Help with filters

thebigsky

I've decided from various research that I want a couple of ND grad filters, I'm thinking of going with the Cokin P series, are these considered reasonable quality, I've read mixed reviews? It seems as though I'd be better off with Singh-Ray filters but I can't find a UK stockist, does anyone know of one?

Charlie

claudermilk

From everything I've read the Cokins apparently have a slight warm cast & don't age well. The general advice seems to be to go with Hitech, Lee, or Singh-Ray instead.

Then of course, there's always someone who thinks Cokins are just fine who appears in one of those threads.

thebigsky

Thanks Chris, I've read some posts regarding using Hi-Tech and Singh Ray filters in the Cokin P holder, however they don't seem to be very easy to source in the UK.

Do you know if Lee filters fit the Cokin P series holder?

Charlie

Shay Stephens

I have a P series cokin ND soft edge grad, have had it for a couple of years, so can't speak to it's ultimate longevity, but it has worked fine for me so far. When I scratch it to oblivion I do plan on buying another one to replace it.

As far as color casts, all the strong ND filters I have tried have had some to one degree or another. So I don't worry about that. It's never been outside the realm of fixing or ignoring for me.

thebigsky

Thanks Shay, I think I'll get some Cokin filters to start with, they're pretty cheap and will do whilst I'm practising. I can always upgrade at a later date.

Charlie

TomaS

thebigsky wrote:

Thanks Chris, I've read some posts regarding using Hi-Tech and Singh Ray filters in the Cokin P holder, however they don't seem to be very easy to source in the UK.

Do you know if Lee filters fit the Cokin P series holder?

Charlie

I have no firsthand experience with Lee, but apparently they are larger than the Cokin P series and so not compatible. Contact Singh-Ray directly to get their first class filters. I bet they can ship them to you. They do not sell thru dealers in the US (except B&H on backorder) anyway.

Here is an article comparing the two systems:
http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/cokin-p-versus-lee-grad-nd-filters.html

pathfinder

My Galen Rowell Grad ND from Singh Ray fits a Cokin holder

Or I just hold it in my hand while shooting

thebigsky

Thanks for that info guys, I never though of hand holding, funnily enough I have Cokin Z Pro ND grad that someone gave me but I've just left it in the cupboard because I didn't have a holder.

Is hand holding a realistic proposition?

Charlie

pathfinder

Sure - Just don't bump the camera during exposure.

You need to be able to move the grad filter up and down while looking through the viewfinder to identify where the gradation changes. You cannot just see the change in density of the filter unless it is moving, so you need to have a hold of it to move it before you finally position it for exposure anyway.

Somewhere Andy posted a shot of me holding a Grad ND in one hand while tripping the shutter with my other hand at Yosemite. Or use a litle tiny piece of gaffer's tape to hold the filter to the lens hood - watch out for vingetting if you try this trick....

thebigsky

Ok, I might give that a try. Here's what could be a really stupid question:-

When shooting landscapes there are invariably elements that rise from the land portion of the image into the sky, trees etc. Clearly these are also subject to the darkening of the image. Is it the case that this is not that noticeable or does work then need to be done individually lightening oll the elements that were unintentionally darkened?

I can imagine this is fairly simple for digital images, but what about film?

Charlie

Shay Stephens

thebigsky wrote:

Ok, I might give that a try. Here's what could be a really stupid question:-

When shooting landscapes there are invariably elements that rise from the land portion of the image into the sky, trees etc. Clearly these are also subject to the darkening of the image. Is it the case that this is not that noticeable or does work then need to be done individually lightening oll the elements that were unintentionally darkened?

I can imagine this is fairly simple for digital images, but what about film?

Charlie

If you use a grad at the time of capture then you have to edit or leave it be. I have seen a lot of film, tv, prints, etc, that have the grad cutting into tall foreground elements. It's usually not a problem but can be edited if needed.

If the scene is too complicated for a grad and you can use a tripod, then shoot bracketed exposures and custom blend them in post to get the same effect but without the problems of a single capture.

Bodwick

thebigsky wrote:

I can imagine this is fairly simple for digital images, but what about film?

Charlie

You could use circles or any shape of card on the end of wire to cut light to area's of your paper.

You can also use larger paper sheets with an area cut out to let more light onto an area as you expose.

Dodge and burn...

You can ask a lab to do this for you by circling the area's of a print you want to adjust or by yourself in your darkroom.

pathfinder

Using Grad NDs works fine for smooth landscape border as you mentioned.

But if the border is not reasonably smooth it can be hard to match an ND to the actual border. Fortunately, it is not always that noticeable, but that is one reason many of us prefer to shoot digital. You can shoot a sky exposure and a forground exposure and blend in post processing. With film, you're just hosed.

tom knightlinger

camera accessory
lets see if I can help some of you photographers, go to www.popabrella.com and let me know.
Thanks

Bodwick

tom knightlinger wrote:

lets see if I can help some of you photographers, go to popabrella and let me know.
Thanks

That looks just like the Bodabela I invented one day when I tied an umbrella to my tripod.


Bod.