Just looking right now, but those of you who use GND filters, what is up with the different sizes? From what I can tell, the standard Cokin P size filters from Singh-Ray are 3.3"X4.7". It seems like everyone who is either using this combo with a wide angle holder or a regular holder with the 2nd and 3rd part cut off has no issues with super wide lenses on a full frame, is that true? If not, do you have to go to the 4X6 size and a Z holder? Interestingly enough, the HiTech filters don't even list their size, but it looks like they might be 4X5?
I am worried that I will deal with vignetting issues with the standard 3.3X4.7 filter size, even with the wide angle filter holder, since I am shooting full frame at 16mm widest.
I'm pretty sure HiTech+Lee Holder will work for you on 16mm. I have no issues with a standard holder at 24. They are 4x5 if I remember correctly (been using them for years). Check with Lee customer service to make sure, good people.
I'd default to using bigger filters regardless. Easier to hand hold, no worries about vignette, more room for adjustment, etc.
Kurt, yeah the Lee filter holder from what I have read is the BEST option for no vignetting, however it is like 4X the price of the Cokin/HiTech filter holder options. I would rather spend money on the filter than the holder. If I wanted to go with larger sizes, the 4X5 HiTech option starts to make a lot more sense. B&H wants $160 for a Singh-Ray 4X6 which is just insane IMHO, when compared to $40 for a HiTech.
Anyhow, I have been digital blending, but I am still not getting a 100% satisfactory result. There are cases where because of a very dark exposure I get a slight border to my mountains and such. This is actually on the darker image for the sky, so no way to do a good blend without having it there. Not too huge of a deal unless your printing something large, then it bothers the crap out of me.
I think that this really depends on the lens / camera combo. I have had some lenses that a cokin P filter system cut off works great, I have other lenses it doesn't work well on. I also have some wide angle lenses that you can't see the Cokin filter with all 3 rails on it.
Do you vignette when using a Circular Polarizer? If you do then you may want the 4x6, if you don't or it isn't bad then the standard P should work.
I use the 4" x 6" Singh-Ray GND's these days. I used the Cokin P size GND's for years, and they do work fine, but I prefer the larger filters for sheer ease of use. When using a really wide angle lens (i.e. 16mm), it's incredibly easy for your finger to find it's way into the photo when using the smaller filters. Not so w/ the bigger ones.
I stopped using a filter holder years ago. I went from using a filter holder to taping the filters on to my lens, to now hand holding the filters. I much prefer hand holding as it's easier and allows more flexibility in how, when and where the grad line is positioned.
I'm using GND's less and less as I'm doing more exposure blends but I do keep them in the pack and am really glad I've got 'em when I need 'em.
Hand holding may be an option. The more I read, the more I see people going with the Lee holder to get rid of vignetting on the camera/lens option I have. That is however a $140 setup for what I need, just for the holder. I am starting to lean towards the 4X6 Singh-Ray option and just get the 2 and 3 stop soft GND and hand hold them.
Bret, can you give a little insight into which scenarios you use the GND and in which you go with digital blending?
Koveh: Honestly, it's a moving target. If I've got a fairly level horizon I'll almost always use a GND. If I use the GND but don't like the results, I'll blend exposures. In Canyon Country blends often tend to work better than GND's. The shaded part of a canyon is so much darker than the sunlit part that blends allow you to extract a little more shadow detail while keeping highlights in check and maintaining a deep blue sky. Does that help at all? Maybe I'll write a blog post about it some time. Wish I could write more now but I've gotta run.
I recently purchased a Sigma 12-24 for use with my 5Dmk2. I tested the lens on a tripod and found that I could handhold a Cokin P GND in front of the lens and get full coverage as long as it was held vertical. If you decide to turn the filter at an angle, then the widest angle has to narrow somewhat.
Considering the cost difference and the bulk of carrying the 4x5 and 4x6 filters, that's a limitation I can live with.
My 2 cents: I haven't used a GND for a while. I use exposure blending and it seems to work well enough for me. I had a Cokin P and still have a Z-pro (4x6 holder). The P caused vignetting on both the Sigma 10-20mm and Canon 17-40mm.
When I got my 17-40mm, I tried a hack on the P holder (removing the threaded adapter, expanding the center of the holder to slip over the front of the lens and trimming off the other 2 filter slots) to allow the filter to be almost flush with the front of my (slim) CPL. However I ended up scratching the GND (Singh-Ray) after discovering I still got vignetting. I haven't tried the Z-pro on the 17-40mm since all I have are Cokin filters which add their own color to images. IIRC, the Z-pro has screws so you can remove filter slots. I haven't tried that either. But then again, I'm getting reasonable output from exposure blends.
Discussion
9 repliesI am worried that I will deal with vignetting issues with the standard 3.3X4.7 filter size, even with the wide angle filter holder, since I am shooting full frame at 16mm widest.
I'd default to using bigger filters regardless. Easier to hand hold, no worries about vignette, more room for adjustment, etc.
Anyhow, I have been digital blending, but I am still not getting a 100% satisfactory result. There are cases where because of a very dark exposure I get a slight border to my mountains and such. This is actually on the darker image for the sky, so no way to do a good blend without having it there. Not too huge of a deal unless your printing something large, then it bothers the crap out of me.
Do you vignette when using a Circular Polarizer? If you do then you may want the 4x6, if you don't or it isn't bad then the standard P should work.
I stopped using a filter holder years ago. I went from using a filter holder to taping the filters on to my lens, to now hand holding the filters. I much prefer hand holding as it's easier and allows more flexibility in how, when and where the grad line is positioned.
I'm using GND's less and less as I'm doing more exposure blends but I do keep them in the pack and am really glad I've got 'em when I need 'em.
Bret, can you give a little insight into which scenarios you use the GND and in which you go with digital blending?
Considering the cost difference and the bulk of carrying the 4x5 and 4x6 filters, that's a limitation I can live with.
When I got my 17-40mm, I tried a hack on the P holder (removing the threaded adapter, expanding the center of the holder to slip over the front of the lens and trimming off the other 2 filter slots) to allow the filter to be almost flush with the front of my (slim) CPL. However I ended up scratching the GND (Singh-Ray) after discovering I still got vignetting. I haven't tried the Z-pro on the 17-40mm since all I have are Cokin filters which add their own color to images. IIRC, the Z-pro has screws so you can remove filter slots. I haven't tried that either. But then again, I'm getting reasonable output from exposure blends.