ND Grad Filters

[Neil S]

I find myself in the market for a set of ND Grad Filters, anyone got any good ideas as to where I can get the best deal?

[chris-p]

Hi Neil, welcome to the forums.

Depends on how much you want to spend but I think the cheapest way is to go to somewhere like 7dayshop and get the Cokin holder and adaptor and then buy Kood P size filters.

Filter Holder is here
Adaptor ring (67mm as I don't know what size you'd need) is here
You can get Kood P size filters from Hilton Photographic. It's a very simple set up but it'll cost you around £40 for the lot which is pretty cheap!

[Neil S]

Thanks for that Chris I have looked at these and actually gone ahead and ordered them.

Thanks for your advice.

[marteee]

Are the kood filters any good? I'm guessing there is a difference in quality and to a large degree you get what you pay for but how are kood rated? (I'm curious as I'm considering ball heads and kood seem to offer reasonably priced heads but again i don't know how they rate).
And if one was to buy just one ND filter, is there one that you'd suggest - I'm off to Tobago in a few weeks and want to check out the rainforests - I was thinking an ND filter would get me some great waterfall shots but I don't have the experience to know what filter would get the best shots.

[matt wilson]

I got cokin .Around £40.00 only got two nds as suggested by the store both grads .Bare in mind that with this type of holder you can then stack the filters so effectively get 3 for the price of two.Was out in the snow taking some snow and sky shots .At last I can get those shots where the sky does not bleach out.

Some will say go for LEE ok if you have nearly £300 to spare.

[ianpinion]

Originally Posted by matt wilson

I got cokin .Around £40.00 only got two nds as suggested by the store both grads .Bare in mind that with this type of holder you can then stack the filters so effectively get 3 for the price of two.Was out in the snow taking some snow and sky shots .At last I can get those shots where the sky does not bleach out.

Some will say go for LEE ok if you have nearly £300 to spare.

Lee Filters are superb, but as Matt says they are quite expensive. I think Kood are made by Hoya and branded under the name Kood because they are their value range. Fortunately, they don't sacrifice the quality so you should be okay with them.

Cokin are another popular brand, but their ND filters from their basic range are known to create a blue/grey colour cast as they aren't proper ND filters. I think they are only a grey scale alternative but I'm sure someone will put me right on this if I'm wrong.

[chris-p]

Originally Posted by marteee

And if one was to buy just one ND filter, is there one that you'd suggest - I'm off to Tobago in a few weeks and want to check out the rainforests - I was thinking an ND filter would get me some great waterfall shots but I don't have the experience to know what filter would get the best shots.

Thats almost unanswerable. You're not going to want an ND grad for that but a solid ND. Try the adjustable ones on eBay. Flake has one and really rates it and she's usually right! Search for fader ND filters as they come in different sizes. This is a 58mm one.

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by ianpinion

Lee Filters are superb, but as Matt says they are quite expensive.

Yup, but worth it by all accounts over other brands

Personally, I don't use filters, other than CP and a protective UV, instead going for a blend of at least two shots - a bit like HDR but without the banishment of shadows, instead using the light.

Often attach the CP to reduce the shutter by a couple of stops if I'm going for 'silky, milky' look (but the waterfall has to have the right components for that treatment) - usually not rotating the CP to remove reflections (as I usually want to keep them!)