Cheap filters from ebay.

[John_N]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has tried filters such as these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/For-Cokin-Filter-P-Series-ND8-Gradual-Grey-1147_W0QQitemZ170284305570QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Ca merasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_J N?hash=item27a5bc4ca2&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14) or these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Filter-for-Cokin-P-Series-Neutral-Density-ND4-ND-4-F3G_W0QQitemZ370245239348QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cam erasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_JN ?hash=item5634560234&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)?

I know most of you will say don;t buy cheap and 99% of the time thats good advice, but if it turns out I'm potentially costing myself more by being a filter snob then that'd just be daft :)

Anyway if anyone has tried these and has some opinions (or better - pictures) then could they let me know.

Failing that I'll probably get some hitech's (as I understand Cokin originals suffer from colour cast)

Cheers,

John.

[adam8080]

What are you going to be shooting? Something with strong, direct lighting? These will probably flare.

[John_N]

A mix of things, landscapes with grads (they sell all sorts of kinds of filter), but some "milky" water shots, so I'd be getting a set of straight ND's probably .6 or .9 (or both if they are okay :))

Also does anyone know if the cheap Cokin style (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280399199603&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT) holders are okay?

[tvphotog]

I trust 2filter.com over eBay. Though they're a web site, they're an AD for B + W.

[c2thew]

^ cheap cokin filter holders are ok. if push comes to shove and the cokin filter shows up in your image, you can always shorten it with a dremmel tool.

here's a picture set of a set of cokin filters that i purchased on ebay
http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%205d%20%20%20tianya%20filter/

understand this: when you buy a cheap ND filter from a cheap source (as opposed to the premium lee filters) you will introduce a light pink color cast. That will look unprofessional. The more filters you stack in front of your lense, the greater chance that your image quality will be hurt.

Filters are really specialty use accessories, mostly for landscapes and long shutter durations. for my style of shooting, cokin filters (and filters in general) seemed to slow me down every time i had to attach and unattach.... etc.

If i were selling my landscape shots professionally, I most definitely would not use these. as a hobbyist, it was worth the venture.

[Saint728]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has tried filters such as these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/For-Cokin-Filter-P-Series-ND8-Gradual-Grey-1147_W0QQitemZ170284305570QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Ca merasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_J N?hash=item27a5bc4ca2&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14) or these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Filter-for-Cokin-P-Series-Neutral-Density-ND4-ND-4-F3G_W0QQitemZ370245239348QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cam erasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_JN ?hash=item5634560234&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)?

I know most of you will say don;t buy cheap and 99% of the time thats good advice, but if it turns out I'm potentially costing myself more by being a filter snob then that'd just be daft :)

Anyway if anyone has tried these and has some opinions (or better - pictures) then could they let me know.

Failing that I'll probably get some hitech's (as I understand Cokin originals suffer from colour cast)

Cheers,

John.

You have read the descriptions on those filters? It says on one of them "The filter is made from Plexiglas and not produced by Cokin." The other one says "Cokin substitute filter"

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

[John_N]

I did read the description, but given that some filters are made from glass and others from resin without complaint possibly plexiglass (high quality according to the reply I got from them) should be worth asking the question.

Well it seems no-one has actually tried them (or will admit to it ;)) I'm going to give them a shot and see.

Personally I think they won't be as good but it someone doesn't see them we may all be missing a good thing.

Anyway I'll post piccys in a couple of weeks :)

[dpds68]

Have a Read

http://www.kenandchristine.com/gallery/1054387/1

http://www.lenstip.com/115.1-article-Polarizing_filters_test.html

[John_N]

It really is scary how expensive they can be!

[Treat me like a tourist]

I really don't think you should buy these, they are a waste of money, you should go straight for the Hitech. Hitech filters for the P series line are £30 for 1,2,3 stop grad bundles- £10 each represents great value from a company that has a brand to uphold.

BTW you realise that unless you want to hand hold these filters you will need the Cokin P series holder, and an adaptor ring, again further expense. Filters are no different to lenses, the more you pay the better the quality and the potential for better results.

Best of luck with your purchases.

[JohnJ80]

Why would you pay the money for a good lens and put a piece of crappy glass or (worse yet) plexiglass in front of it? makes no sense.

j.