ND filter suggestions

[kaashin]

I was hoping someone could help provide me some suggestions on which route I should take.

I have roughly 250-300 as budget to spend on filters. I don't particularly want to use the entire budget if I don't have to. I'm still quite the amateur photographer and I am just a hobbyist.

I was considering buying a the Cokin Pseries filter holder and then getting the Hitech Master Kit which comes with a 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 (ND2, ND4 and ND8?) in both normal and gradient. HITECH MASTER ND(0.3/0.6/0.9) KIT 85MM HT85NDMKIT

However, I have read in a few places where some people have said they don't find the 0.3 or 0.6 to be very useful much of the time. So should I just put the money to buying a better quality glass 77mm screw-in? If I go this route, I think I could potentially buy 2 filters, but probably not a gradient (are there even screw-in gradients, I don't imagine so).
Maybe something like this:
HOYA 77MM PRO1 DIGITAL NDX8 DMC FILTER DMC
HOYA 77MM PRO-1D NDX64 DMC HY054234
And get a single piece of gradient to just hold up if I want to play with gradients?

Suggestions?

 

[Big Mike]

I really depends on what you want to shoot (and when). I have one ND filter, I think it's a two or four stop filter...and I use it once every couple years.

I have several circular polarizing filters, and I use them fairly often. A polarizer will block some light anyway, which can help for the type of things that you would use an ND filter for.

They do make round grad/split filters...but they are next to useless, in my opinion. They would force you to adjust the composition of your photo, to the filter, rather than the other way around.

I do have some Cokin grad filters, but I don't use them anymore. Partially because they are the A series, and thus too small for my larger lenses...but also because I can create the same effects via digital editing and/or combining multiple exposures.

If you do want to get a grad filter, I'd certainly suggest a large rectangular filter...and depending on your shooting style (tripod?) it may be perfectly fine to just hold it in front of the lens, rather than get the holder.

So my suggestion would be, that if you don't already have a polarizing filter...spend your money on a good one, because it will likely be the filter that you use most often. Get a screw in ND and a rectangular grad...but the circular polarizer would be the highest priority IMO.

As for brands & models....I don't know. My philosophy has always been to avoid the cheapest ones...and I simple can't afford the most expensive ones...so I go somewhere in the middle. Hoya seems to fit that bill fairly often. I've always heard good things about B&W filters. I believe that Sing Ray (sp) has some high end filters as well. But both of those brands can get pretty expensive, especially for the larger sizes.

On that note, make sure to buy your filters large enough for the biggest lens (filter dia.) that you own...or that you might purchase in the near future. You can always use step down rings for smaller lenses, but going up in size is a PITA.