NG Filter Help

mrdaviesuk

mrdaviesuk

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Paul
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Forum Newbie - please be gentle ;)

I'm off to Scotland in a couple of weeks and have hired a Canon 10-22mm (from Lenses for Hire) along with a circular polarisier. This is a lens I intend to buy in the near future, but at the moment cannot justify the outlay.

I would very much like to experiment with NG filters, but obviously I don't want to buy anything specific for this lens at this stage as I don't have anything else with a 77mm filter diameter.

I am aware that the circular polariser will give me effectively a 2 stop ND, but I would like something I can play with on my other lenses (most likely my 28-135mm).

I want to take landscape images mainly, so I think a ND grad might be the best bet, but I would like to take the classic waterfall image and possibly some street scenes with the ghostly blur, which points towards a full ND.

Does anyone have any suggestions on perhaps a mix and match for me to start off with? Perhaps a 1 stop grad and a 2 stop ND?

I looked at the Conkin P options and am mindful that the 10-22 would require an wide angle holder - does anyone know if these are suitable for other lenses in general? Obviously I can hand hold the filter if it's just an ND, but I don't think I would want to try that with a graduated.

Also - what are peoples opinions on hard or soft graduated for landscapes?

TIA!

ETA - I did have a search before posting, but struggled to answer all my questons and possibly confused me further! :S
 
Cokin P holder & the wide angle holder (which I use on a 10-20mm Sigma) can be used on any lens providing the lens diameter is between 48mm and 82mm. You just need to make sure you have the right size 'ring' to attach the holder to the lens.

The wide angle holder only has one slot rather than three so I only use the wide angle holder with the 10-20mm. The normal holder will allow you to 'stack' your filters.

Kood metal rings are a bit cheaper than Cokin rings and do exactly the same job.

Check out HiTech ND Grad filters rather than Cokin - they're cheaper and in my experience are more 'neutral' in colour. They're the same width so fit the Cokin holders just fine.

Soft grads are more suited to landscapes with lumpy horizons - good for the Scottish mountains.

Hard grads are more suited to where the horizon is a flat line - more like seascapes or flat landscapes.

Hope that helps a bit.

.
 
Thanks dinners - very helpful.

I think I will pick up a selection of Kood filters and the wide angle Conkin holder with the two mount rings.

Just one other question - how are the filters usually supplied? I have bought filters in the past and they have come in plastic cases.

ETA: Ah - just re-read your post and realised you said HiTech filters and Kood rings ... off to check them out now.
 
mrdaviesuk said:
Thanks dinners - very helpful.

I think I will pick up a selection of Kood filters and the wide angle Conkin holder with the two mount rings.

Just one other question - how are the filters usually supplied? I have bought filters in the past and they have come in plastic cases.

ETA: Ah - just re-read your post and realised you said HiTech filters and Kood rings ... off to check them out now.
Click to expand...

Somebody posted a link for Hitech filters a while ago..(can't find it) but it's about £35 for a set of 0.3, 0.6 & 0.9 ND Grads bought on the web UK. Cokin holders and rings are easy to find.
 
Jayst84 said:
Be aware also, that even with the wide angle adaptor with Cokin P series, you will still get vignetting below about 12 mm.
Click to expand...

^ What he said.
If you're going for the 10-20, you'll be better off getting the 100mm HiTechs, they're the same size as the Cokin Z-Pro I think.

Have a look at www.formatt.co.uk for more details (they manufacture the HiTech filters).
 
On my 10-20 I only notice the filter holder at 10-11mm. I wouldn't hesitate to use a blob of blue tack in place of the holder if I needed to.

With re. to nd grads, 1 stop is probably too weak for most of what you'll need it for. I'd say get 2 stops if you're only getting one of them.
 
Thank you all for your input.

Given the potential for problems with the mounts I think I will just get a couple of filters for the time being. If I do buy the 10-22mm then I may invest in the z-pro holder, but at this stage it is not worth it for me.

I think I will go for a 2 stop soft graduated and a selection of full ND's if I can decide on which make to get (err'ing towards the HiTechs)?!?!
 
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