Alright, I'm makin' the push into investing in some graduated neutral density filters (it's about time!)...where's the best place to buy?? So far, I'm goin' with singh-ray...but open for suggestions!
I've used singh-ray's for many years; They've been great. I abuse the living hell out of them and buy new ones as needed. I'm too rough on gear to get glass, and too picky about color neutrality to pay (save $$$) for inferior product. Anytime I've had a question or problem, the personalized attention of Bob & his Family have been worth the cost alone. Besides, Bob has always been one of the nicest, friendliest guys out there.
Over the years I've accumulated HiTech, Cokin and Singh Ray. Generally I used the cheaper Cokins as an entry point or test of particular filters, then moved up to Singh Ray if they proved really useful. For a brief period (about 15 years ago) there were some Cokins floating around that produced a distinct greenish cast. I got away without my Singh Rays on a recent trip and picked up a Cokin, the only GND available on site, and was pleased that it was absolutely color neutral.
Singh Rays are a very good investment for me for durability, as well as for the neat little cases they come in. The filters just last a lot longer than any other. And yes, I've transfered some of my HiTech and Cokins to the Singh Ray cases, vastly improving their life while getting rid of the original bulky cases.
Posted by Tom Nevesely on July 25, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Sorry to hijack this but...
Hank, do the Hi-Techs fit in the Singh-Ray cases nicely? I've been searching for a good solution to carrying my filters and haven't found anything I like. Currently I'm using a CD wallet as the plastic sleeves Hi-Techs came in are crap.
Like a glove. They're the same width (to fit the Cokin holder), so they're great.
As a side note or further elaboration, Singh Rays are shipped with the filters in a fitted plastic envelope and a sheet of paper on each face of the filter, with all that in the protective pouch. I've learned to keep track of the plastice envelopes and paper, saving that for use with subsequent filters even after I dump the original Singh Rays. I think Singh Ray's long life is more a case of the envelopes and papers protecting the filters from scratching, since HiTech and Cokin filters seem to last just as long once I get them into the Singh Ray storage system. Can't beat Singh Ray's little padded pouches either. Thin but protective. I can carry my normal set of 8 filters in Singh Ray cases in less space than 3 Cokins use up in my bag.
Following that example Tom, I'd look into plastic envelopes and protective paper sheets to put your filters in before adding them to a CD wallet if you don't have spare Singh Ray cases laying around.
BTW- I got the "CD wallet" for carrying my filter set off the sale table at REI for $2. It's a little zippered mesh bag intended for backpacking toiletries, and it's just the right size for the 8 filters, the Cokin holder and three extra rings for mounting the Cokin holder on my normal spate of lenses. The whole works isn't any bigger than a 24-120mm lens and lives in the same size lens compartment in my various camera bags.
Oh, excellent side point about the Hitech sleeves. They RUIN the filters by slipping them in and out. After mini-set #1 I bought a kinesis filter pouch, beaner it to my belt when shooting, and couldn't be happier...except that the pouch only holds 5 filters...
Moral of the story...don't keep hitechs in their sleeves....
Posted by Richard Wong on July 25, 2007 at 5:08 PM
I use the Singh-Rays nowadays. If you're going to spend thousands of dollars on camera gear then it doesn't make sense to make to skimp out over $40. It only takes a single bad piece of glass to make that camera equipment worthless from an image quality standpoint.
I use Hitech GNDs. I keep them in the Hitech plastic sleeves, but I make sure that they slide between the paper inserts. I've had no problem with them scratching. I also keep them in a Cokin filter wallet. It does the job but it's too bulky. Even though the wallet pockets are felt lined, I still keep them in the paper/plastic Hitech sleeves. Singh Ray has a great reputation, but Hitechs are less expensive and so far, I have no complaints with them.
Discussion
10 repliesJust my opinion - nothin' but a satisfied user.
Singh Rays are a very good investment for me for durability, as well as for the neat little cases they come in. The filters just last a lot longer than any other. And yes, I've transfered some of my HiTech and Cokins to the Singh Ray cases, vastly improving their life while getting rid of the original bulky cases.
Hank, do the Hi-Techs fit in the Singh-Ray cases nicely? I've been searching for a good solution to carrying my filters and haven't found anything I like. Currently I'm using a CD wallet as the plastic sleeves Hi-Techs came in are crap.
As a side note or further elaboration, Singh Rays are shipped with the filters in a fitted plastic envelope and a sheet of paper on each face of the filter, with all that in the protective pouch. I've learned to keep track of the plastice envelopes and paper, saving that for use with subsequent filters even after I dump the original Singh Rays. I think Singh Ray's long life is more a case of the envelopes and papers protecting the filters from scratching, since HiTech and Cokin filters seem to last just as long once I get them into the Singh Ray storage system. Can't beat Singh Ray's little padded pouches either. Thin but protective. I can carry my normal set of 8 filters in Singh Ray cases in less space than 3 Cokins use up in my bag.
Following that example Tom, I'd look into plastic envelopes and protective paper sheets to put your filters in before adding them to a CD wallet if you don't have spare Singh Ray cases laying around.
BTW- I got the "CD wallet" for carrying my filter set off the sale table at REI for $2. It's a little zippered mesh bag intended for backpacking toiletries, and it's just the right size for the 8 filters, the Cokin holder and three extra rings for mounting the Cokin holder on my normal spate of lenses. The whole works isn't any bigger than a 24-120mm lens and lives in the same size lens compartment in my various camera bags.
Moral of the story...don't keep hitechs in their sleeves....