Quick filter question

[Astraeus]

Having had several blown-out skies on a recent photographic jaunt to the Lake District, I've persuaded myself that I ought really to begin using filters to assist my photography. I'm using a Nikon D40 with the kit lens (a 52mm thread) and I'm bewildered by the options available for filters. Fortunately, I'm limited in my choices by cost and so I am able to discount Lee filters and find myself looking more at the range of Kood and Cokin filters.

I think, from my research, that the most appropriate filters for me are 0.3GND and 0.6GND to compensate for bright skies (where I'm getting the blowouts) and a polarizer. Also, a neutral density filter seems appealing for if I start to look at doing long exposures over water.

What exactly is it that I require - a Cokin adapater ring, filter holder and the above filters? If anyone was able to provide links for cheap offers on the required equipment, it'd be greatly appreciated. I'm a bit overwhelmed by this all.

Many thanks.

[cowasaki]

You can go either way

(a) - buy circular screw on filters of the type you require that just screw onto the end of your lens then your cap attaches to them.

(b) - buy a cokin adapter that screws onto your lens and then IT has a rectangular slot (or two) that you can pop special rectangular filters into.

They both have their own advantages but the screw on ones tend to be cheapest.

If you buy a cokin kit then you can get adapters to make it fit your other lenses avoiding having to buy new filters for each lens (although you can fit the screw on ones via a step up or step down ring)

[Astraeus]

Sorry to sound so uneducated but the latter system would require the purchase of this (http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productdetail.kmod?productid=4465), this (http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productdetail.kmod?productid=4289) and this (http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productdetail.kmod?productid=4534) and this (http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productdetail.kmod?productid=4533) as the two filters?

I'm guessing this one (http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productdetail.kmod?productid=4249) is a screw-on filter?

Thanks for the very quick, and informative, response.

[cowasaki]

But you could buy this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/52mm-ring-Adapter-Filter-Holder-for-Cokin-P-series-52_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1683Q7c66Q3a2Q 7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a2Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec 0Q2em14QQhashZitem370168642169QQitemZ370168642169Q QptZUKQ5fCamerasPhotoQ5fCameraAccessoriesQ5fCamera LensesFiltersQ5fJNQQsalenotsupported

for £4.45 that includes the holder AND the adapter ring.

Then you just need the filters !

or again

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hoya-52mm-52-mm-Neutral-Density-ND8-Filter-ND-8-uk_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1683Q7c66Q3a2Q 7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a2Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec 0Q2em14QQhashZitem360141143899QQitemZ360141143899Q QptZUKQ5fCamerasPhotoQ5fCameraAccessoriesQ5fCamera LensesFiltersQ5fJNQQsalenotsupported

for an ND8 screw on filter.

[Lensflare]

You can save the cost of the filter holder and rings - by not buying them and getting a pack of blu tac instead. I have used it for 20 years without any problem...i is only to hold the filter to your lens barrel. It leaves no marks - you don't stick it on the lensglass or working area of the filter....so the bit of greasy smear it leaves, which washes off with soap and water, doesn't matter.

With the cost of that rubbish saved (those filter holders only scratch your filters) you can afford to buy the TWO ND grads that you need from Lee...0.3 and 0.6 in hard grad form. You also have 0.9ND don't forget by using the pair together.

[Astraeus]

But you could buy this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/52mm-ring-Adapter-Filter-Holder-for-Cokin-P-series-52_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1683Q7c66Q3a2Q 7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a2Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec 0Q2em14QQhashZitem370168642169QQitemZ370168642169Q QptZUKQ5fCamerasPhotoQ5fCameraAccessoriesQ5fCamera LensesFiltersQ5fJNQQsalenotsupported

for £4.45 that includes the holder AND the adapter ring.

Then you just need the filters !

or again

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hoya-52mm-52-mm-Neutral-Density-ND8-Filter-ND-8-uk_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1683Q7c66Q3a2Q 7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a2Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec 0Q2em14QQhashZitem360141143899QQitemZ360141143899Q QptZUKQ5fCamerasPhotoQ5fCameraAccessoriesQ5fCamera LensesFiltersQ5fJNQQsalenotsupported

for an ND8 screw on filter.

Thanks, very useful post indeed. I'm going to order that adapter ring and holder set later today. Is ND8 an appropriate filter for the long over-water exposures? Does it have many/any other uses?

You can save the cost of the filter holder and rings - by not buying them and getting a pack of blu tac instead. I have used it for 20 years without any problem...i is only to hold the filter to your lens barrel. It leaves no marks - you don't stick it on the lensglass or working area of the filter....so the bit of greasy smear it leaves, which washes off with soap and water, doesn't matter.

With the cost of that rubbish saved (those filter holders only scratch your filters) you can afford to buy the TWO ND grads that you need from Lee...0.3 and 0.6 in hard grad form. You also have 0.9ND don't forget by using the pair together.

Where can you get the Lee filters so cheaply? I've seen them circa the £50 mark.

[Astraeus]

Is eBay the best/cheapest place to get Cokin P-series filters? I've ordered the filter holder and adapter ring from eBay but don't want OEM/third-party filters - would definitely prefer the Cokin branded ones.

[will69]

Buy from E-bay.

An ND8 grad (3 stops) and ND4 (2 stops) are useful to have in your bag to balance foreground and background exposures.

Remember though, these might not give you the smoooooth water shots (if that is what you are after) if the light levels are medium to high because you will still get fast shutter speeds.

In this case you need to stack the grad with a plain ND filter.

[Astraeus]

Buy from E-bay.

An ND8 grad (3 stops) and ND4 (2 stops) are useful to have in your bag to balance foreground and background exposures.

Remember though, these might not give you the smoooooth water shots (if that is what you are after) if the light levels are medium to high because you will still get fast shutter speeds.

In this case you need to stack the grad with a plain ND filter.

Is this (http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productdetail.kmod?productid=4538) the same as this (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cokin-P-Grad-Filter-ND8-P121F-Also-Fits-Kood-P-Filters_W0QQitemZ260320494066QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilter s_JN?hash=item260320494066&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18)? Or is the first one a full ND and not graduated? If they are the same, I'll go to Harrison's (my local shop) and get it from there.

[will69]

They are both the same. In this version the graduation starts at the bottom of the filter and runs to the top (P121F).

I use the P121S, where the graduation starts about halfway up, then runs to the top.

Go to your shop and you will see what you get before you buy.

[instamatic]

I prefer a .6 and .9. A rectangular filter is favorite as it allows the correct positioning of the filter. A filter holder makes this easy, but I've seen blu-tak too, sometimes just holding by hand is enough.
A polariser is useful, holding back a bright blue sky for example. If you use auto focus then you need to get the "circular" not the "linear" version.
A ND standard helps prolong exposure without adjusting aperture too.

[Astraeus]

I've been hearing a lot of good things about Hitech filters - specifically saying that they're superior to the Cokin filters and that three filters can be had for £30. Where can I find them at this price? Am I better off grabbing a hard or soft grad?