Graduated ND filter for wide angle?

HermanLee · 07-17-2008, 06:36 PM

Does anybody know if this Graduated ND filter :

CF7332GD6 Sunpak 67mm Graduated Neutral Density Filter (.06GND)

will be good on my FA*24mm/2 or FA-J 18-35mm ( both has 67mm thread)?

I'm a little bit worried that it will vignette.

Also, is that a good filter? I'm thinking to buy DA*16-50 in the future, so should I get the Cokin P series instead and a step down ring?

Thanks.

*rormeister* · 07-17-2008, 08:50 PM

I can't answer the Sunpak question, but will say Cokin is brutally hard to find these days. I've ended up with the Cokin P holders and Lee filters, which are more expensive but I'm told better quality than the Cokin. I've used the ND grads with my Sigma 10-20 with vignetting at the wide end even with the single slot holder (intended for the wider end).

hrishi · 07-17-2008, 09:21 PM

I'm no expert, but whatever little I've learnt about ND filters suggest that go for the rectangular filters with the filter holders of Singh Ray, Cokin etc..The screw in filters don't give you flexibility in the sense the the changed density line is always in the centre of the image...

I bought a used cokin A filter holder and a ND filter with Sepia tone for $20..On irfanview I convert the sepia toning into a neutral colour..Added work, I know, but works well..

HermanLee · 07-18-2008, 08:43 AM

Thanks guys,

I think you're right about the inconveniency using this type of filter.
I'll just look for a Cokin/Singh Ray instead.

Classvino · 07-18-2008, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by rormeister

I can't answer the Sunpak question, but will say Cokin is brutally hard to find these days. I've ended up with the Cokin P holders and Lee filters, which are more expensive but I'm told better quality than the Cokin. I've used the ND grads with my Sigma 10-20 with vignetting at the wide end even with the single slot holder (intended for the wider end).

It's more expensive, and hard to find, but the Cokin Z-Pro series (4" X 4" or 4" X 6") don't vignette on the Sigma 10-20mm... I watched for a while and finally won a holder and one filter on eBay, but am still looking for a darker one 6 months later, that won't break the bank...

*Ash* · 07-18-2008, 02:47 PM

I haven't had too much undesirable vignetting with my Marumi screw on Grad ND filter on both my DA 16-45 and Tamron 28-75. I suppose it's more obvious in wide angle shots, but haven't been disappointed with this filter.

*creampuff* · 07-18-2008, 08:03 PM

Mt suggestion is to try the Cokin P series filter holder and use the cheap square Tianya China filters. At about US$12 for a ND grad filter, they are cheap enough without feeling the pinch if they get scratched, and believe me all filters will get scratched up when used long enough. Lee and Singh Ray are definitely great and very consistent in color but are far too expensive for my tastes.

HermanLee · 07-19-2008, 03:12 AM

Creampuff,

Is that the filter your "Young Photographer Winner" friend from Singapore is using with his Sigma 10-20mm?

Originally Posted by creampuff

Mt suggestion is to try the Cokin P series filter holder and use the cheap square Tianya China filters. At about US$12 for a ND grad filter, they are cheap enough without feeling the pinch if they get scratched, and believe me all filters will get scratched up when used long enough. Lee and Singh Ray are definitely great and very consistent in color but are far too expensive for my tastes.

*creampuff* · 07-19-2008, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by HermanLee

Creampuff,

Is that the filter your "Young Photographer Winner" friend from Singapore is using with his Sigma 10-20mm?

Yes, he's using the Tianya filters.

*JackBak* · 07-19-2008, 10:17 AM

I too am using the Cokin P series (3.25 inch wide) with my Sigma 17-70 which is a 72mm and am getting no vignetting at the wide end.

Ben_Edict · 07-19-2008, 01:35 PM

Definitely go wit a square filter holder system. The Cokin P is by far the cheapest with respect to the holders and lens rings. Then go for the HiTech NG and ND Grads. They come from the same manufacturer as the Lee filters and offer much better quality, than Cokin or Chinese fakes, And if you buy in sets of 3 (different densities), they are cheap. That is, what I just did.

Ben

jmbower · 07-24-2008, 06:00 PM

Out of curiousity, for those of us who don't yet have a wide angle lens (torment!!) does anyone know if the standard p holder causes vignetting on the kit 18-55?

I really want a grad nd/nd solution, and would like ti to be the cokin type, but would most ly be using it at the wider end..sooo...

Ben_Edict · 07-25-2008, 03:20 AM

Originally Posted by jmbower

Out of curiousity, for those of us who don't yet have a wide angle lens (torment!!) does anyone know if the standard p holder causes vignetting on the kit 18-55?

I really want a grad nd/nd solution, and would like ti to be the cokin type, but would most ly be using it at the wider end..sooo...

A Cokin P will not vignette on the kit lens - after all it only equals a 28mm lens on full frame and that is on the sure side of the P's capability. If you want to add a wider lens later, there is also a wide-angle holder for the P-system, which has only 1 filter slot and thus is thinner and less prone to vignette.

Ben

HermanLee · 07-25-2008, 12:38 PM

Ben,
do you think this Cokin P with wide angle holder will not vignette if I use it with DA*16-50 on the 16 mm side?

I was thinking to get Sigma 10-20mm too in the future. Will it work with this one too?

Thanks,

Originally Posted by Ben_Edict

A Cokin P will not vignette on the kit lens - after all it only equals a 28mm lens on full frame and that is on the sure side of the P's capability. If you want to add a wider lens later, there is also a wide-angle holder for the P-system, which has only 1 filter slot and thus is thinner and less prone to vignette.

Ben

Ben_Edict · 07-25-2008, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by HermanLee

Ben,
do you think this Cokin P with wide angle holder will not vignette if I use it with DA*16-50 on the 16 mm side?

I was thinking to get Sigma 10-20mm too in the future. Will it work with this one too?

Herman, I think the 16-50 is fine. Even the standard Cokin does not vignette on my 18mm, so the wide-angle holder should provide some more freedom. I recently read some experiences with the Sigma 10-20 (which, by the way, is a very capable lens, I use it myself very often) and the people all thought, that vignetting was visible from and below 12mm focal length, but o.k. or absent above that. I find this quite acceptable, as I wouldn't have seen any way to use external filters on my 15mm lens aduring film-days. Even a 17mm - 18mm lens at that time sported internal filters or wasn't used with filters at all - so the wide-angle holder is a definite improvement (as is the comparatively small front element on the 10-20, which is the main reason, that the filter holder can be used).

Ben