My lenses vary in size too much to use one set of threaded filters, even with step-up and step-down rings. What other systems do folks use? Tell me your preferences and reasons.
hi,
i use Cokin A series which were given to me some time ago. i only have two lenses so it doesnt cause too much trouble with LF. It's not like I'm changing lenses that often. I've just bought a P set for my SLR as the glass is larger.
Good luck
My lenses vary in size too much to use one set of threaded filters, even with step-up and step-down rings. What other systems do folks use? Tell me your preferences and reasons.
Usually it is the 10x10 cm LEE filter system I use. But when the the 'conditions' are not that good (like the wind blowing the compendium), I just tape the foil filter, inside the camera, on the back of the lens. This is easy to do with a LF camera, lots of space inside...
On a SLR (35 mm or MF) I use a basic set of glass filters and, when needed, I put the the LEE system on with adaptor rings, not that convenient but is works.
Blu-tac and coloured perspex offcuts from the local plastic fabricator. If I scratch a filter I just get the hacksaw out and cut a fresh piece from the big chunks of blue, red, yellow, green, etc I got for cheap. Optically speaking commercial perspex is very smooth, very flat.
After years of fussing with gelatin filters (and with the astonishingly increasing cost of those very delicate items), I have switched entirely to screw-in glass. Most of my LF lenses are 67-77 mm, so adapting them is easy. For my one oddball 82mm lens, which is the least-used of all my lenses, I tape the filter to the back of the lens inside the bellows. I use an adapter and 67mm filters for my MF camera. I buy the best quality glass filters I can afford. I also have a rectangular plastic 2-stop graduated ND filter I use with a Lee filter/bellows setup.
The small ones are happy with 52mm filters and step up rings.
Most of the rest are happy with 67mm and rings
I've got a few that need 82mm filters So I've got a much smaller number of these. Just the basics.
The ones 67mm and smaller are reasonable in price. Common on the used market.
I've also picked up some 58mm and 62mm filters when deals have popped up. Used these are sometimes little more then step up rings.
I'm poor so I went for the best bang for the buck I could find and that turned out to be the Lee gelsnap filters. A whole set for about the price on one "good" filter.