 Ka Yee Ella Kwan |
Which filter holder should I buy? Hello, I am a beginner photographer. I would like to buy a few filters for taking landscape photos. A 0.9/0.6 ND grad and a megenta filter are one of them. I want to buy the retangle type rather than the circular one. Is Tiffen or Lee filters better? I know many professional photographers use both. Then which filter holders should I buy? Do I need to buy adapter for a 77 mm len? Thanks for any help.
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Andy |
Hi Ella, I just switched from using screw on type filters to the Cokin system. My largest lens is 72mm so I bought the 'P' series. Although Cokin claims that the P series is good for 48-82mm lenses, I would recommend go straight to the 'X-Pro' series (62-118mm) because with the Cokin polarizer on the holder, you may get dark corners (vignetting). Usually you get the holder and then buy the adapter ring to fit on your lens. If you have different lenses with different size, you just buy the adapter ring for each size and the holder should slide right in the ring. I have only used the Cokin filters and have no idea if the other brands are better. Of course, if you can afford, get the best filters. Hope this helps.
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Ka Yee Ella Kwan |
Andy, thank you for your answer. I did not think of the rectangle polarizer...How does it work? I used to use the circular polarizer and I rotate it until I see what I want. I also see the dark corner when shooting at 24 mm. If the rectangle polarizer is better, I may consider to buy one. Do you know if I can use the circular polarizer plus other rectangle filters together? Thanks again.
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Kerry L. Walker |
The polarizer is not rectangular. It is round but it fits into the square filter holder. Please understand that circular polarizer does not mean round. All polarizers are round. Circular refers to the construction of the filter glass. Autofocus cameras require a circular polarizer as opposed to a linear polarizer, which is used on manual focus cameras. Actually, a manual focus camera can use either type. Yes, you can use the polarizer filter with other filters. The polarizer fits in closest to the lens and others fit over it. Just don't go filter crazy. About all you really need are the polarizer, ND, warming and color correction filters.
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Terry L. Long |
I'd go with the Cokin "P" size holder system. I use it on lenses with filter threads from 49mm up to and including 77mm with absolutely no problems what-so-ever. I'd be hard pressed to say I get the same results with the "A" size. The XP size is just too plain expensive for me and the filter selections out there are very limited for that size. BUT...I wouldn't buy Tiffen or Lee filters because they're too expensive also! I've gone with Singh-Ray (they're expensive but not as much as Tiffen or Lee) which are "resin" type filters. A lot of people swear they'd never buy Singh-Ray because the resin filters scratch and warp too easily. If you are one of those people who don't take care of your equipment then, you'll probably end up with the filter scratched. But, if your just as careful with your filters as with your lenses then you'll never have a problem. As far as warping goes, go ahead and leave your filter in the car on a hot summer day where the inside gets over 120 degrees...yes, your filter will probably warp but, then again, your windows will blow out, when the air expands inside, first. Once, on a cold winter morning, I saw a fellow photographer drop his $170.00 glass Tiffen GND filter on the pavement...it shattered into three pieces! Also, use a regular PL filter on your lens and screw the "P" size adapter ring onto the filter. Once the holder is in place, adjust the PL to your desired taste, then hold the PL while while you insert the "P" size filter and turn it into position. Another way, screw your PL onto the lens and adjust, then HOLD your "P" size filter in place. I use this method, successfully, when I'm in a hurry because the sun is rising or setting very fast. The "unsteadiness" of the filter is actually helpful because it blurs the transition area even more so than if just held in place by the filter holder.
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Ka Yee Ella Kwan |
Thank you for both Kerry and Terry's valuable advices. I just want to buy a ND grad, a warming filter, a polarizer and a magenta filter. I know they are very expensive, especially Tiffen and Lee. So I am still considering and looking for information. I am using those directly attached HOYA polarizer and 81A for my 72 mm lens. They are fine, but I really need a ND grad. I think the retangular one would be better because I can adjust the position of the soft "edge". And I am planning to buy a 77 mm len and I can't reuse my own for the new len. This is just my plan because they are all so expensive.
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