----- Original Message ----- From: "cbwaters" Subject: Filtered or non?
>I don't use filters. > Maybe I should. > Mark says it could have helped some of my crap shots from the last two > years. I believe him. He's pretty smart about these things and his shots > aren't crap, normally. > > So, If a person was to buy a circular polarize and a (or a set of) > graduated > neutral density filter(s), can you guys recommend the best value? > Read: He really doesn't have the money for more photo gear but wants some > help with ennoblement anyway. Cokin? Not the best, but they are fairly inexpensive. Calumet/Lee filters are very good, and while somewhat pricey, won't kill you if you choose wisely. The unmounted ones are massive 4x6 inch slabs that slide into a Cokin-like filter holder, and are, therefore adjustable in the holder in the event you don't want the grad to be dead center in the picture. I wouldn't buy a mounted grad filter because of their limited adjustability, I'd take a quality hit first (Cokin). Cokin grads seem to run about 20 bucks each at Adorama, I expect this is for their smaller filters, they make several sizes. The small (A series) are good to a 62mm filter thread, if you need something bigger, or are intending to use the things on wide angle lenses, then you will need to go to the P series (up to 82mm) or possibly the Z-Pro series (96mm thread). The reason for needing a large filter set for wide angle lenses is because the holders are quite substantial, and can cause vignetting if they aren't quite large. Unfortunately, the really wide angle lenses we are getting are also rather big, so big accessories are required. Lee filters are closer to $60.00 for the 4x6 inch filters, the holders are another $80.00 Dig around Adorama's website for prices on Cokin, and also check Cokin's website for what is available. http://www.cokin.com Lee filters are sold by Calumet: http://www.calumetphoto.com Don't eliminate the possibility of layering several exposures on top of each other to compress the tonal range when possible. One can get very good results by doing one exposure for the foreground and another for the sky and combining them in Photoshop. It's probably as fast or faster than setting up a grad filter. Have fun William Robb -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
