What filters without spending an absolute fortune?
Discussion
Hi All,
I am struggling to work out what I want in terms of filters.
The lenses I need them for are primarily the following:
Tamron 28-75mm (67mm thread)
Sigma 10-20mm and 70-200mm (both 77mm threads)
I've got a 77mm polarizer which doesn't vignette on the 10-20mm. I have been looking at the Lee DSLR Starter kit which includes an ND Grad and a straight ND, but this wouldn't fit with the polarizer I already have. Annoyingly, the adapter and polarizer for the Lee system is around £200 from what I can see, so it starts to get extremely expensive.
What approach do others take? Am I better off just using a polariser, then trying to layer in multiple exposures in post processing to replicate the effect of the ND Grad, or is this excessively tricky with anything other than a straight skyline?
I am struggling to work out what I want in terms of filters.
The lenses I need them for are primarily the following:
Tamron 28-75mm (67mm thread)
Sigma 10-20mm and 70-200mm (both 77mm threads)
I've got a 77mm polarizer which doesn't vignette on the 10-20mm. I have been looking at the Lee DSLR Starter kit which includes an ND Grad and a straight ND, but this wouldn't fit with the polarizer I already have. Annoyingly, the adapter and polarizer for the Lee system is around £200 from what I can see, so it starts to get extremely expensive.
What approach do others take? Am I better off just using a polariser, then trying to layer in multiple exposures in post processing to replicate the effect of the ND Grad, or is this excessively tricky with anything other than a straight skyline?
First off you could get a 67-77 step ring which would allow you to use the polarizer in the 28-75.
Assuming the polarizing filter has threads on the front, you could also then try to use a filter holder attached to the front of that. If you want to keep it cheap you could try Cokin rather than Lee (although you do get what you pay for). As well as the standard holder, Coking also do a wide angle version which will only hold one filter instead of the three with the normal holder. This 'may' still cause vignetting though - particularly on the 10-20.
The Cokin filter holder can rotate independently of the lens and so would still allow you to set the polarizer and then position the grads.
Another possible that just come into my head (and as a result may be totally impractical) would be to fit a step ring to the polarizer such that it could be held in the filter holder. Don't know if this would fit or work, but just a thought.
Assuming the polarizing filter has threads on the front, you could also then try to use a filter holder attached to the front of that. If you want to keep it cheap you could try Cokin rather than Lee (although you do get what you pay for). As well as the standard holder, Coking also do a wide angle version which will only hold one filter instead of the three with the normal holder. This 'may' still cause vignetting though - particularly on the 10-20.
The Cokin filter holder can rotate independently of the lens and so would still allow you to set the polarizer and then position the grads.
Another possible that just come into my head (and as a result may be totally impractical) would be to fit a step ring to the polarizer such that it could be held in the filter holder. Don't know if this would fit or work, but just a thought.
Do you actually need the ND filters? I find that ND grads are useful if you're shooting handheld, but if you're using a tripod then merging multiple exposures is far more versatile. Normal NDs, you'll know if you need them. If you're left needing only a 67mm polariser, them you can buy a step down ring and you're sorted.
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