| Photography Forum: Photography Help Forum: |
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Q. Calling all ND Grad filter experts
Asked by Michael Kanemoto
(K=22115) on 8/2/2007
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I have a wide angle lens I use for landscape photography. I recently bought the Cokin P series filters and holders, but they just aren't cutting it. The holder cast a vignette on the wide angle, and the three resin ND Grad plates scratch like crazy - casting flares whenever the sun shines on the side.
I'm thinking of buying a Lee wide angle lens hood so I can get up to two bigger 100mm filters in there, but I can't seem to find anyone who makes ND Soft Grads in glass. Or are the resin filters from other companies more scratch resistant?
Anyone had luck with Singh Ray ND Grads? Anyone make glass ND filters?
I'm thinking I'd pair this with a threaded filter against the lens, maybe a Singh Ray Vari-ND for waterfalls or LB color combo as the default.
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Chris Lauritzen
(K=14949) - Comment Date 8/2/2007
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Singh-Ray filters are glass and fit nicely into the Cokin holders. For what it's worth Cokin makes a wide angle filter holder that does not vignette. All I use these days are Singh-Ray filters.
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Michael Kanemoto
(K=22115) - Comment Date 8/2/2007
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Chris:
I think it is worth the money if they are all glass. Cokin X-Pro/ and Lee are the 4"/100mm filters, yeah?
I'd think that would work for me, I just noticed that the P type gives me only one filter, and I know I need ND, Polarizer, and ND Grad for waterfall and landscapes. Probably need to handhold for this bizzare Sigma 12-24mm lens I have with a big bubble on the front.
I was just worried about scratches, those resins just did not cut it when it came to hand holding the filters.
Any recommendations on filter pouches, etc to keep the glass from shattering while out in the wild?
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Dave Arnold
(K=55680) - Comment Date 8/3/2007
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Michael, this is off-topic, sorry. I've been trying to find info on the max size of loading panoramic photos. I looked through the FAQs, can't find anything. I've posted in suggestions, have no response. Since youpost panos, do you know the max sizes for pixels and file size?
thanks,
Dave
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Michael Kanemoto
(K=22115) - Comment Date 8/3/2007
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Roger Williams (K=81614) - Comment Date 5/19/2006
"Hi, There is no limit on the pixel dimensions if the ratio of width to height is 2:1 or greater, although of course if you choose widths greater than about 1200 pixels people will have to scroll L&R to see the entire image. The file size limit is 400k, as with all other images. This means that you have to use fairly high JPEG compression. My experience is that for spherical panoramas (360 x 180 degrees, where width is exactly double height) 1,700 x 850 is about as large as you can go without unsightly compression artifacts. Your panorama is very wide and narrow, so it might be possible to get similar quality from an image 2000 pixels wide. Do let me know when you've uploaded a bigger image. By the way, be careful to uncheck the "use sharpening" options when you upload. Any sharpening should be done by you, at full screen resolution, before posting."
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Ian Sweet
(K=474) - Comment Date 8/14/2007
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I would get rid of the lens and buy a Sigma 10-20mm, I use LEE filters and i think they are superb. I use a 20D with a 10-20mm, W/A adapter with a 2 slot holder and a ring on the end for my B+W 105mm Polariser, I would certainly not even think about buying the LEE W/A hood, it causes lots of vignetting. At 10mm i get a bit of vignette but at about 12mm, I get nothing. If you wanted glass filters, ring LEE and they will custom make them for you in glass for a price.
Hope this has helped in some way.
Regards.
Ian...
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