Which filter system?

lolage

lolage

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Ben
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Hi guys

Don't really know too much about filters - atm I just have a UV screw on one. I would like to get a ND filter for when I go to wales in 2 weeks so that I can get some nice seascapes!

I'm willing to spend a bit of money, I'd rather spend more now rather than buying lots of different size of the ring filters.

I was looking at the big stoppers but they seem to be in very high demand with low stocks so may have to look elsewhere. Can somone point me in the right direction please? What stop ND filter would be best?

Thanks!
 
I guess I'd hope £100 would get me a filter holder and 1 ND filter?? Maybe £150?
 
im relatively new to the whole ND filters game and i purchased a cokin setup a couple of weeks ago from ebay for a reasonable price. So far they seem to be great but now i just need some decent weather when im not at work to get some real time spent out with them.
 
simonjessop said:
Agreed Lee if you have the budget - Cokin definitely worth considering too though - a lot more affordable.
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NO No No. I've got cokin ND filters so please don't waste your money on them. Awful magenta cast on them which is difficult to remove in post. If you don't believe me just google cokin magenta. Unusable if you stack them ( unless you like everything purple)
 
Byker28i said:
NO No No. I've got cokin ND filters so please don't waste your money on them. Awful magenta cast on them which is difficult to remove in post. If you don't believe me just google cokin magenta. Unusable if you stack them ( unless you like everything purple)
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I've got a few cokins and don't have any colour casts at all on mine (nd grads and sunset filter)!

I'm very pleased with them.

I can post some shots to show there are no colour cast issues, with my set at least.
 
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As a cheaper alternative to Lee try the Hitech/Formatt filters. They come in sizes that will fit the Lee System (100mmx150mm) or the Cokin P system (85mmx100mm?)

As they are cheap enough to buy full sets you can then decide what you use the most and upgrade one at a time.

I used a 10 stop on seascapes and to be honest it was a bit too much for me. Exposure times of 20-30 seconds with a very rough sea made it a bit too smooth for me.
Its hard to tell until you've tried it and see what you prefer. Thats why I think a set is a good idea.
 
odd jim said:
I've got a few cokins and don't have any colour casts at all on mine (nd grads and sunset filter)!

I'm very pleased with them.

I can post some shots to show there are no colour cast issues, with my set at least.
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ive not had any problems with em either.........so far!
 
Agree with Byker that the Cokin filters are garbage. Buy cheap buy twice as they say.

You'll be lucky to get hold of a Lee big stopper and filter kit by the end of the week, rarer than hens teeth, there are people here who have waited months to get hold of them. If you are willing to put up with a screw in one then look at the Heliopan which are highly rated or B&W.

Hitech do make good filters but I've heard the 10 stopper is abit of a stinker, lots of colour cast.
 
I don't get the slating of Cokin? I've used plenty of filters in my time and my Cokin nd4 and 8's are more or less perfect and I've achieved supurb results from them.
 
lolage said:
Would I be able to get a Lee system within the end of the week though or are they still low on stock levels?
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Depends on how lucky you are finding stock. I have one order outstanding since last November and still waiting:shake:
I did get another Lee order very quickly though.

I have used Cokin, Hitech and Lee and my own thoughts are as follows:

Cokin - would not buy again due to strong colour cast
Hitech - great value for money
Lee - better than Hitech, but hell of an expense for a slight improvement over Hitech

If you are looking for a big stopper, then Lightcraft do a screw in 9 stop which I think is well worth the price -

uk/photographic/threaded-filters/light-craft-workshop/lcw-nd500mc/-c-60_365_790_791.html

example with Lightcraft-

Scotland_2_013Linn_Park.jpg
 
I had Cokin but moved to Lee over the past couple of months. The difference is like night and day.

If you want to buy Lee stuff in a hurry, the MD of Lee told me at Focus you need to go to the smaller independents as places like Warehouse Express will have waiting lists.

FWIW, when I got my Big Stopper, when WEX had no stock, Dale Photographic had plenty, and delivered next day :)
 
odd jim said:
I don't get the slating of Cokin? I've used plenty of filters in my time and my Cokin nd4 and 8's are more or less perfect and I've achieved supurb results from them.
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I think it comes down to most of us starting off with Cokin then moving upto the Lee system and seeing the difference. When someone asks then we just give our opinions based on our experiences.

I got lucky getting my Lee system, Hawk photovideo happened to get stock in and I managed to nab the filter and kit. They managed to sell out within an hour!
 
Willo said:
I think it comes down to most of us starting off with Cokin then moving upto the Lee system and seeing the difference. When someone asks then we just give our opinions based on our experiences.

I got lucky getting my Lee system, Hawk photovideo happened to get stock in and I managed to nab the filter and kit. They managed to sell out within an hour!
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I see what you are saying, but in the last 15 years I've used a lot of filters on both 35mm film and digital, so it's not that I've just started out with Cokins! I've used pretty much every filter going and I find the Cokins do the job as well as pretty much anything apart from the very high end stuff, and I've certainly never had any colour cast issues.

That said I never use my Cokins for long exposures, I use my Hoya Pro 1 stuff for that.
 
I've use Cokin filters myself in the past on both 35mm and digital. I never had a problem with them. But I'm getting slightly worried now because I was going to buy a ND set for my new 550D to step up my land and seascapes.
Has anybody used Cokin ND's with a 550D before?
 
Kwak_Knight said:
I've use Cokin filters myself in the past on both 35mm and digital. I never had a problem with them. But I'm getting slightly worried now because I was going to buy a ND set for my new 550D to step up my land and seascapes.
Has anybody used Cokin ND's with a 550D before?
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I've used both my nd4 and nd8 grads on a 400d and 50d with no issues and excellent results. I should imagine they'd be fine on a 550d.
 
Seeing as this is my first go at filters I've just gone for a Cokin holder, 52mm adapater and a ND4 filter to just see how I go. Only cost me £35 for the set so will do me fine to have a play with! Anyone know of a good polorising filter?
 
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