Filters filters filters (and UWAs)

[jon-]

I've just purchased an UWA (10-20) for landscapes while on holiday and am wondering what filters to equip it with.

A standard CPL was my first thought but now I'm wondering if the Cokin P System with some graduated ND filters is the smart buy. Apparently you can avoid vignetting with an UWA mount and it certainly removes the restrictions of a circular graduated filter with composition. Or I could stick with the CPL and HDR everything, but I'm not the biggest fan of HDR anymore.

[SamHH]

Have you used these types of filter on other lenses? If so, you should be able to tell from that what types you want. Circular polarisers and ND grads do totally different jobs so it's not a case of one or the other. If you need both, then get both.

Personally I would only use ND grads when taking photos handheld. If you're using a tripod, then merging multiple exposures is a far more versatile method IMO. Theoretically it need not be distinguishable from using NDs either. If you do buy ND grads I would recommend square ones rather than screw-in. The Cokin P ND grads that I've got have a slight purple tint; apparently more expensive ones don't.

Re. polariser, bear in mind that their effect can vary across the frame with a very wide-angle lens. Whether this is a bad thing is down to taste I think.

Edited by SamHH on Monday 17th August 12:48

[jon-]

SamHH said:

Have you used these types of filter on other lenses? If so, you should be able to tell from that what types you want. Circular polarisers and ND grads do totally different jobs so it's not a case of one or the other. If you need both, then get both.

Personally I would only use ND grads when taking photos handheld. If you're using a tripod, then merging multiple exposures is a far more versatile method IMO. Theoretically it need not be distinguishable from using NDs either. If you do buy ND grads I would recommend square ones rather than screw-in. The Cokin P ND grads that I've got have a slight purple tint; apparently more expensive ones don't.

Re. polariser, bear in mind that their effect can vary across the frame with a very wide-angle lens. Whether this is a bad thing is down to taste I think.

Edited by SamHH on Monday 17th August 12:48

Hi Sam,

I've limited use with ND grads and have shot with a CPL on a number of times. I'm just starting to get into "landscape" work and I'm debating whether I want to HDR or try and get as much right SOOC as I can. I will have my tripod with me on holiday so bracketing isn't a problem, I just feel that these days HDR is used to cover bad photography.

[jon-]

To add, I think I need to stop thinking that HDR is for people who can't use a camera and start thinking that HDR is for the people who can use a computer.

Having always been a geek I see it as cheating, but with any graduated filter there will be massive compromises on what gets filtered and what doesn't. How often so you shoot a straight landscape with nothing in the foreground!

[SamHH]

If you get the same result or better for no extra work (which you can), then I don't see any reason not to do it on the computer.

[GetCarter]

Most of my landscapes I use a grad grey to hold the highlights in the sky. It's a faff, but generally worth it (I use Lee - pricy but optically better than Cokin)

[Rob13]

I dont know about the Lee Filters, but the Cokin ones are Acrylic and have to be looked after or else end up with scratches on them. I have a few ND grads from Cokin and theyre not too bad. Gives that versatility when depending on where you want to put your graduation in the shot