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FIlters for DA12-24

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Englund

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Hello there,

I'm trying to figure out what filters to get for a coming DA 12-24. I want to use ND grads and ND's, in a square system, like Cokin etc. Especially Cokin has different series of filters that are intentended for various systems (terminology is like "for super wide", "medium format" etc).

The DA 12-24 is a chunky friend so what should i get? Recommendations for a starter kit?

Thanks,
E
--
Swede in Scottish exile
 
Look up the Cokin "P" Series. You can get adapters from48mm up to 82mm.

The cokin system is relatively inexpensive, but their filters are quite pricey.

Go to http://www.2filter.com they have some good filters (Hi-Tech) for the P series that are far less expensive than the cokin.
--

'The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?'
 
well, this isn't about your 12-24 filters, but about filters in general (ain't got no 12-24)

i ordered a
B&H # HIGND.9SCP
85mm Graduated Neutral Density (ND) 0.9 Resin Filter - Soft (HiTech or HiTek)

it does not come with one of those hard cases you might get with a Cokin filter. it came in a tight fitting little plastic pouch that closes with a flap that tucks into a belt/strap. i think it is fine.

i had read this filter might not fit in the Cokin P holder. some people filed the width of the resin filter to adjust the fit. well, i found that it did fit my P holder. i ordered in late November and have no clue if width varies by production runs.

i had read good things about the HiTech filter. also, it is a little bit taller than a Cokin brand. i thought this might be good and ensure full coverage of any wide angle lenses i get in the future. i can slide it up to almost not ND shading at the top and still have bottom of lens covered. also, if you like to use the filter by holding it up (w/o P holder) in front of the lens, you have more room for finger-gripping.

i have held the filter in front of the lens or, when consistency between shots is necessary, have used a holder.

if the longer filter graduates from none to all in the same distance (on the filter) as the shorter Cokin, i figure this is a good thing to have the longer filter. however, if the graduation is more spread out because of the the longer filter... this might not be good. on either less-wide-angle lenses or lenses with small filter diameter, you may never have zero ND effect on some part of the lens. if this makes any sense... as far as this paragraph goes, i don't have anything to compare to as this is my first graduated ND... so, mostly wondering if anyone has any comments about the width of transition between all-or-none and how that might vary by filter brand.
 
polarizer will be useful
may give uneven results, though, at the wide end of the lens.

i think a graduated ND will be useful with this lens

as far as any other filter, it seems people are divided. some feel like there is no real reason for filters that were used on film cameras; many of the effects can be accomplished using a computer. others still like various filters.

polarizer and ND are two that are harder or impossible to duplicate using a computer (Lightroom does have a software grad-ND...)

just the same, there are two camps when it comes to the UV Protector filter. i just use my lens cap. i did buy a clear filter for sandy/wind places, but have only used it a few times.

try to put good money in your filters. i bought a Hoya Pro Digital polarizer and i figure that is a pretty good one.. but, i still see a little more CA at transitions like sunlit snow to rock. for this reason, i believe putting just any old UV filter on front can cause problems.

lenstip.com has these reviews
http://lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html
http://lenstip.com/115.1-article-Polarizing_filters_test.html
based on their polarizing filter review, i may not have bought my Hoya..
 
i was going to recommend a webstore i have used. but, i could not remember the name so i looked up the old post. in that thread several months ago, Ed W. also mentioned 2filter.com :^)

anyway, here is the one i have had good luck with (although i have never tried 2filter)
http://www.photofilter.com
Ed Woodson said:
Look up the Cokin "P" Series. You can get adapters from48mm up to 82mm.

The cokin system is relatively inexpensive, but their filters are quite pricey.

Go to http://www.2filter.com they have some good filters (Hi-Tech) for the P series that are far less expensive than the cokin.
--

'The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?'
Click to expand...
 
On the Cokin web site, it says that the p-series can be used for 28 mm (35 mm equiv) and upwards, and that there is also a wide-angle holder for down to 20 mm. I intend to use it on mainly a 12-24 and a 17-70 (and a 21Ltd), would that work on the 12-24 all the way down?

cheers,
E
Ed Woodson said:
Look up the Cokin "P" Series. You can get adapters from48mm up to 82mm.

The cokin system is relatively inexpensive, but their filters are quite pricey.

