Advice on filter system please.

[Watoh]

Hi peeps,
I could do with your advice. I want to get some filters, well initially I want a 10 stop ND filter. But I know I'll be after others soon enough.

I have a D600 with 4 lens with 3 different size filter threads: 52mm, 58mm & 62mm.

The only filter I presently have is a 62mm circular polarised filter that fits 2 of my lens, but clearly this is not the way to proceed.

I want a system that will be able to fit all my lens that is good value. I'm on a tight budget but happy to spend good money if it is justified.

I'm totally new to filter systems and research is a bit pot luck so would love to hear from folk who have got some first hand experience who can advise on brands & types.
Thanks.

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[LensWork]

You could go with a system like Cokin, or you could just buy the largest screw-in filter that you might need and use stepping rings to mount them on the smaller diameter lenses.

 

[Ruidoso Bill]

You can spend several hundred buying the Lee filter system or others that are similar or you can do what I do is buy large filters and reducer rings. I have some that are 77mm and even 82 mm that I can reduce down for a particular lens. The larger you use the less chance of vignetting when used on wider lenses.

 

[Steve B]

Look at the Cokin system but make sure you get the right size. You can use other brands of filters in the Cokin holders. I use HiTech ND and GND filters instead of the Cokin brand due to a little bit less color shift. Here is a link to a Cokin page that gives you the sizes supported by the different series and the adapter rings available. Cokin - CREATIVE Filter System - Adaptor rings

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Step down ring sound like your best bet. That way you are not locked in to just one system. Also probably a lot less expensive.

 

[Steve B]

Step down ring sound like your best bet. That way you are not locked in to just one system. Also probably a lot less expensive.

I would agree with this approach for CPLs but I think for using GNDs a system like Cokin is more flexible and I doubt if it is very much more in cost.

 

[Watoh]

Thanks, I was not aware of these step down/up rings.
But such a system doesn't seem that flexible, i. e. can't use graduated filters, unless I'm not understanding them correctly.

Ideally I want a system that will work with at least the common filter types. I had envisaged square filters, but I really am starting from position of complete ignorance.

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[Ruidoso Bill]

Thanks, I was not aware of these step down/up rings.
But such a system does seem that flexible, i. e. can't use graduated filters, unless I'm not understanding them correctly.

Ideally I want a system that will work with at least the common filter types. I had envisaged square filters, but I really am starting from position of complete ignorance.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Google and Youtube can become your best friend. search for filter systems and you'll probably find more than you need, at least systems that will give you something to think about. I am very fortunate in that my favorite lenses take the same size filters. Also you won't have the vignetting issues with the systems suggested versus the rings.

 

[hark]

Thanks, I was not aware of these step down/up rings.
But such a system does seem that flexible, i. e. can't use graduated filters, unless I'm not understanding them correctly.

Ideally I want a system that will work with at least the common filter types. I had envisaged square filters, but I really am starting from position of complete ignorance.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Cokin graduated neutral density filters can be adjusted up/down, but if you go with the screw in ones, then it is wherever the line falls in the image.

As for a regular neutral density filter, you can either go with the screw in one or a Cokin one. As the others said, you can get several step up rings if you go with a screw in one. It is best to buy your screw in filter for the lens that takes the largest size filter then apply the step up rings. They should be available in 52mm→62mm and 58mm→62mm.

 

[Steve B]

One other limitation is that I am not aware of any screw in reverse GND filters or any way of getting that effect other than with one of the rectangular filter systems.

 

[Whiskeyman]

In addition, you can get a series of ND filters that stack on each other to give multiple ND strength options. For instance, stacking a 2-stop, a 3-stop and a 5-stop ND filter on top of one-another will give you a total of 10 stops of light loss. That combination allows you to have the capability to also filter to 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 stops of light, instead of just 10 if you were to buy a single 10 stop filter. There would be some additional image degradation due to adding additional layers of glass in the light path. But it is something to think about.

WM

 

[FastGlass]

Having owned the Lee system. It's expensive, but it's worth every penny. No matter what brand, system you go with a step up/down ring is a the only way to go. buy the big filters and the rings to make them work on all the lenses you intend on using them on.

 

[Watoh]

Thank you everyone for your advice.

