Filters (for the millionth time) starting with square filters?

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Dale_tem

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Dale
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I'm looking at getting some graduated ND filters, but I have a few questions...

I currently have 52mm ND 2,4 and 8 filters which fit my 35mm and my 18-55mm lenses, these work great. They won't work on my 55-300mm

However I'm also looking at getting a 11-16mm Tokina and also a 105 or 150mm Sigma Macro lens.

My logic says it would make more sense to move to square filters so that I buy adapters for each lens size and use the same filters for all lenses.

I am completely new to square filters, so no idea where to start.

I can see 52mm holders or I can see a 52mm adapter for a filter holder.

Do I get one filter holder and then adapters for each lens size or do I get a number of filter holders?

How far can you slide the grad N filters up and and down? ie If I'm mainly shooting the sky and the horizon is low, can I slide the filter down or is there a bottom?

Is there a maximum angle for using filters ie in a photo shot at 11mm will you see the filter holder at the sides and top?

and lastly how does the adapter ring and filter holder attach? the photos don't seem to show a thread on them, so I don't think they can screw on?

Thanks in advance
 
The basic concept with 'square' filter holders is you get one holder and then an adaptor for each filter size you need

So if you have 4 lenses, 2 with 67mm, 1 with 52mm, 1 with 77mm you will need 3 adaptors; 52, 67, 77.

The adaptors are specific for the size and brand of holder.

If you're looking to get an 11-16, then you probably need the larger 100mm holder size to avoid vignetting - you may also want a special 'wide angle' adaptor rather than the standard one.

Options are Cokin Z, Hitech or Lee.

Lee is the most expensive, but also generally thought to be the best.

The ND Grads are actually 100x150 mm, so you have a reasonable amount of leeway in positioning the grad line in your shot. You can also choose between 'hard' and 'soft' grads, depending on weather the scene has an abrupt transition (eg Seascapes where hard is better) or uneven transition (trees, rolling hills, etc, where soft may be preferable).
 
You need 1 holder, and then as namy adapter rings as you need. You could have 1 for each lens, or just have one for each thread size.
The holder will silde onto the adapters and the adapters screw into the lens filter thread.
The filters slide into the holder. There is no bottom, they will slide out either end.

Most filters will vignette slightly at wider focal lengths. Some companies make wide angle filter holders which usualy have only 1 filter slot to lessen this effect.
At 11mm you will get some sort of vignette with a standard holder at the sides, but it should be easy to remove in software.

This video might help somewhat, although you may not afford lee, the principle is the same for most square filters and holders.

http://youtu.be/byXjjT74zSI
 
Hi Dale, I've just been through this bewildering experience so hopefully I can answer a few questions.

Essentially with a filter system, there are three components needed. A filter, a filter holder, and an a adaptor that screws into your lens and allows the filter holder to be mounted.

If you're going for a Tokina 11-16 (it won't af on the D3100 by the way, just in case you were unaware) then you would need to look at the 100mm filter systems to avoid getting the filter holder in shot.

If you go for a 100mm system, then go for 100 x 150mm grads. They're 150mm on the vertical edge so that you can slide them up and down substantially to move the grad line.

In the case of the Lee Filter system, the holder attaches to the lens adaptor by meant of a spring loaded pin. It's quite neat.

To give you some guidance, this is what I opted for a couple of weeks ago.

Lee Foundation Kit - This bit is the filter holder. It can take up to three filters.

Lee Adaptor Rings - I bought a 52mm standard (for my 35mm 1.8), a 72mm Standard (for my macro lens and Sigma 18-50) and a 77mm wide angle adaptor for my Tokina 11-16mm (this is important on wide angles to avoid vignetting)

I then purchased Hitech 100x150mm grads which work really well in the Lee system.

There's a thread here that I stated.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=351743
 
Bear in mind that step-up rings are almost always cheaper than adapter rings for a specific filter holder.

For example, I use my Lee foundation kit on lenses with 62, 55, 52 and 49mm filter threads.. I could spend £16 on each size adapter ring, OR I can spend £4 on a 49 to 62mm step up, a 52 to 62mm step up, etc

Using step-up rings also has the benefit of allowing me to use a unified set of lens hoods, lens caps, CPL, etc.

The place where it's really worth buying extra filter adapter rings, rather than step-ups, is if the lens specifically has a issue with easily vignetting on the 1-2mm that a step-up ring can add, and in that situation you're going to be wanting the much more expensive 'wide angle' adapter rings anyway.
 
I've been looking to buy square filters for some time. ( also interest in the Tokina 11-16 ) For wide angle, it is probably better to get 100mm filters, but they are also 2-3x more expensive than 85mm filters. The holders are also much more expensive. If you have the budget, then 100mm sounds great. I think I may start experimenting with the 85mm first. I've seen this review that the wide angle 85mm holder is fine at around 13mm up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40020303@N04/4249699712/
 
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