Go to http://www.2filter.com they have some good filters (Hi-Tech) for the P series that are far less expensive than the cokin.
--

'The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?'
Click to expand...
--
Swede in Scottish exile
 
Englund said:
On the Cokin web site, it says that the p-series can be used for 28 mm (35 mm equiv) and upwards, and that there is also a wide-angle holder for down to 20 mm. I intend to use it on mainly a 12-24 and a 17-70 (and a 21Ltd), would that work on the 12-24 all the way down?
Click to expand...
Maybe. Don't forget the field of view crop when attached to an APS-C camera: the 12mm end of the 12-24 has a FOV equivalent to 18mm on a 35mm camera -- and filters/filter holders such as the Cokin express focal length compatibility in terms of 35mm. In short you should expect some vignetting with the lens at at 12mm even with the Cokin wide-angle holder. If thats unacceptable to you, you'll need to go to the Lee or Cokin Z-Pro holders (100mm dia -- and then to save money while you're starting out with filters use the HiTech brand or equivalent. HiTech is considerably cheaper than Lee, and is better quality than Cokin -- their ND and GND filters seem to be neutral density rather than graduated gray.

Cheers,
Geoff.

--
http://geoffcole.smugmug.com/
 
Thanks,

I've just been on Formatts website. For a single ND filter, would you go for a 0.9 or a 1.2? I was thinking of getting one ND and two NDG for a start (perhaps 0.6 soft and hard transition).

cheers,
e
geoffcole said:
Englund said:
On the Cokin web site, it says that the p-series can be used for 28 mm (35 mm equiv) and upwards, and that there is also a wide-angle holder for down to 20 mm. I intend to use it on mainly a 12-24 and a 17-70 (and a 21Ltd), would that work on the 12-24 all the way down?
Click to expand...
Maybe. Don't forget the field of view crop when attached to an APS-C camera: the 12mm end of the 12-24 has a FOV equivalent to 18mm on a 35mm camera -- and filters/filter holders such as the Cokin express focal length compatibility in terms of 35mm. In short you should expect some vignetting with the lens at at 12mm even with the Cokin wide-angle holder. If thats unacceptable to you, you'll need to go to the Lee or Cokin Z-Pro holders (100mm dia -- and then to save money while you're starting out with filters use the HiTech brand or equivalent. HiTech is considerably cheaper than Lee, and is better quality than Cokin -- their ND and GND filters seem to be neutral density rather than graduated gray.

Cheers,
Geoff.

--
http://geoffcole.smugmug.com/
Click to expand...
--
Swede in Scottish exile
 
... especially a hard-edged one... it almost seems to me like a waste to get a fancy filter holder for it. You have to position the camera to frame the shot, then adjust the filter edge to match the horizon, and this could be an iterative process that takes like half a minute... I kind of suspect that one could get the shot more quickly and accurately just by holding up the filter with your fingers.

I haven't really compared the techniques to see if that's true.

I wonder if anyone makes GND filters that are mounted in a paddle-shaped thing with a handle, like a hand mirror?
 
Tan68 said:
polarizer and ND are two that are harder or impossible to duplicate using a computer (Lightroom does have a software grad-ND...)
Click to expand...
You can only do that in a computer if your camera didn't run short of DR, which in the cases where you need this filter, it usually does.
 
From experience, you get slight vignetting at 12mm with the cokin P wide angle holder. Still i use the Cokin P series and usually correct or crop it out.
Englund said:
On the Cokin web site, it says that the p-series can be used for 28 mm (35 mm equiv) and upwards, and that there is also a wide-angle holder for down to 20 mm. I intend to use it on mainly a 12-24 and a 17-70 (and a 21Ltd), would that work on the 12-24 all the way down?

cheers,
E
Ed Woodson said:
Look up the Cokin "P" Series. You can get adapters from48mm up to 82mm.

The cokin system is relatively inexpensive, but their filters are quite pricey.

Go to http://www.2filter.com they have some good filters (Hi-Tech) for the P series that are far less expensive than the cokin.
--

'The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?'
Click to expand...
--
Swede in Scottish exile
Click to expand...
--
Justin
--------------------------------------------------------
Photobucket
http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m313/justin-23/
 
  • How much annoying is it to have to shoot without the lens hood when using the filters ? Any majo impact on IQ with the DA12-24 ?
Oh and yet three more bonus questions related to the Cokin P system but not to the DA12-24 specifically :
  • Does anyone own the Cokin P square hood ? Is it worth the purchase ?
  • How do you like the Cokin polarizer (P164) ?
  • Do you use both Polarizer and GND ? How does it work?
Thanks,

Olivier
 
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