Starting point for filters

[muppetdave]

Along with getting a wider lens soon, I'd like to start using some decent filters and trying my hand at a few more landscapes. Constantly frustrated with getting the balance of the sky and land, can anyone suggest a good starting point (I see Cokin do a 'P-Series' Starter kit with the filter holder etc) for the world of 'proper' filters - obviously an ND grad (but to what level initially) and perhaps a warm-up? (Circ Polarizer goes without saying if my existing one doesn't fit the new lens).

[SamHH]

If you want to use graduated filters, then obviously you'll need a filter holder and square filters. The two most popular choices are Cokin P series (cheap) and Lee (expensive). I bought some P series ones but now I think it'd have been better to go for the Lee ones in the first place. You may find the P series are good enough though; depends how picky you are. If you're using a digital camera, then I personally don't see the point in warm-up filters.

[muppetdave]

Thanks for that. To be fair I'd rather 'buy once' and if the difference is noticeable I'd rather start off at the right end of the scale

[GetCarter]

I went from Cokin to Lee and Lee are very silly money, but optically they are far better.

I use ND grads .9 and .6 hard (sometimes both together). The 'hard' bit denotes that the grad is more defined - which I find better for landscapes.

[muppetdave]

Thanks Steve, was hoping you'd pipe up

[ian in lancs]

Cokin scratch very easily Especially when two are kept in the same box......

[GetCarter]

So do Lee I'm afraid... but Lee do come with sexy pouches.

[RobDickinson]

I've had cokin for a while. The CPL is fine.

The ND and grads stink, horrid colour cast I'm hating more and more.

Probably be buying some Lee ones soon.

[markmullen]

I've got hitech grads, price wise between Cokin and Lee and no apparent colour cast.

In terms of storage I bought a CD case, it works a treat, I can label the sleeves and it only cost £2.

[muppetdave]

Lee digital SLR foundation kit by the sounds of it then (hadn't found it before for some odd reason) - on the Xmas list!

[Toyless]

Agree wholeheartedly on the cokon colour cast.

Very irritating.

[Jez64]

I've been looking at getting some filters myself, looks like
Lee are the way to go.

[omohat]

markmullen said:

I've got hitech grads, price wise between Cokin and Lee and no apparent colour cast.

I too went for hitech grads and can recommend them. While I'd love Lee or Singh Ray filters I'm glad I didn't spend that much because I hardly ever use the filters. The hitechs are fine for occasional use and I've never noticed a color cast.

I bought mine from teamwork photo as I lived in London at the time:

http://www.teamworkphoto.com/index.php?main_page=p...