What ND filters to get...

gooble wrote in post #6009013
I want a GND of good quality. What's the best value? Lee, Cokin, other?

I don't want to buy more than one GND, so would a 2 stop GND be the most useful?

Also, what's the best value CP for use in Cokin's system?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm not real knowledgable about filter systems etc and it's more complicated than getting a camera and lenses.

Filters: I'd recommend the Hitech brand. Excellent filter and moderately priced...probably the best value. Stay away from the Cokin GND's. While you're at it, consider the Lee holder as opposed to the Z-Pro. Much better holder for only a few dollars more. You'll also need a wide angle adapter ring, no matter which holder brand you go with.

Filter strength: I'd go with a hard gradient if shooting from the rim. Most likely a 3-stop based on past experience.

argyle wrote in post #6009774
Filters: I'd recommend the Hitech brand. Excellent filter and moderately priced...probably the best value. Stay away from the Cokin GND's. While you're at it, consider the Lee holder as opposed to the Z-Pro. Much better holder for only a few dollars more. You'll also need a wide angle adapter ring, no matter which holder brand you go with.

Filter strength: I'd go with a hard gradient if shooting from the rim. Most likely a 3-stop based on past experience.

Thanks for the help.

Yeah, the Lee holder sounds better now after doing a little research.

Are the Hitech filters glass?

Why a hard filter?

Oh, and when they call the filters a .6, .9 etc is that .6 stops?

Are the Hitech filters glass? ... no very high quality resin

Why a hard filter? ... for scenes with a flat horizon

Oh, and when they call the filters a .6, .9 etc is that .6 stops? ... 0.6 = 2 stops, 0.9 = 3 stops

I second about Hitech GND filters, great filters to do the job, i will not do much without them, saved me in Europe twice, and now ready for my next trip somewhere.

Good luck

Tareq wrote in post #6018454
I second about Hitech GND filters, great filters to do the job, i will not do much without them, saved me in Europe twice, and now ready for my next trip somewhere.

Good luck

I'm about ready to buy a filter holder and some GNDs but cannot decide on which mix to buy of GNDs. Help please.

I primarily want these for the Grand Canyon but will use in mountainous areas as well.

One each of a .9 hard edge for Grand Canyon and .6 soft edge or .6 hard and .9 soft.

I really haven't done any shooting to determine proper spread of stops. Would hope to use this one to two hours before/after sunset/sunrise as well as a sunset/sunrise.

What is best combo to have?

gooble wrote in post #6046044
I'm about ready to buy a filter holder and some GNDs but cannot decide on which mix to buy of GNDs. Help please.

I primarily want these for the Grand Canyon but will use in mountainous areas as well.

One each of a .9 hard edge for Grand Canyon and .6 soft edge or .6 hard and .9 soft.

I really haven't done any shooting to determine proper spread of stops. Would hope to use this one to two hours before/after sunset/sunrise as well as a sunset/sunrise.

What is best combo to have?

Believe it or not, i was using 1.2 and 0.9 more, for the sky you need more stops as it is more over exposure, so 0.9 Hard [If most of the horizon line is straight and no much curves lines like mountains there], and 0.6 Soft for the foreground if some of the sun rays or sky reflection on water surfaces maybe, start with 0.9 Hard and 0.6 Soft, when i got P-series GNDs i got all soft GND stops [0.3 up to 1.2], now i have 1.2 Hard and Soft and 0.9 Soft, i am looking to add 0.9 Hard and 0.6 Soft and 0.3 Soft.

I recently bought the Lee holder, but remember, it's no good without the adapter ring, of which, I needed the 77mm for ultra wide angle. This prevents vignetting on big wide angle lenses by bringing the filter close to the rim of the lens, and forget using a hood. Anyway, the adapter ring alone was $60. At this point I only have one Hi-Tech 4x5 .6 Hard edge GND filter for it, another $66. Then you need some decent velvet bags for the filters or they will scratch if you blink at them too hard, then a special chamois cleaning cloth and cleaning liquid. Oh yeah, then a pouch to hold everything, or you'll have pieces and parts all over the place.

Ain't this fun?

On the other hand, if your serious about sunset or sunrise landscapes, there is no better way to get the shot.

I did some shots during the sunset without any filters, i will see how i can get better results of them, but in Scotland i was always using filters and they work like a magic, and here in my area i need filters 1000% because the sun moving very fast, within minutes or second the sun is not in the same place in the far horizon.

canonloader wrote in post #6046110
I recently bought the Lee holder, but remember, it's no good without the adapter ring, of which, I needed the 77mm for ultra wide angle. This prevents vignetting on big wide angle lenses by bringing the filter close to the rim of the lens, and forget using a hood. Anyway, the adapter ring alone was $60. At this point I only have one Hi-Tech 4x5 .6 Hard edge GND filter for it, another $66. Then you need some decent velvet bags for the filters or they will scratch if you blink at them too hard, then a special chamois cleaning cloth and cleaning liquid. Oh yeah, then a pouch to hold everything, or you'll have pieces and parts all over the place.

Ain't this fun?

On the other hand, if your serious about sunset or sunrise landscapes, there is no better way to get the shot.

Right, I'm getting the Lee FK and 77mm WA ring for use with up to a 10-22.

My main dilema right now is deciding which filters to get.

I think, right now, for the Grand Canyon trip I'll just get a Hitech .9 hard edge GND and worry about a soft edge later.

I was advised to get the same thing. The hard edge is fine, even though our hills do not make a level horizon. What made me hesitate on getting soft edge is, they start going soft, right from the top, and that's not going to help me much for what I want to do, or you either at the grand canyon.

gooble wrote in post #6009013
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I am also in the market for some ND filters and a filter system.

I'm taking a rather unplanned trip to the Grand Canyon in a week and a half.

I'm renting a EF 16-35 for use on my 40D. I researched the Cokin Z Pro holder and it sounds like it'll do fine with no vignetting (Cokin recommends it for 24mm and up; 16 on a crop frame is about 26mm).

I want a GND of good quality. What's the best value? Lee, Cokin, other?

I don't want to buy more than one GND, so would a 2 stop GND be the most useful?

Also, what's the best value CP for use in Cokin's system?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm not real knowledgable about filter systems etc and it's more complicated than getting a camera and lenses.

I use the P System by Cokin and the Cokin brand CPl worked fine.
BUT make sure you get the wide angle holder in addition to the regular Cokin holder. It is less "thick" so lessens the chance of vignetting.

Used it for 10 days at the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Bryce Canyon and Antelope Canyon.