Wanting a ND graduated filter

I know next to nothing about these things, but I've had several occasions to use one. I've looked at a few sites to find the best one for my needs, but I'm left confused.

Is there a "best" filter for darkening the sky in shots where it would otherwise be blown-out? I've looked at Lee and Cokin and I use B+W's for my UV's. I went to 2filter.com, but the site is WAY less than useful for learning.

I like the idea of a holder vs a screw-on, but again, I'm confused about what to get. I don't want to spend $150 or more on this, so if a holder isn't within my budget, what suggestions would you make?

TIA!

cokin is one i'd suggest tbh, but i hardly use them

I use a set of three Cokin ND grads and a holder and have been very happy with them. There have been comments here to the effect that they are not "neutral" but gray and therefore create colour castes, but I have never seen this on any of my images. They are resin filters not glass, if you want glass the cost is obviously more.

For quick shots I sometimes just hold the filter in front of the lens, but it's better to attach the holder and slide the filter into it. One thing less to worry about.

I went for the 121, which is a 3 stop (ND8), the 121M, a 2 stop (ND4) and a 121L, 1 stop (ND2).

When I was exploring the different systems I had a hard look at the Lee version because they are based very close to me, but their "take it or leave it" unhelpfulness when I tried to get advice decided the issue for me.

Thats meant to be ND8 on line 6. Not sure why the yellow face is there and I cannot shift it!

I used to have Cokins but they indeed did give a slight colour to the images, usually purplish. I now have a set of HiTech filters which are much nicer and not that much more expensive. Give them a look.

I have the HiTech filters.... very nice filters!
http://www.2filter.com​/prices/Hitech_Z_packa​ge.html

Great place to buy online too!

+1 for HiTech

There's another thread just started about 'Which ND grads?'

Another vote for HiTech. You need a cokin holder (I bought an Ebay knock-off for $8 shipped) and then cokin P sized filters. Now...I "think" they should be okay with your wide angle lenses, but I'll let someone else chime in on that. They work fine down to 15mm for me.

What flavor of graduation? A 2 stop gradual should be your first purchase. I use that more than anything else. I'm in Colorado, and with our jagged landscape I've yet to encounter a need for a hard stop version.

I usually carry a 2 stop gradual GND and a 3 stop solid ND, to make sure I'm able to get the low shutter speeds required for waterfalls, streams, etc.

again, lee holder and adapter, hi tech filters

Roadrunnr wrote in post #6548155
I have the HiTech filters.... very nice filters!
http://www.2filter.com​/prices/Hitech_Z_packa​ge.html

Great place to buy online too!

I agree, I bought the 2 stop soft kit plus a 3 stop hard filter.

Have a read of this thread, it is labeled wrong, it is really about GND filters.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=224448

Hey Roadrunner, that's exactly the kind of link I needed. I didn't find that page when I was on their site. I like the prices and the site, but I do wish they'd lay out a little more clearly what a person needs in each of the packages. For an experienced user or someone who knows exactly what they are looking for, it may be perfect, but for a noob, very, very confusing.

The page you linked is what I needed to see. That set is what I plan to buy.

Really, spend the extra $12 or so and pick up the Lee filter holder...heads and shoulders above the Z-Pro. I'm sure the folks at 2filter can work with you on setting up a package with the Lee...