GNDF's

[alesb]

I have a D3200 and was wondering which GNDF's I should go for? I have been researching Cokin, Lee, Kood and Griturn but I am not sure which will be suited to the D3200 the best. Can anyone shed some light or good sense for me?

[changing]

In a word - the cheapest you can find.

I spent over £400 on a set of Lee to fit my Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens (which has no filter thread) but, to be perfectly honest - on my D800 - I cannot discern any quality difference between them and the £5 Chinese cheapies that I bought on eBay and use with all my other lenses.

[jet_kit]

I don't want to argue with Changing, but in this life you get what you pay for.

If you buy a filter from China for £3 (incl. postage) and it doesn't stack up to the Lee equivalent at £80 are you really going to be surprised.

To an extent I might agree that, for the price, it might be a good idea to buy a bunch of Chinese filters to check out the effect and decide what you really need. Then, if you want to maintain the max allowable quality with your camera and lens combination, start thinking about procuring something a little more up-market. You don't say what lenses you are using and, frankly, that's more important to quality than the camera. But, if you're using good glass then think about Cokin or HiTech (maybe Kood), if you're really spending a lot of money on your optics then Lee is going to be your choice.

[changing]

Originally Posted by jet_kit

I don't want to argue with Changing, but in this life you get what you pay for.

If you buy a filter from China for £3 (incl. postage) and it doesn't stack up to the Lee equivalent at £80 are you really going to be surprised.

.

Sorry Chris - but I have to say that you have got that wrong. Admittedly the Lee holder might be somewhat more robust than a plastic cheapie but the optical quality of the filters show no discernible difference from "cheap as chips" stuff straight from China.

Like everything else, that statement is subject to provisos. At the extremes of performance you might begin to notice differences. But for exhibition and competition work using my D800 and D800E with the Nikkor 24-70mm and 70-200mm VR2 lenses (or the 16-35mm that I used before the 14-24mm) and producing A3+ prints from as little as 20% of the image area, then there is certainly no visible quality difference when using Chinese Cheapies than when using expensive Lee filters on the 14-24mm Nikkor.

In fact I get a slight magenta colour cast from the Lee 0.6ND grad that I don't get from the cheapies. Fortunately that is easily removed in Lightroom.

[ianpinion]

Originally Posted by changing

Sorry Chris - but I have to say that you have got that wrong. Admittedly the Lee holder might be somewhat more robust than a plastic cheapie but the optical quality of the filters show no discernible difference from "cheap as chips" stuff straight from China.

Like everything else, that statement is subject to provisos. At the extremes of performance you might begin to notice differences. But for exhibition and competition work using my D800 and D800E with the Nikkor 24-70mm and 70-200mm VR2 lenses (or the 16-35mm that I used before the 14-24mm) and producing A3+ prints from as little as 20% of the image area, then there is certainly no visible quality difference when using Chinese Cheapies than when using expensive Lee filters on the 14-24mm Nikkor.

In fact I get a slight magenta colour cast from the Lee 0.6ND grad that I don't get from the cheapies. Fortunately that is easily removed in Lightroom.

I don't get any colour cast from my Lee Filters, at all, but I do from my cheap variable ND filter that was made in China. Think we must be living in a parallel universe to you Changling

[changing]

Originally Posted by ianpinion

I don't get any colour cast from my Lee Filters, at all, but I do from my cheap variable ND filter that was made in China. Think we must be living in a parallel universe to you Changling

We weren't talking about variable ND. As far as I am aware, Lee don't make any. A variable ND is essentially two polarisers rotated in opposition to each other - which is a very different thing from plane glass or resin filters.

Welcome to the real world!



.

[jet_kit]

Originally Posted by changing

Sorry Chris - but I have to say that you have got that wrong. Admittedly the Lee holder might be somewhat more robust than a plastic cheapie but the optical quality of the filters show no discernible difference from "cheap as chips" stuff straight from China.

Like everything else, that statement is subject to provisos. At the extremes of performance you might begin to notice differences. But for exhibition and competition work using my D800 and D800E with the Nikkor 24-70mm and 70-200mm VR2 lenses (or the 16-35mm that I used before the 14-24mm) and producing A3+ prints from as little as 20% of the image area, then there is certainly no visible quality difference when using Chinese Cheapies than when using expensive Lee filters on the 14-24mm Nikkor.

In fact I get a slight magenta colour cast from the Lee 0.6ND grad that I don't get from the cheapies. Fortunately that is easily removed in Lightroom.

You may disagree with me, that's your prerogative. But, I don't think you've come up with sufficient evidence to state that I am wrong in my assessment. Just because you've been lucky in the plastic filters that you've bought, doesn't make all of them perfect. I bought one with an enormous optical defect right in the middle, but wasn't worth sending it back for the £3 it cost, it just went straight in the bin.

If you read my post properly you will note that I have tried to give alesb reasonable and constructive advice. At no time did I suggest he should spend £70 for a Lee holder, I wouldn't even consider such an extravagance for myself. I was merely illustrating the two ends of the spectrum in terms of filler availability. In fact, you will note if you read it again, I have suggested that he experiment with just the filters you recommend. So, we're both coming to the same conclusion but, I hope, I've tackled it from a more practical and reasoned viewpoint.

[ianpinion]

Originally Posted by changing

We weren't talking about variable ND. As far as I am aware, Lee don't make any. A variable ND is essentially two polarisers rotated in opposition to each other - which is a very different thing from plane glass or resin filters.

Welcome to the real world!



.

Again, Changling, be a good fellow and please read my statement fully. Stop skimming over the salient parts and just picking up on what's left. I stated "that I don't get a colour cast from my Lee Filters." However, I do from one of my filters that happens to be made in China (what isn't these days) and it happens to be a variable ND. Yes that's a completely different type of filter, but the point I was making was that it has a colour cast.

Like Chris, I think you've been incredibly lucky that the cheap and cheerful ND filters you've purchased work well and do what you want them to, but as a general rule, you get what you pay for. I myself would always advise buying the best you can afford, whether it be the camera, lenses, filters or any other accessory to go with your camera and on that I hope we can all agree.

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by changing

In a word - the cheapest you can find.

I spent over £400 on a set of Lee to fit my Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens (which has no filter thread) but, to be perfectly honest - on my D800 - I cannot discern any quality difference between them and the £5 Chinese cheapies that I bought on eBay and use with all my other lenses.

You are the only person on any forum I have seen (I am on many) that said they got the same quality and no colour cast from no name filters. The mid-range ones almost all produce some sort of cast. I would lean towards you being very lucky.

[Severums1]

Lee every time for me....you do get what you paid for!