Filter brands
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Simpo Two

Original Poster:

91,526 posts

289 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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Not often I ask a question about filters but here goes... whilst not a landscape boff, I shall find myself in Canada later this year, and it seems sensible, given the preponderance of mountains and lakes and blue skies and waves, to arm myself with a CP and perhaps an ND too (77mm).

I don't want to spend £100+ on Lee etc, but not £3.99 on Happy Shopper either. I see Hoya and Hama in the middle, £25-35 - but are there any other brands to consider? Ta!

NB I found a Kenko 77mm CP in the cupboard - would I right in thinking that's not too hot?

DavidY

4,492 posts

308 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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Big Hoya Fan here, especialy screw in filters, love the ProNDs as they have little (no) colour cast. Polarisers are good too. Also have the ND10 which is a screw in rotaional ND Grad, ok it's not as flexible as a square filter system, but its a lot less fiddly!

rich83

15,560 posts

162 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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DibblyDobbler

11,445 posts

221 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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Don't bother with the CP? I have a couple of them but never use them - you can get a perfectly good sky without them and normally reflections are a good thing in landscapes. Just my 2p worth smile

LongQ

13,864 posts

257 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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B&W.

Try eBay. Got two filters in perfect condition for about half rrp. They do an ultra thin version of the CP for wide angle. Probably a bit pricier but then should hold its value for sale on return from the trip.

The upper end of the Hoya ranges should be OK too.

Elderly

3,680 posts

262 months

K12beano

20,854 posts

299 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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DibblyDobbler said:
Don't bother with the CP? I have a couple of them but never use them - you can get a perfectly good sky without them and normally reflections are a good thing in landscapes. Just my 2p worth smile
yes

I bought a Nikon CP filter, secondhand. Immaculate condition from Grays, so still a hefty old wedge of dosh1!!


You know what? It sometimes goes on my 17-35mm, when I remember to take it with me, but if I get my 85mm out, I just can't be bothered to unscrew the lens hood and screw the CP in!

Hardly ever know where the damn thing is. Currently found it at the back of a drawer....... Doh!

(PS - it's a 77mm if you want to borrow it and see how you get on!)

GetCarter

30,847 posts

303 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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As you well know, I like my reflections, and CPs are counter intuitive for that, but they are bloody good with clouds, making them stick out a bit like red filters do with B&W.

DibblyDobbler

11,445 posts

221 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
It's funny - I tried my CP for the first time in ages last weekend and I'm screwing away like crazy but I can't see any bloody difference no matter what ! Must be operator error...

GetCarter

30,847 posts

303 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
DibblyDobbler said:
It's funny - I tried my CP for the first time in ages last weekend and I'm screwing away like crazy but I can't see any bloody difference no matter what ! Must be operator error...
I'm sure you know this (hence the wink), but the sun needs to be in the right place for a CP to work. If it's behind you it won't make a blind bit of difference. Some may not know mind.

K12beano

20,854 posts

299 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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GetCarter said:
....it's behind you ....
scratchchin What is this - a pantomime?

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

91,526 posts

289 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
K12beano said:
(PS - it's a 77mm if you want to borrow it and see how you get on!)
Hmm - I think perhaps a deal could be struck...? The resultant income would pay for 0.00001% of your next camera wink

K12beano

20,854 posts

299 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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Whereabouts in Canada are you off to? [/jealous mode]

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

91,526 posts

289 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
K12beano said:
Whereabouts in Canada are you off to? [/jealous mode]
Calgary (+ stampede yeehah) - houseboat on lakes - Rockies - Edmonton - hopefully Vancouver Island too (and a floatplane somewhere would be nice!)

Does Mrs Ted need a trip?

Crafty_

13,865 posts

224 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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If you're thinking of going for slot in filters you could look at hitech, you can get them from http://www.teamworkphoto.com


K12beano

20,854 posts

299 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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Sounds great - let me know when, and I'm sure I can hire out a filter I'm not using!

At least you won't want any of my strange lenses, or weird bodies. I seem to have a surfeit of speed lights at the moment if you need three or four...... hehe

DibblyDobbler

11,445 posts

221 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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GetCarter said:
I'm sure you know this (hence the wink), but the sun needs to be in the right place for a CP to work. If it's behind you it won't make a blind bit of difference. Some may not know mind.
Hmm - can't remember what way I was facing actually...

steveatesh

5,316 posts

188 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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Crafty_ said:
If you're thinking of going for slot in filters you could look at hitech, you can get them from http://www.teamworkphoto.com
Plus one.
I went with hitech purely because I couldn't justify Lee prices. No regrets about that decision at all, I use the soft gradient ND filter for sky's and the ten stop for long daytime exposures. Would recommend them.

tenohfive

6,276 posts

206 months

Friday 13th February 2015
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rich83 said:
I've got one too (paid closer to £70 for it when I got it mind) and it's done the job well. Very useful on those rare sunny days in the Lake District where reflected glare can ruin shots.

I've just switched to a Lee filter system and am quaking at the thought of how much a suitable polariser is going to cost me...a quick looks suggests the far side of £140. But I may get away without it - I use the CPL in the middle of the day, and the grads generally around sunrise/sunset. So we'll see.