Filter step up question

weeslip

I'm trying to get my head around a couple of things regarding filters. Any help is appreciated.

I have a 40d with a canon efs 17-55mm usm @77mm, couple of kit lens plus a 50mm f1.4 @58mm.

I have been looking around for a step-down from 77mm to 58mm, is this , sorry the pun, a step to far. Would i be better off getting a set of 77mm filters (mainly circ pol and couple of grads) and a set for the 58mm.

Is it possible to combine step-up/step-downs?

I am looking at hoya or b&w , if i buy a polariser from one and a UV or Grad filter of another brand will they work together ok or am i better of sticking with one brand.

Or would a cokin filter set make more sense for this kind of setup.

CabanSail

I would avoid the adapter as you are bound to get vignetting with it.

No problem with different brands.

When you put the CPL on a lens you take off the UV.

darraghsherwin

Avoid stepping-down as you'll have very bad vignetting.
Stepping up is fine as you are not covering any of the lens.
The Cokin system solves alot of the problems with multiple lens diameters and allows you to stack multiple lenses which can be very useful.

If you haven't bought filters already, I'd advise you to invest in the Cokin P system, it will solve your current problems and allow you to expand in future.

Darragh

Crispin

I too was considering cokin P series.
But I came across 2 alternatives:

Format filters are supposed to be excellent quality and compatable with cokin
format filters
Supposed to be excellent optical quality!

And then Kood: japenese filter system also compatible with cokin P too and much cheaper, they have a circ polariser for £15 see 7 day shop
Quality is supposed to be good, not exactly professional but good.

Unfortunately my filter ststem will have to wait, damn recession!:(

darraghsherwin

Alot of manufacturers make filters for the Cokin P and Z system like Hi-Tech, Lee, Singh-Ray, Kood, etc.

I would avoid the Kood filters as they have very had colour casts.
As with lenses, the more money you send, the better quality the filters will be.

I am currently using a mix of Cokin and Singh-Ray filters while slowly phasing out Cokin filters as money is available

Darragh

weeslip

Darragh,

Would something along these lines be what you recommend for Cokin -


Cokin TH0.75 P-Series Adapter Ring P477 - 77mm
£9.49
Cokin TH0.75 P-Series Adapter Ring P458 - 58mm
£9.49
Cokin P-Series Filter Holder
£10.99
Cokin P164 Circular Polariser P-Series Filter
£55.99
Cokin P152 Neutral Density P-Series Filter - ND2x
£12.99
Cokin P153 Neutral Density P-Series Filter - ND4x
£12.99
Cokin P154 Neutral Density P-Series Filter - ND8x
£12.99
Sub Total
£124.93

So for the price of one decent Hoya 77mm Circ Pol i get a set that would cover both 58 & 77mm ?

darraghsherwin

That is a good kit to get, especially for landscape photography

The only filter I would not bother with is the ND2x, I've never had the need to just stop down part of the exposure by only 1 stop, it always seems to be 2-3 stops.

Cokin do a kit with holder and the 3 grads - H250 - it might be a few quid cheaper

Darragh