How does anyone manage to use a cokin ND filter??

Hi everyone, I've recently been playing around with some newly-bought ND/ND grad cokin filters (P-series), and I find it's impossible to overlook the pink/purple cast that appears on all shots, very extreme when the filters are stacked. Why does anyone ever buy these filters when they ruin all shots like this?? And why is it that you only hear people complaining about it quite infrequently? Looks like I'm gonna have to invest in a more expensive system...

 

Um.....the answer to the first is most people don't buy these. The one's who do usually regret it or don't have as high of standards on quality.

The second question is people don't complain about it (on here at least) because most of us know better. The glass you shoot through makes the difference in quality....that's regarding all glass whether a lens or a filter. Having a cheap, crappy filter is no different than a cheap crappy lens.

 

I would have to disagree with NateS. I have been very happy with my Cokin P-Series ND Grad. I have never tried stacking them except with my Circular Polarizer (which is a glass filter and not a Cokin).

It is a grey filter and does not add a purple cast. I think Big Mike's question is a good one.

Ian

 

Oh well, I'll know to do better research before investing next time! They're all definitely ND (although you wouldn't know!), but I think the real problem is only with the 0.9 and especially when stacked.

 

What do you mean 'you wouldn't know'? Mine is clearly a grad ND when you look at it.

Ian

 

I just meant that they market it as neutral when it is far from it!

 

Actually they are not. Cokin ND filters are not true ND filters. They are a gray filter. That's one of the reason they run $20.00 and Lee, and Singray ND filters run $80.00 on up depending on the quality you are willing to pay for. They are designed to absorb visible, UV and IR radiation which greatly helps reduce color issues.

 

In the mean time fixing the colour cast in post would be completely trivial, especially on the full ND filter. The ND grad can be fixed in any app which supports layers (so most decent photo editing apps)