Filter shopping basket

[James Blonde]

For what its worth, coming in this late now...!

I've recently had a similar dilemma to you regarding filters - I've been trying to decide for the best part of a year which way to go with them, and forced myself to make a decision a few weeks ago. I didn't know whether to go down the screw-in, or filter system route, primarily looking at extreme ND filters, but I also wanted normal ND, and maybe grads. I was also aiming to replace cheap Cokin P series stuff with higher quality alternatives.

I'd already gone for a thin 77mm Hoya circ. polariser for my Sigma 10-20mm. Screw-in really is the best option. Unfortunately I only realised on holiday last week that the front of it isn't threaded so I can't add other filters to it. Doh! I understand that on wide angle lenses the circular polarisers aren't as effective, or can produce odd effects across the width of the image.

I'd also gone for a screw-in Hoya R72 IR filter to avoid the light leakage problems I'd been experiencing on the Cokin P series filter system I already had. Again, screw in was the best option, as the slide in filters didn't appear to have any foam gaskets to stop light leakage. Problems have (obviously!) been solved with screw-in, although need to look at where the hot spot is coming from.

My latest decision was to replace my P Series holder (cheap, plastic, more than vignetted at anything <35mm!) with a Lee 100mm filter system and wide angle adapter rings. I went filter system rather than screw-in because of the extra flexibility and stacking potential it affords.

Wow! What an absolutely stonking piece of kit it is! High quality, excellent fit, solid, well packaged, no massive gaps between components as you found on the Cokin P series, and not much more than the Cokin Z series, but I understand much much higher quality. I am super impressed with it! The wide angle adapter rings aren't cheap at £30 though, and they're recommended for wide angle (<35mm I think) lenses. I certainly had no vignetting at 10mm!

I also shelled out £100 for the glass 0.6ND filter, which is extortionate, but turns out to be such fantastic quality that in the end I haven't begrudged paying that much for it! However I think I'll be looking at Hitech as an alternative filter provider for grads and anything else I might want!

The problem with the Lee kit is that because its all hand produced, it has massive waiting lists for many components. The filter system, ring and ND filter all arrived next day, but I've been on the "Big Stopper" waiting list for weeks - I understand its at least a 6 week wait.... I believe Grads might not be as bad, but weren't in stock when I asked. However I'm more than content that when it does come, it'll be absolute top quality, and even if it didn't have a foam gasket (which it does), the fit of the filters is quite tight, so light leakage would be minimal compared to Cokin P.

So I would heartily recommend the Lee holder, and the Hoya screw ins. I'll be looking to see what people think about Hitech filters, as the Lee ones are expensive, BUT worth it.

On a related note, Matt, with regards to grads, I really struggle to get a decent exposure balance between sky and landscape, which if the sky is overexposed, I've found you just can't correct for in PS. I've come to the conclusion that its best to have the flexibility to do it with a camera filter so that you're retaining as much as possible before moving to PS. Whether you end up getting grads or not, at least you have the option with a filter system that you don't with screw in. Just my 2p!

[MattUK]

Thanks James, it's good to hear from people who have been in similar situations.

I've ordered the Lee foundation kit holder along with wide angle adapter and the Formatt / Hitech ND3.0. I haven't worked out what I'm going to do for a circular polariser yet - I figured I'd see what the score was with the kit I've ordered first!

Cheers

[silversnapper1]

Matt, I have the Lee foundation kit and the HOLDER for the 105mm circular polariser. I have bought the Formatt circular polariser although I think that I should only use 1 square filter guide behind it I have both and tend to get some vignetting at the wider end. Must give it a go with just the 1 in due course although I am looking to buy another foundation kit so that I don't have to keep chopping and changing.

[MattUK]

Sorry Steve, I'm missing your emphasis on the holder there. Is the foundation kit not a filter holder?

[silversnapper1]

Sorry Matt. That is a link to the ring for mounting the 105mm circular polariser to the foundation kit. Don't be misled by the ad though, you just get the metal ring for thirty odd quid.

[MattUK]

Haha, I totally missed that link - and I work for a web design agency!!

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out

[James Blonde]

Yes, I'll be interested to hear what you do regarding the polariser! As I said, I only just realised my Hoya 77mm polariser doesn't have a front thread last week, which surprised me as my cheapie 67mm Jessops one does which makes it much more useable! Although to be fair it may be down to the fact the Hoya is a slimline filter.

Oh yes, also forgot to mention that I bought a stepping ring for my 67mm lenses so that I only have to buy 77mm threaded filters now.

[donoreo]

I have not had a chance to check out my new, replacement Hitech/Formatt 10 stop ND filter yet. However, I can say that they have given me excellent service. I had a problem with the first filter and in the meantime they introduced a new higher grade and they gave me a discount for the upgrade. They never made me send the old one back when I offered.

They were also helpful answering my questions and giving me suggestions on the holder when I was first purchasing. I am very pleased with the quality of the holder (I got a wide angle one that does not have the circular holder on the front), it is well made.

[silversnapper1]

Originally Posted by MattUK

Haha, I totally missed that link - and I work for a web design agency!!

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out

lol Matt. My fault really, I should have called it a ring and not a filter.

[MattUK]

Steve, at what angles do you get vignetting? I shoot at 10mm, so id be looking for a solution that doesn't vignette. Sounds like id need a square polariser then.