Filter system for wide angles (17-40 L)

Hi folks,

Just wondering if people could make recommendations for a good filter system which will work well with pretty wide lenses (I've got the 17-40 L in mind while I'm writing this).

I was looking at the Cokin P series system, but it appears that even with their 'slim' holder, I'd suffer at the 17mm end - which is a bit of a PITA as I'm often in situations where I'd like wide and some ND grad...

Thanks in advance and best regards,

Rob.

For that lens, I just hand hold my ND grads. Works just fine.

Are you running on a cropped body or a full frame body?

I run a 40d with a sigma 10-20 which works out with the cropped body to be 16mm at it's widest. I use a Lee filter holder and wide angle adaptor and have no problems when shooting at 16mm.

Forgot to mention that I use the Lee 100x150 size grads.

Simon

On the score of 'hand holding' the filters... I'm not sure I could reliably do that for every shot, but I'll be honest and say I hadn't even really considered it; so (sincerely) thanks for the 'common-sense' lesson - I'll definitely bear that in mind as one workable option!

Sauchterlonie wrote in post #8753360
Are you running on a cropped body or a full frame body?

I run a 40d with a sigma 10-20 which works out with the cropped body to be 16mm at it's widest. I use a Lee filter holder and wide angle adaptor and have no problems when shooting at 16mm.

Forgot to mention that I use the Lee 100x150 size grads.

Simon

My apologies, I did mean to mention crop/FF in my original post, but spectacularly failed to do so! I'm thinking in FF terms for the 17-40, but as you say, would be thinking along the same lines for a 10-20(22) should I take my old body out too.

I'm struggling to find the combo you suggest, but did notice a 'push-on' type filter holder, which appears to do what I need; but I'm not sure my better half would buy "Spelling mistake on eBay, I got them for 99p" again - and there is a pretty big price gap between the two (Lee and Cokin) systems. I guess this is going to turn out to be another example of 'you get what you pay for' ; but if anyone has a suggestion of how to bring the price down a bit, I'm all ears!

Thanks and regards,

Rob.

Unfortunatly you do get what you pay for mate and I think most will agree that the Lee holder is one of the best around. Having said that a good but of blue tac does a pretty good job too until you can afford to purchase a holder.

Simon

i bought a cheap cokin filter holder and used a dremmel tool to file it down. no more vignetting and i saved $50 for the relative lee filter holder.

I use a Hitech filter holder, which I think is very similar to the Lee. I have 2, one for wide angle, which I have not had to use, and one that has a slot for a 105mm CPL filter as well as a hood. It takes 100mm filters and I have had no issues with it at all. I shoot with a 40D.

Using the 17-40L on FF with Cokin P isn't that much of a big deal- you get light fall off somewhat when wide open, but lets face it shooting landscapes your going to be stopped down at a min of 5.6 ideally 6.3 where its mostly un noticeable except for bright area e.g. blue skies where some might argue its part and part of landscape photography. If you still aren't happy with the fall off you could always zoom in a little. You wont experience vignetting, but don't forget you can only hold 1 filter a time in the wide holder, the 3 stack holder will require a focal length of 22mm which is still wide for most situations, what's more use the cokin holder and hitech inserts, they are pretty much the same price but better performers.
If you can afford the Lee system then buy it, i now use it, with a wide angle adaptor ring i can use two filters at 17mm on a FF with no vignetting- app you can get away with three, though i have yet to experience this myself, i do know from other users on this forum that on a Lee system you will start to see vignetting with 2 filters and the 105mm CPL at the wide end.
I hope i have provided some useful insight in my ramblings. I have both Cokin P series and Lee systems so if you want any info on either let me know and i shall try and help