year in the Mini so hopefully I will get to try and take some landscape shots. One day I hope that some of mine will come out half as nice as the shots I've seen you've posted and I will be a happy person.

Thank you agian for your advice

[PJ S]

70-300 is ø 67mm (ø = diameter)
55-200 is ø 52mm
18-55 is ø 52mm also

So you'll need one of each size unless you'll not be using the 70-300 for such activities requiring filters.
If so, then the 85mm should be sufficient, but if you were to use the 70-300, then you'd be wiser to opt for the 100mm filter system.

[velocemitch]

Downton Mini said:

No need to apologise your help and advice is very much appreciated. I will have a look at the lenses tonight and see what size adaptors I need.

I'm doing LEJOG agian this year in the Mini so hopefully I will get to try and take some landscape shots. One day I hope that some of mine will come out half as nice as the shots I've seen you've posted and I will be a happy person.

Thank you agian for your advice

Blimey I admire your confidence having time for photography on LeJog....

No way my camera is going in a rally car, to much of a distraction and a risk.

[Downton Mini]

velocemitch said:

Blimey I admire your confidence having time for photography on LeJog....

No way my camera is going in a rally car, to much of a distraction and a risk.

It's more of a sort gentle (ish) run for charity we cover about 250 miles a day with photo stops etc its over 5 days the drive home however well that's an 8 plus hour 450 odd mile trip

[velocemitch]

Ahh I see, LeJog means something entirely different to me and you certainly wouldn't have time for photography. 3 days non stop, no Motorways, no A roads, in December

[Killwilly]

If you choose circular filters, then I would suggest buying one to suit your largest lens and then use step-down rings for your other lenses. This is what I do and works perfectly and saves money.

[Ari]

This thread has been very useful, and based mostly on Mark's advice I'm about to order:

Hitech 100 standard adaptor ring (for a 77mm lens)
Hitech 100 metal modular holder = 105mm front ring
Hitech 100 ND Grad Filter - ND 0.6 (SOFT edge)
Hitech 100 Pro Stop filter 10 stop (3.0) Lee fit

Before I "push the button" I'd like to know people's thoughts and advice on this.

Firstly, it's for a Nikon D7000 so crop sensor, mainly for use on a 12-24mm F4 but also a 24-70mm F2.8.

The Pro Stop is for those lovely long exposure daylight photos. There is a range from 6 to 10 stops. Am I going over the top with the 10 stop?

Is the ND 0.6 soft edge a good first graduated filter? I'm brand new to filters and am doing this mainly because I want a "Big Stopper" but I feel it makes sense to get the proper holder etc and a grad so I can start experimenting with graduated filtered landscape photos. Step at a time and all that.

Anything else a "must have" while I'm ordering?

All thoughts much appreciated, and thanks in advance.

[markmullen]

The Pro Stop comes in Lee or Hitech fitting (the gasket depth is the difference IIRC), if you're going for the Hitech holder get the Hitech fit filter.

I personally prefer a hard edge to a soft edged grad, a soft is only its full strength at the top of the filter which can mean you blowing the horizon if you're not careful.

[Ari]

That's a good point. My thought process was that living in Devon it's all hills and therefore bumpy horizons and a graduated filter would be more forgiving of that. But clearly I'm a complete novice and open to advice so if you think a hard edge would work better I'll swap it. Can always buy the graduated one later, I'm just trying to keep the initial cost down.

[markmullen]

Ari said:

That's a good point. My thought process was that living in Devon it's all hills and therefore bumpy horizons and a graduated filter would be more forgiving of that. But clearly I'm a complete novice and open to advice so if you think a hard edge would work better I'll swap it. Can always buy the graduated one later, I'm just trying to keep the initial cost down.

I live in North Yorkshire, which is pretty hilly, and go to the Lake District and the Highlands of Scotland quite a lot and still my most used filter by far is the 3 stop hard.

[Ari]

Good enough for me! I'll swap it.

What about my ND 10 stop. Too much or about right?

[Ari]

Ok, order now looking like:

Hitech 100 standard adapter ring (for a 77mm lens)
Hitech 100 metal modular holder = 105mm front ring
Hitech 150 ND 0.9 Grad Hard Edge Filter
Hitech 100 ND Pro Stop filter 10 stop (3.0) Hitech fit

Sensible first set?

[markmullen]

Ari said:

Good enough for me! I'll swap it.

What about my ND 10 stop. Too much or about right?

A 10 stop is what you need for daytime long exposures in bright light, using them at dusk or dawn can give you exposure times running into many minutes.

Have a look at this, it might help http://www.markmullenphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/8...

[Ari]

That's very useful Mark, thanks.

I'm thinking I'll go with the 10, and maybe add an intermediate one in the future if I find it would be potentially useful.

I'm already at nearly £250 for two filters, a holder and an adapter, I think that will do for now!

[markmullen]

Ari said:

That's very useful Mark, thanks.

I'm thinking I'll go with the 10, and maybe add an intermediate one in the future if I find it would be potentially useful.

I'm already at nearly £250 for two filters, a holder and an adapter, I think that will do for now!

Glad it helped.

I've got a Big Stopper, and a 3 stop Cokin which I use occasionally, it has the typical Magenta cast of Cokin which is actually quite helpful sometimes in warming a scene up.

[Ari]

It's interesting you say that as I was looking through your photos and a lot do definitely have a warm feel to them. I guess that's why.