Need Help: Cokin P-Series filter w/wide angle lenses

LiveAwake

Hi Everyone,

I recently received a Cokin Varicolor B/Y Polarizer (P173), which I've been excited to try out. I wanted to use it with my Tokina 11-16mm on my D300, so I purchased the "Wide-Angle Slim 'P' Filter-Holder" and went out on a shoot.

The wide angle holder is *almost* wide enough. . . . there are a few angles at which I can just see it in the corner of the image. However, the filter itself is way too small, causing extreme vignetting unless I zoom the lens in quite a bit.

Did I get the wrong filter? Is there one of these that's a full glass plate rather than a round piece of glass in a plastic case? I'd really like to be able to use this filter wide, and I certainly can't spring for the ($850!!!) Z-Pro version. What gives?

Thanks!

LiveAwake

So lame . . .

JimKarczewski

I learned a long time ago, bigger is better which is why I skipped the P and went right for the X (4x4 and 4x6) when I went for universal filters

Zerodog

Yeah the P series I got vignettes after 20mm. On DX. Haven't tried FX yet. My guess will be 35mm?? So Jim is right on this one. Bigger!!

LiveAwake

Yeah, fantastic if you're rich. Are they really asking $850 for the Z-pro and $1,080 for the X-pro, or am I just looking in the wrong places?

JimKarczewski

LiveAwake wrote: »

Yeah, fantastic if you're rich. Are they really asking $850 for the Z-pro and $1,080 for the X-pro, or am I just looking in the wrong places?

You would be looking in the wrong place!

If you want a GND set (which is what I started with...) $300
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387468-REG/Cokin_CU960_Z_Pro_U960_Pro_Graduated.html

If you want just the holder $80
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387303-REG/Cokin_CBZ100_Z_PRO_Filter_Holder_Requires.html

You do need the adapter rings for each lens size you have.. which are about $40 each..
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387404-REG/Cokin_CZ477_77mm_Z_PRO_Adapter_Ring.html


The Z Pro filters are 4x6. The XPro are approximately 5x7 which makes them a bit more than the ZPro... The holder for the XPro is about $90 and just the adapter rings are about $80 ea. XPro polarizer is WAY out there at $810. I ended up making my own for the ZPro, bougth a B+W 110mm Circ-Polarizer and mounted it to my adapter.

LiveAwake

I think you misunderstood - I am looking specifically for the Blue-Yellow Varicolor polarizer. B&H is where I found them for $850 for the Z-pro and $1,080 for the X-pro.

JimKarczewski

LiveAwake wrote: »

I think you misunderstood - I am looking specifically for the Blue-Yellow Varicolor polarizer. B&H is where I found them for $850 for the Z-pro and $1,080 for the X-pro.

Ohhh.. Yeah... Welllll, those.. I dunno. Weird they would be that much. Thats why I didn't buy their polarizer for $300+. It's supposedly resin and I couldn't see paying that when I could get a B+W for $140 less. But yeah, that seems a bit much and probably due to the fact they don't sell a lot ofthose particular filters, because other large filters aren't nearly that expensive!

David_S85

Can't suggest anything concrete as an answer for you, but when I have filter-only related issues and questions that are different and unique, I will call (phone) the people at either 2filters (dot) com or camerafilters (dot) com. They often have products, suggestions, prices and best of all, answers that you can't find elsewhere. I got my Cokin Z-pro holder and 3rd party grads at 2filters and have been very happy with what they suggested - but the owner might talk your ear off if you let him. He will have spot-on advice though.

But as far as using any polarizer with super wide angle lenses, I can't suggest using them below ~15mm (on a crop) sensor due to the nature of how polarizers work and create different results at the edges of a frame. If you crop judiciously, then you might get decent results.

LiveAwake

Thanks for the tip!

I heard somewhere that Cokin is going bankrupt, which may explain back-orders and high prices. I'll see what I can find with the folks you recommended.