Lee...Cokin P... Cokin Z...What to choose?!

[table1349]

Yes the Lee's are as are the Singh-Ray's. They are also top quality. I have heard of issues with color shift with the Cokin ND filters. You might look at Hi-tech. They make good stuff. Not sure of their prices. B&W also makes good filters but again costly.

Probably the best source to check out what is available. Camera Filters On Sale 2014 Catalog

Cokin's do produce a colour cast under certain conditions, but that's 99.9% avoidable by shading the filters. I keep an 8x10 piece of matte black craft foam (<$1.00 at Wal-mart/Michael's) that I use as an ad hoc lens shade when I'm shooting toward the sun.

Do you use the Cokin system?

If you are asking me, no. I have a combination of Lee and Singh-ray with the Lee holder. I used to have some Cokin back in the film days and they served me okay.

 

[D-B-J]

Do you use the Cokin system?

I do; I stumbled across a smoking good deal on Craig's List (50+ mint/NIB 'P' size filters, holders, CPOL, adapter rings for $40) a few years back, and grabbed it. While they're definitely not Lee/Singh-Ray quality, they're pretty good with the above-noted exception, and when I do drop or scratch one, it doesn't bother me overly.

I agree 100%. I have one Lee ND filter and several Cokin ND and GND filter. Lee's are very nice filter, but are MUCH more expensive. Cokin filters do have issues, but nothing that I can't deal with in post. Cokin filters, do, however, seem to scratch easier that Lees so you have to be extra careful when handling them. If I were making a living with landscape photography, I would likely go with Lee. But since I am just a hobbyist, I will take Cokin any day.

My next question is how do I choose which pieces fit together? They have a Z filter holder, a P - Z adapter, a P holder for wide angle, etc etc.


I'm assuming the below will work, but are there any thoughts? I'm trying to use Z filters on my Tokina 11-16mm:

Cokin P Wide Angle Holder: Cokin Blister Pack P Slim Holder for Wide Angle Lenses BPW400

Cokin P-77mm Adapter: Cokin Series P 77mm Lens Adapter Ring P477

Cokin P GND: Cokin Series P Grey Graduated ND Filter ND8X P121

Cokin P GND Set: Cokin ND Graduated Filter Kit P Series w/ Filter Holder H250

Thoughts? I seem to need a P-Filter holder, an adapter ring, and a filter. The set seems to be the best combo, as I can get 3 different GND's, WITH a holder.

Best,
Jake

 

[Gavjenks]

TiredIron, yes, it involves a couple of steps, but still not that hard. Take a photo of a white wall, determine midpoint of the gradient and appropriate feathering amount, write it down on a sticky note, and just apply in post processing for color correction. Same way you would do an artificial GND effect in photoshop, except for color and better overall because an actual GND preserves the lightness detail.

Slight PITA? Yeah. But for somebody grimacing as much as him over $400, I assume he's not raking in landscape photography profits, and that this is just an every once in awhile hobby thing. And going to that effort to save $300 (times each strength of ND) is pretty reasonable. Also, you can just make some actions for it for cases when the GND is level.

 

[weepete]

I've got a cheap unbranded set but one that I use most is the 3 stop GND for landscapes, it's probably the single most useful. I've had a shot with the Lees, and no doubt they are quality gear.

If it were me I'd buy a 3 stop GND and a 10 stop ND Lee filter if I could afford it. If not the Colkins would do just fine IMO

 

[Gavjenks]

I like weepete's suggestion on types and strengths.

2 or 3 stop GND for sunsets and the like.
10 stop for long exposures, also often used for landscapes

And if you also want to use wide apertures (f/2, etc.) in bright sunlight, a 3 stop or so normal ND is nice too. But this isn't terribly relevant to landscapes. Just another common usage of NDs

 

[table1349]

D-B-J I would suggest that you go with the Z Pro holder if you are going with the Cokin. The P can be a bit small for some glass and the X is designed to work with wide video camera Lenses. The Z pro is the standard 100X100mm size that should give you coverage on almost any glass you would buy, excluding super telephotos, which have their own drop in filter holder.

 

[table1349]

D-B-J You might want to read this: Cokin Z Pro vs Lee FK holder

The Lee holder is a bit more expensive but I really like the build.

 

[HughGuessWho100 15]

D-B-J I would suggest that you go with the Z Pro holder if you are going with the Cokin. The P can be a bit small for some glass and the X is designed to work with wide video camera Lenses. The Z pro is the standard 100X100mm size that should give you coverage on almost any glass you would buy, excluding super telephotos, which have their own drop in filter holder.

Again, I agree. The P series is ok if you only use them on normal or long lenses, but they aren't great for wide lenses. The Z series will accept 4X4 or 4X6 filters and they holders are much more durable. The filter holder ( I think they are offically called foundations) will except Cokin, Lee and any brand of filter of that size.

 

[D-B-J]

$408 for a Lee filter holder, a 0.6GND, and the adapter ring... hmm... I may have to do some considering...

 

[table1349]

$408 for a Lee filter holder, a 0.6GND, and the adapter ring... hmm... I may have to do some considering...

The lee holder can be had for under $100.LEE Filters Foundation Kit FK B&H Photo Video

 

[D-B-J]

$408 for a Lee filter holder, a 0.6GND, and the adapter ring... hmm... I may have to do some considering...

The lee holder can be had for under $100.LEE Filters Foundation Kit FK B&H Photo Video

Oh I know. That price is with a filter-holder, attachment ring, and a combo pack of GND filters (0.3, 0.6, 0.9).

Lee NDGSSET 4x6in Neutral Density Soft Resin Filter SET-RESIN-NDGS

 

[EIngerson]

I recommend the Lee kit. I have Cokin only because is was hard to find the Lee setup a while back. So I settled..... Big mistake, I have left mine in a pelican case and borrowed a friends Lee set up multiple times. I am absolutely impressed with Lee's filter quality. The Cokin filters have caused a few problems for me. A couple of them have inconsistent tint on them causing bright spots in sky's. Lee has never let me down and it's not even mine. Lol

Just my .02

 

[D-B-J]

Well.. I bit the bullet and purchased the Lee kit. I am getting tired of having to shoot sunsets as HDR's, and what a little more versatility. I'll let you know what I think when they come in!

Best,
Jake

 

[EIngerson]

Well.. I bit the bullet and purchased the Lee kit. I am getting tired of having to shoot sunsets as HDR's, and what a little more versatility. I'll let you know what I think when they come in! Best, Jake

Nice. I think you'll like it.

 

[MK11_user]

For the extreme wide angle lens you have I suggest you take a very serious look at Formatt Hightech
They have a wide range of ND and GND filters plus in a huge range if sizes.