You'd be wiser to buy the best filters if you can afford, Enrique, IMO anyway. The Galen Rowell series from Singh Ray are very well made, they fit a standard Cokin holder, and they give you more room to manoeuvre with filter placement. I'd also recommend a 2 and 3-stop reverse grad, which is darkest in the centre and graduates to lighter at the top. These are very useful for controlling near-horizon light at sunrise and sunset. Singh Ray make these too. The ones I have are called Daryl Benson ND-Reverse.
Posted by Larry Puckett on September 11, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Most of the criticism of the Cokins is based on the fact that they are gray and not true ND. That said I have a couple of the larger Z size ND and ND Grad and they seem fine to me. I haven't noticed any color shifts in them. I try to avoid using them because of the issues with using them with a CPL. Of course I could buy the Z size CPL but I could also buy another lens instead! In many cases a 2 shot blend or HDR can duplicate what you get with the GD so I end up using the full ND most--Larry
According to your earlier topic, you are looking to try for sureal (photo-art) effects. That being the case, some, but not all of the Cokin effects filters may work for you. That said, these filters are not of the highest quality optically, so you may wind up with unwanted color casts that will be difficult to deal with in post processing.
My advise would be to shoot a 'straight' RAW file and the use Photoshop to achieve the results you want. The advantage is that you will always have the RAW file as a starting point if you need to start over on a specific image.
If you are looking for ND Grad filters, the Singh-Ray are top of the line (and not inexpensive). Lee and HiTech also make ND Grad filters of high quality.
Most of the landscape photographers here don't do such manipulations as you indicate you would like to do. You might want to check out NPN's Photo Art gallery for ideas.
I've got a couple of Cokins as well as the Singh Ray, and there's no comparison between the results. If you're after natural results, definitely go with the Singh Ray. I like the Cokin holder for its utility and low cost, but not their NDs.
If you're looking for surreal effects, then your choices are probably Cokin or Lee. Both have a lot of special filters that you can use, but Singh Ray has none. I can't help you with that choice, other than pointing out that Lee's are a lot more expensive, and it's a question of whether the extra expense overcomes any innate problems that Cokin's "effect" filters, if there are any and if there's any comparison with the shortcomings of their ND filters.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on September 11, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Aw, c'mon, you guys waste all that money. I just stretch Glad Wrap over the lens and rub some shoe polish across the top and it works fine.
Enrique, welcome to NPN, you came to the right place for answers. I have to also agree about the Singh-Ray filters, they just look great, I wouldn't use anything else.
Also, this website has some great articles, and there are two that will give you much more insight on the filter subject and what to choose. Have a look at this one and this one, both written by the same author, who happens to be an NPN member and an outstanding photographer. As far as cost, spend a little more now and you wil never regret it.
Posted by David Bostedo on September 11, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Or just to present an alternative, do what a lot of people do and don't use GND filters, but DO take multiple exposures for blending on the computer.
I will take a look to Singh-Ray filters . :)
Enrique Vizcarra
Posted by Paul Wegemann on September 13, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Hitech is a great, and much cheaper alternative, to Singh-Ray. Considering these filters will get scratched, and you'll have to replace them, cost is something to consider.
I have several Z pro cokin filter (GND 2, 4, 8 + solid ND8). They do their job as long as you don't use 2 of them at the same time. If you do so, you'll get a magenta coulour cast. It's not a big issue if you shoot in RAW but you'll lose time trying to fix it.
Discussion
9 repliesI am looking for filters to my lens,
cokin p series filter are good enough?
thanks
Enrique Vizcarra
My advise would be to shoot a 'straight' RAW file and the use Photoshop to achieve the results you want. The advantage is that you will always have the RAW file as a starting point if you need to start over on a specific image.
If you are looking for ND Grad filters, the Singh-Ray are top of the line (and not inexpensive). Lee and HiTech also make ND Grad filters of high quality.
Most of the landscape photographers here don't do such manipulations as you indicate you would like to do. You might want to check out NPN's Photo Art gallery for ideas.
-P
If you're looking for surreal effects, then your choices are probably Cokin or Lee. Both have a lot of special filters that you can use, but Singh Ray has none. I can't help you with that choice, other than pointing out that Lee's are a lot more expensive, and it's a question of whether the extra expense overcomes any innate problems that Cokin's "effect" filters, if there are any and if there's any comparison with the shortcomings of their ND filters.
Enrique, welcome to NPN, you came to the right place for answers. I have to also agree about the Singh-Ray filters, they just look great, I wouldn't use anything else.
Also, this website has some great articles, and there are two that will give you much more insight on the filter subject and what to choose. Have a look at this one and this one, both written by the same author, who happens to be an NPN member and an outstanding photographer. As far as cost, spend a little more now and you wil never regret it.
http://www.davidclapp.co.uk/blog/articles/8-exposure-blending-basics.html
For ND filters or Polarizers (or some strange effects filters perhaps), there's really no option to just use the computer...
First,
Thank you everyone for your valuable comments,
I will take a look to Singh-Ray filters . :)
Enrique Vizcarra
If I could, I would buy Singh Ray.
Seb