Hitech filters?

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danny842003

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Daniel
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So I have decided im going to give my credit card a bit of a beating and order some filters as well as a new tripod. Drafted up to Scotland soon and would like to give some scenery shots a go.
Im still very much an amateur but would like to buy something that I can grow with rather than buying super cheap and then finding i want to replace in a year.
Lees seem just to expensive for me to justify however. Haver seen a few reviews of the Hitech system which seem to be favourable and wondered what peoples experiences if any were of them.
I have a 550D and use a recently purchased 15-85mm USM as my main lens. Filter size 72mm.
What would be a good starter set up in terms of ND grad also where is best to buy from?
 
Hi Daniel, I bought the three ND grads & the three ND standard filters direct from Formatt. I bought the 85mm and use a cheap P size holder - this works fine unless the shot's really wide angle. I was a bit wary initially because I'd heard reports that they scratch easily, but I haven't had any problems so far (but then I'm very careful...)
 
markmullen said:
If you can stretch to the Hitech 100mm system you can grow into Lee if you want to down the line and everything will be compatible.

There is no need to buy loads, a 2 and 3 stop hard and a filter holder will get you up and running.
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+1

Don't forget that Lightroom has similar facilities, so you can fine tune the effect to your liking.
 
daugirdas said:
+1

Don't forget that Lightroom has similar facilities, so you can fine tune the effect to your liking.
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I know its possible to do some of it in PP but I'm fed up off being away traveling and having to try and get a balance between blowing out the sky and getting detail in the foreground. Was up the blue mountains in new south wales this week and i just lost interest in taking any scenery shots as i knew they were not good enough at all.
 
danny842003 said:
I know its possible to do some of it in PP but I'm fed up off being away traveling and having to try and get a balance between blowing out the sky and getting detail in the foreground. Was up the blue mountains in new south wales this week and i just lost interest in taking any scenery shots as i knew they were not good enough at all.
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You can't do it from scratch, no. But there are plenty of times where half a stop up or down over a part of an image can make a very nice difference.
 
I hope the op doesn't mind me slightly Hi-jacking his thread, but it might help too.
I was looking at getting a Hitech hard edge Master kit instead of buying all 6 separately which would save alot of cash (around £50 saving for the 85mm kit).Would it be smart to purchase as a kit (3 solid Nd and 3 graduated) or buy separately as I go along. Such as an Nd.9 grad and Nd.9 ?
 
John Mc said:
I hope the op doesn't mind me slightly Hi-jacking his thread, but it might help too.
I was looking at getting a Hitech hard edge Master kit instead of buying all 6 separately which would save alot of cash (around £50 saving for the 85mm kit).Would it be smart to purchase as a kit (3 solid Nd and 3 graduated) or buy separately as I go along. Such as an Nd.9 grad and Nd.9 ?
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that way they will sell you fairly useless 0.3 filters. In 4 years of landscape shooting with Lee filters I am yet to find a situation that requires them
 
daugirdas said:
that way they will sell you fairly useless 0.3 filters. In 4 years of landscape shooting with Lee filters I am yet to find a situation that requires them
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I was thinking that, they wouldn't really diffuse much light. What would you suggest as a first buy? 0.6 or 0.9?
 
John, if you get across to Fife ever, I'm happy to show you a set.

George.
 
George said:
John, if you get across to Fife ever, I'm happy to show you a set.

George.
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Gentleman! I'm not usually near Fife unless visiting the aquarium or rail bridge for photos. Which if I have time this weekend I will be doing maybe. But I'll give you a shout if I am.
 
John Mc said:
I was thinking that, they wouldn't really diffuse much light. What would you suggest as a first buy? 0.6 or 0.9?
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0.6 is the most universal. 0.9 is better for higher contrast scenes - both pretty useful.

I'd much rather pull out 0.9 rather than stack 0.6+0.3 and potentially something else.
 
John Mc said:
Gentleman! I'm not usually near Fife unless visiting the aquarium or rail bridge for photos. Which if I have time this weekend I will be doing maybe. But I'll give you a shout if I am.
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John, I'll pm you my mobile, Sat no good for me this weekend, however later Sun ok, but call me anytime to arrange.

George
 
I'll be looking to get a ND0.6 Grad at the end of the month if funds allow me two filters(Saving for holiday money also) I've got a ND0.6 filter. So I though it might be smart to pair them up and not have mis-matched filters.
 
Dubn83 said:
Looks like this link is for a soft edge set rather than the hard mate?
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I think it is the hard as it says hard on the top and the link was hard think it was just a typo in the details although I would check with them first. But apart from that it is the same right?
 
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