What to use with an ND filter?

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v16ben

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Very basic question alert!

I am looking to buy a 10-stop filter for my Canon 550d to use on the kit lens
(18-55 which is 58mm in size.)

I've looked at both screw filters and square filters. After plenty of reading, I've pretty much settled on the HiTech 10 Stop direct from Formatt.

Question is what to buy with it? I assume I need a 58mm adapter (any suggestions?), a filter holder (Cokin P series would be fine for this, but what size?) and of course the ND filter itself.

I don't use filters at the moment (as you can tell by my lack of knowledge :bonk: ) but I'll probably add more in the future hence going for the square filter and filter holder.

I assume the screw-on filters like the ND110 don't need any holders, but presumably need an adapter to fit on the 58mm Canon 550d kit lens?
 
Hi, I just went through the whole process myself. You will need a hitech filter, filter holder and screw ring to attach the holder to the lens. I gave the Formatt company a ring to check I was ordering the right one!

After all that, I was given a B+W screw on filter for Xmas and love it. I have posted a thread with my first images if you want to see the results. You would only need to buy the filter to fit the lens diameter.

Advantages of a square filter: more flexibility, cheaper in the long run, can stack filters easily.

Advantages of a screw in: filter is more robust, no need to use fiddly holders, might be easier for a novice?

Good luck, Mandy
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=375770
 
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Screw on filters don't have adapters, they simply come in different sizes to fit the lens. So if you have a 58mm polariser and then buy a lens with a 72mm filter thread you'd need a another polariser.

Square filters are in a range of common sizes, e.g. Cokin A, Cokin P, Cokin Z pro. P and Z seem the most popular with digital A being a bit f a throwback to older cameras with smaller filter sizes. The P series fit up to 82?mm. The Z Pro are bigger again. Other manufacturers filters are often compatible. E.G. I have some Kood filters which I believe are the same size as the Cokin P.

With square filters as Manda said you need a filter holder and the adapter ring to go with the filters. This can then be fitted on different lenses simply by using a different adapter ring and not needing to buy a whole set of new sized filters.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks guys, it certainly helps.
I am in some ways tempted by a screw filter like the ND110 as knowing me, I could end up with the full kit for square filters and not buy any more filters for years!
 
Screw on filters are a pain in the ass with kit lenses. The front element rotates when focusing, which means mounting the ND filter gets really tricky and you can lose your point of focus.

Just to let you know anyway, it's something you should keep in your mind.
 
I'm now considering just getting an ND110 as living here in Korea, it seems it'll take ages for Formatt Hitech to get the 10 stop over here.

I'm visiting the US in a couple of weeks and could get the ND110 delivered to the friends we're staying with ready for when we arrive (and so I can get out and play with it!)

From my research it seems best to get the 77mm size ND110 in case/when I buy a larger size lens so it'll fit on that as well then get a 58mm-77mm adapter ring too.

Is this the correct filter: http://www.amazon.com/77mm-3-0-1-00...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325756754&sr=1-2

:)
 
One other thing to consider perhaps is that with a 9 or 10 stop filter on you willl not see anything on the viewfinder I think. This means setting up your compostion before you attach the filter. I imagine, not having tried it, that with a square ND in a holder its simply a matter of framing up, setting your exposure time then simply sliding the filter down over the lens and off you go. With the screw on types there may be a danger of nudging your framing off whilst you are trying to get the filter screwed on.
Worth thinking about I guess.
 
v16ben said:
I'm now considering just getting an ND110 as living here in Korea, it seems it'll take ages for Formatt Hitech to get the 10 stop over here.

I'm visiting the US in a couple of weeks and could get the ND110 delivered to the friends we're staying with ready for when we arrive (and so I can get out and play with it!)

From my research it seems best to get the 77mm size ND110 in case/when I buy a larger size lens so it'll fit on that as well then get a 58mm-77mm adapter ring too.

Is this the correct filter: http://www.amazon.com/77mm-3-0-1-000X-Single-Coating/dp/B003ZDHP7U/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325756754&sr=1-2

:)
Click to expand...

Yes, you can buy a bigger filter and an adapter to reduce the size so you only need one filter.
 
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