07-04-2010, 09:28 AM
[quote name='Comte' date='19 June 2010 - 02:37 PM' timestamp='1276983449' post='618']
So you all use the Cokin system? I have thought about buying it too, but there are many bad opinions about the optical quality of the Cokin filters.
Can you confirm that? Do they really spoil resolution and scratch easily?
[/quote]
I have both a graduated ND and a 4-stop regular ND filter, both made by Singh-Ray. I seldom use the graduated ND now as Photomatix does a great job creating believable HDR images out of multiple exposures. The regular ND filter gets pulled out whenever I need to draw out the exposure time--such as to "candy" water motion. I have tried the new HDR subroutines in CS5, and they appear to be much improved, so some photographers may not want to put $$ out on Photomatix anymore. When ND filters were the only way to get the shot, I still cringed at how phony the results felt--even in Galen Rowell's capable hands. But then I mostly shoot macro and landscape stuff, and others don't seem to mind the feel of ND filters so much.
I don't use the Cokin brand P-series filters, as I also heard many bad things, but then most of their stuff seems to be cheap plastic. I prefer P-series filters made by Singh-Ray. Only carry a few in my gear, but the polarizer and warming polarizer do the most work. My wife and I play tug-of-war over the warming polarizer. :-)
While I buy P-series filters, I don't always used the P-series holder from Cokin. I only pull it out when my hands are busy shading the front of the lens, when I am in an awkward position where I can't hold still enough, or such. Otherwise, I just hold the filter in my hand up against the front of the lens--wastes less time. I got that idea from Dewitt Jones, who wasn't even carrying the Cokin holder in his gear. He prefers Tiffen P-series filters. I've heard others swear by 3-inch Lee filters, too, so there are different choices.
Scott
So you all use the Cokin system? I have thought about buying it too, but there are many bad opinions about the optical quality of the Cokin filters.
Can you confirm that? Do they really spoil resolution and scratch easily?
[/quote]
I have both a graduated ND and a 4-stop regular ND filter, both made by Singh-Ray. I seldom use the graduated ND now as Photomatix does a great job creating believable HDR images out of multiple exposures. The regular ND filter gets pulled out whenever I need to draw out the exposure time--such as to "candy" water motion. I have tried the new HDR subroutines in CS5, and they appear to be much improved, so some photographers may not want to put $$ out on Photomatix anymore. When ND filters were the only way to get the shot, I still cringed at how phony the results felt--even in Galen Rowell's capable hands. But then I mostly shoot macro and landscape stuff, and others don't seem to mind the feel of ND filters so much.
I don't use the Cokin brand P-series filters, as I also heard many bad things, but then most of their stuff seems to be cheap plastic. I prefer P-series filters made by Singh-Ray. Only carry a few in my gear, but the polarizer and warming polarizer do the most work. My wife and I play tug-of-war over the warming polarizer. :-)
While I buy P-series filters, I don't always used the P-series holder from Cokin. I only pull it out when my hands are busy shading the front of the lens, when I am in an awkward position where I can't hold still enough, or such. Otherwise, I just hold the filter in my hand up against the front of the lens--wastes less time. I got that idea from Dewitt Jones, who wasn't even carrying the Cokin holder in his gear. He prefers Tiffen P-series filters. I've heard others swear by 3-inch Lee filters, too, so there are different choices.
Scott