Filters

[Pete Gl]

Have done some research on ‘tinternet, and have found these square filter thingies to be a minefield.


I have Canon 5D Mk III and the two lenses I’d use most for landscapes are my 24-105 and 17-40, fortunately both being 77 mm thread sizes.


I have some questions I hope you good people could help me out with, and please chime in with any advice at all you think appropriate.


Whilst I understand Lee are the dogs doo dahs, they’re a bit pricey for occasional amateur use.


Are Cokin as crap as some seem to suggest, would the Pro-Z series be a better choice?


With those lenses, do I need 100 x 150 or are 100 x 100 sufficient? Even if 100 x 100 are sufficient, what is the criteria for going up to the larger size?


Are makes like Hitech, Hoya, Tiffen etc. a better alternative?


Do I need a wide angle adapter if I use my lenses at their widest, bearing in mind that I have a full frame sensor, which I understand makes a difference?


Having said that Lee are expensive, their holder kits don’t seem too bad, would it be worth buying their holders and using alternative filters?


Resin or glass? Or do glass filters become prohibitively expensive?


As I’ve suggested before I’ll be using filters to retain detail in the skies, should I be using soft or hard grads?


This is by no means an exhaustive list of questions, any and all advice is more than welcome.


Thanking you all in anticipation,


Pete

 

[odd jim]

What filters are you referring to, ND, polarisers etc?

 

[SoDoSoPa]

There are cheaper alternative filter holders and WA adaptor rings on ebay from "The Filter Dude". You may also want to add a polariser adapter ring to front of the holder too.

Cokin, Hitech and Tiffen filters will fit the 100mm system fine.

Hitech do both 150x100mm graduated filters as well as 125x100mm filters.

Cheaper filters are ok if your only going to use them occasionally but some do have a magenta cast.

Most people will say it best to buy good quality filters from Lee as almost always you end up upgrading them to Lee and cost more in the long run.

Best filters to get 0.6 Hard Grad, 0.9 Hard Grad, 0.9 Soft Grad, 105mm Polariser Filter,

Plus add these, 0.3 ND, 6 Stop Little Stopper, 10 Stop Big Stopper.

These should cover most occasions.

 

[Pete Gl]

Thanks for replying Jim and Gordon, Jim, sorry I wasn't clearer, it was just a list of thoughts admittedly a bit haphazard. I was thinking of grads for retaining detail in the skies in landscapes. Gordon, thanks for your recommendations, are you saying the 100 x 100 system will suit my needs? Pete

 

[cedarsphoto]

100mm cokin square filters are absolutely fine, I've used both brands and no one has ever been able to tell the difference They are a lot cheaper.

The HiTech ND10 is also very nice as well.

 

[Pete Gl]

Thanks cedarsphotos.

Wifeys Christmas present to me.

Pete

 

[Pete Gl]

Appreciate all the advice so far, I'm still not too sure whether I should be looking at soft or hard grads for shooting landscapes. Pete

 

[SoDoSoPa]

Hard grads are the best to use for landscapes, soft are useful too but more so for balancing light. Lee do 2 books "inspiring professionals" which will help on how best to use them.

 

[cuillinade]

Depends on the type of landscape. Hards work best with things like seascapes where often the horizon forms a fairly level division between a bright sky and a less bright water etc. If the dividing line is more jagged ie hills, mountains, trees, buildings etc then a hard grad may show up on the bits that stick up making them look unnaturally dark so you are best opting for a softer grad. Many people now do without any grads and blend two or more different photos in photoshop.

 

[cuillinade]

Here's a link to lots of info about grads and some interesting videos;
http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera/ndgrads

 

[John Soliven]

Appreciate all the advice so far, I'm still not too sure whether I should be looking at soft or hard grads for shooting landscapes. Pete

Both can come in handy, get both hard and soft

 

[Pete Gl]

Many thanks for all your advice so far particularly those links, useful reading. Just one last question, if I shoot at the widest end of my 24-105 and 17-40, will I definitely need the wide angle adaptor?

 

[Pete Gl]

Have decided to plump for Formatt-Hitech.

Pete

 

[Canon Bob]

.......Just one last question, if I shoot at the widest end of my 24-105 and 17-40, will I definitely need the wide angle adaptor?

You might just survive at 24mm but you'll need it at 17mm.

Bob

 

[Pete Gl]

Thank you Bob.

Pete