I'll defiantly go down the holder & adapter ring system. Most likely Cokin, but I'll have a look at the Lee ones.

One thing I have been amazed at is the price range for the filter plates. With products like this:

9 size Metal Adapter Ring + 6 Cokin P Series Filter Set ND2 ND4 ND8 G.ND2 4 8 kit : $20

To single filters at over $150.

Clearly there is a massive quality range at play. I need to figure out what is an acceptable level of price vs quality.

 

[Geoffc]

I think the Cokin recommendation for general and graduated NDs with step down rings is a good one that my wife and I use. I personally wouldn't stack three filters to get a ten stop as it will probably vignette badly. Also, the Cokins are ok but not top glass so you could diminish the image a lot.

For a ten stop we bought non coated B&W screw in filters which work very well. We both have 77mm filters and my wife uses a step down ring on some lenses.

 

[hark]

Thank you everyone for your advice.

I'll defiantly go down the holder & adapter ring system. Most likely Cokin, but I'll have a look at the Lee ones.

One thing I have been amazed at is the price range for the filter plates. With products like this:


To single filters at over $150.

Clearly there is a massive quality range at play. I need to figure out what is an acceptable level of price vs quality.

In the small print, these are listed as third party which means they aren't the Cokin brand. You might suffer some loss of quality in your images if the ND filters aren't made out of really good quality material.

And some people are recommending step up and step down rings. I recommended step up rings, but if you ever go with step down rings (to fit a smaller filter on a larger sized lens), most likely you will experience vignetting--just a heads up so you can make an informed decision.

 

[Watoh]

In the small print, these are listed as third party which means they aren't the Cokin brand. You might suffer some loss of quality in your images if the ND filters aren't made out of really good quality material.

Oh yeah i realise these are not Cokin and i would expect poor quality. But I'm considering them as a option, little to loss & you never know they might suffice.

And some people are recommending step up and step down rings. I recommended step up rings, but if you ever go with step down rings (to fit a smaller filter on a larger sized lens), most likely you will experience vignetting--just a heads up so you can make an informed decision.

I assumed for such a system you get the filter holder that fits a certain size filter (that is large enough for my largest lens) and then buy an adapter ring for each of my lens. In my case a 52mm, 58mm & 62mm. Is this correct?

 

[hark]

I assumed for such a system you get the filter holder that fits a certain size filter (that is large enough for my largest lens) and then buy an adapter ring for each of my lens. In my case a 52mm, 58mm & 62mm. Is this correct?

↑ ↑ These are specifically the screw on filters that I'm addressing in this part (not the Cokin type which are a different type of filter). Your filters should fit the largest lens--if your largest lens holds a 62mm filter, then I suggest you buy 62mm filters. Then you buy two step up rings. One will be 52mm→62mm and the other 58mm→62mm. You *might* want to invest in an extra lens cap that fits a 62mm lens. That way if you decide to put the lens with the filter mounted into your bag, you have the option to place a lens cap on it.

 

[Ruidoso Bill]

↑ ↑ These are specifically the screw on filters that I'm addressing in this part (not the Cokin type which are a different type of filter). Your filters should fit the largest lens--if your largest lens holds a 62mm filter, then I suggest you buy 62mm filters. Then you buy two step up rings. One will be 52mm→62mm and the other 58mm→62mm. You *might* want to invest in an extra lens cap that fits a 62mm lens. That way if you decide to put the lens with the filter mounted into your bag, you have the option to place a lens cap on it.

In my case after just buying a VND I need a cap that will fit the filter, it is larger than my 77 mm lens cap. I am thankful both my 24-70 and 70-200 are 77 mm. Then there is my 14-24 which I have no idean how to put a filter lol.

 

[Watoh]

Well.. I went to my local camera shop and ended up buying something I had not heard of before.. a Hama 'Grau Verio' ~ Variable Grad ND 2-400 (62mm with 2 stepdown rings 62-58 & 58-52)

It's very cool. I've not used it in anger yet.. but it looks very promising.

 

[Watoh]

This variable filter is AWFUL, complete waste of money.

Simply does not work on my D 600 with any of my lenses. My advice is don't touch it with a barge pole.!

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