Hitech, Singh-Ray or Tiffen ND grads?

[snakefart]

I would like to purchase a couple of Cokin “P” mount style graduated ND’s. I do not like the color cast of the Cokin graduated filters, I see that Hitech, Tiffen and Sing-Ray offer graduated ND’s in this mount/size. The Hitech’s are considerably less expensive. Looks like the Tiffen’s are the only glass filter in the group. Any comments or suggestions on which brand I should purchase?

To start, I am going to purchase a soft 2-stop and a hard 3-stop. Is this the way to go?

How about mounts? Is the Cokin “P” mount okay? I will use this on my Canon 28-105 USM lens immediately but plan on purchasing a 10-22 and a long zoom ASAP (probably a 100-400 IS). I am also thinking that I could hand hold the filter and not use a mount at all, but I still want to have one in the camera bag just in case.

Thanks -- Shaun

[Mike K]

To start, I am going to purchase a soft 2-stop and a hard 3-stop. Is this the way to go?

How about mounts? Is the Cokin “P” mount okay? I will use this on my Canon 28-105 USM lens immediately but plan on purchasing a 10-22 and a long zoom ASAP (probably a 100-400 IS). I am also thinking that I could hand hold the filter and not use a mount at all, but I still want to have one in the camera bag just in case.

Thanks -- Shaun
The late Galen Rowell was a big suporter of the Singh Ray Neutral density graduated filters
http://www.mountainlight.com/filters.html
In his books he recommends getting 4; both 2 and 3 stop in both hard and soft. If you only bought 2, the 2 softs would be more flexible, as you can stack them. If you have a chance to visit Rowells gallery, still run by his heirs, in Bishop CA, you can study his use of these filters on the large prints exhibited there. Good educational experience!
Will you see a big difference between $43 HiTech and $99 Singh Ray? Dunno. I have used the HiTechs, but find more often that blending of over and underexposed shots often gives better results (no filters).

The Cokin will work fine with a 1.6x cropped sensor camera, on any lens. obviously you will need more than one lens adapter ring for it. A reliable and relatively inexpensive source for the HiTechs and Cokin P and adapter ring is:
http://www.2filter.com/prices/htpackages.html
http://www.2filter.com/prices/Hitech/HitechP.html
note no shipping for orders over $66.
I find the neutral grads used very infrequently for telephoto lenses

Yes you can hand hold a filter, assuming the camera is tripod mounted. Another G Rowell tip is to stop down when positioning the filter, otherwise its really hard to evaluate its effect on the image and helps immensely in exact positioning.
Mike K

[rudgej]

I would like to purchase a couple of Cokin “P” mount style graduated ND’s. I do not like the color cast of the Cokin graduated filters, I see that Hitech, Tiffen and Sing-Ray offer graduated ND’s in this mount/size. The Hitech’s are considerably less expensive. Looks like the Tiffen’s are the only glass filter in the group. Any comments or suggestions on which brand I should purchase?

To start, I am going to purchase a soft 2-stop and a hard 3-stop. Is this the way to go?

How about mounts? Is the Cokin “P” mount okay? I will use this on my Canon 28-105 USM lens immediately but plan on purchasing a 10-22 and a long zoom ASAP (probably a 100-400 IS). I am also thinking that I could hand hold the filter and not use a mount at all, but I still want to have one in the camera bag just in case.

I bought a Cokin ND P-series kit from Speed Graphic (http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk). This PDF (http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/pdfiles/p5-7.pdf) from their site explains the suitability of the different Cokin ranges with differing focal lengths. I've used the P-series on my 18-55 kit lens at 18mm without problem, but if you went ultrawide, then on a full-frame 35mm you might be better with the bigger X-Pro range. Note that I said full frame, and your 10mm lens would probably be ok on a 1.6 crop camera.

[Jon]

I use Singh Ray grads in the Cokin P holder. Currently have a 2x soft and 3x hard. If you mostly work around relatively even horizon lines, a hard grad will be good; if the horizon-line is uneven (mountainous,city skylines, etc.) you'll probably find soft grads more useful.