Filter systems / types

[James Blonde]

Another filters thread I know - sorry - but I'm looking to upgrade my set up slightly over christmas, and I'm after some advice!

I currently use a D90 with the kit 18-105mm lens, Nikkor 50mm F1.8 (55mm filter size?) and Sigma 70-300DG (58mm filter size I think?). I've just bid on and won a Nikkor 70-300VR to replace the Sigma (same 67mm filter size as the 18-105), and I'm looking to buy a wide angle 10-20mm, probably with a 77mm filter thread size.

I need to make a strategic decision about what filter type I'm going to use long term.

I have screw in skylight and circular polarisers for my 3 lenses, and I currently have a Cokin P system holder and adapter rings for my 3 current lenses, a couple of grads, a couple of light ND filters, a warm-up filter, and an IR filter. I don't extensively use the warm-up, ND or Grad filters at the moment, but I do use the Cokin IR filter a fair bit. It was bought fairly cheaply from eBay as an experiment, which I've generally enjoyed, but even with a slightly modified holder, it suffers horribly from light leakage (due to the 30s exposure times needed to get it to work well). Generally, the cokin system "vignettes" (well intrudes might be a better term) at wider angles.

As I mostly enjoy landscape photography, I think I'm going to have to have some kind of system for handling grads - and slide-in obviously makes the most sense. but do I stick with my Cokin set up, or consider upgrading, and if so, what options are there other than Lee? (I'd love a lee filter system, but they're just so damn expensive, and I see people are having long delays with orders?)

As for other filters, I think I'd like to upgrade my IR filter, and get a 10 stop ND. My guess / worry is that if I went for a slide-in system, I'd suffer from light leakage again? They're also more fragile, and they're not cheap! How do the more expensive set-ups get around the light leakage??

If I went for a screw-in, I'd likely be buying a filter for my largest lens and buying step-up rings for my smaller lenses, but are there any disadvantages to this?? The one obvious one I guess is that it would be harder / more awkward to compose the shot with screw ins? I know my autofocus can focus through the IR filter, but can it through a 10-stop ND??

I'm sure others have been through a similar process, and I'd love to know what way you've jumped and why!

[chris-p]

Originally Posted by James Blonde

Do I stick with my Cokin set up, or consider upgrading, and if so, what options are there other than Lee? (I'd love a lee filter system, but they're just so damn expensive, and I see people are having long delays with orders?)

You will have problems with your Cokin P system and a lens thats more than about 15mm wide. Basically, the P series is too narrow for really wideangle work and you can see the edges of your filter and filter holder in your photos.
Cokin do a wider version, called Z-Pro.

Your other options would be to try Formatt, Hitech or Kood, all of whom make decent stuff (Kood actually make the stuff that Cokin sell). Hitech are my personal favourite but they're all good and MUCH cheaper than stuff by Singh Ray or Lee. In fact, they're cheaper than Cokin half the time.

Originally Posted by James Blonde

As for other filters, I think I'd like to upgrade my IR filter, and get a 10 stop ND. My guess / worry is that if I went for a slide-in system, I'd suffer from light leakage again? They're also more fragile, and they're not cheap! How do the more expensive set-ups get around the light leakage??

10 Stop NDs are on massive back order at the moment and people are waiting months from ordering to getting them.
You're right about light leakage - any filter that blocks out enough light to make require long shutter speeds that doesn't screw in will leak.

I would consider a screw in ND Fader which works like a circular polariser. It screws in and, as you rotate the outer portion of it you increase the ND levels. They're usually capable of something like ND4 to ND400. They're pricey at £70-100 though.
Especially expensive when you consider you can make one out of 2 cheap circular polarisers and cross polarising...

Originally Posted by James Blonde

If I went for a screw-in, I'd likely be buying a filter for my largest lens and buying step-up rings for my smaller lenses, but are there any disadvantages to this?? The one obvious one I guess is that it would be harder / more awkward to compose the shot with screw ins? I know my autofocus can focus through the IR filter, but can it through a 10-stop ND??

No real disadvantage with stepping rings, just make sure you get the biggest filter and step up (don't step down, you'll get the filter in your photos...).

Oh, and your camera won't be able to focus through a 10 stop filter - it's far too dark to see through...

[James Blonde]

Thanks again Chris!

I seem to think the Z system filters is the same size as the Lee, so filters would be interchangable if I ever win the lottery. I also seem to think the Z system holder is of a much higher quality so I wouldn't feel the need to upgrade to a lee system? I'll have a look at these when I get home - thanks!

You say the ND4-400 would be expensive, but the 77mm 10 stop NDs I've seen are in that price region so maybe not so bad! I guess I could just add a polariser to get my 10 stops.

However, would 2 circular polarisers really be a viable and effective solution?? I'd likely buy a new 67mm one for my new 70-300, and have one for my 18-105, so could do this without any great outlay! How many stops would it equate to, and are there any side effects?

[silversnapper1]

As Chris said, I also favour the Formatt (Hitech) system. I have their 85mm 10 stop and some coral grads and I have the 100x 150 nd grads and coral grads and am due to pick up a 105mm circular polarizer this week (they are made fairly locally to me so I can visit the factory and pick them up when ready).

Before I found them, I ordered a Lee Big Stopper (September) and am told that the waiting time for most Lee filters is 18/22 weeks.

Steve.

[chris-p]

Originally Posted by James Blonde

would 2 circular polarisers really be a viable and effective solution?? I'd likely buy a new 67mm one for my new 70-300, and have one for my 18-105, so could do this without any great outlay! How many stops would it equate to, and are there any side effects?

Yeah, cross polarising 2 circ-pols is completelffective. You have to practive with it and it's difficult to say exactly what level of ND you get (but thats the same as a normal ND fader anyway).

The real thing is made by Lightcraft Workshop and you have to buy them from Premier Ink & Photographic. A 77mm one will be about £100.

The tutorial on making one with 2 circ-pols is on Instructables and could cost you less than a tenner. I'd suggest it's worth having a go at as, for that sort of money, it's not going to break the bank.

[James Blonde]

Thread dredge - sorry!!!

Does anyone have any experience with the Cokin Z-Pro series IR filter at all? I'm wondering if it performs better than the P series filter for light leakage?