Lagace4 Loc: San Diego, CA

I am still clueless on photography and need to tap into all the knowledge this community has.

I have a Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens 77 lense. I want to get a Cokin graduated ND filter kit. Both the P Series and Z Series will fit the 77mm. Does anyone have this same size set up and if so which one should I get. Does the P Series have problems at focal length over 20mm? Is there any vignetting? Due to price I would like to get the P series, but not if I have problems at over 20mm focal length. Any advise is appreciated.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

The Z series will work the best on lenses that are wide such as the 77mm you mention. The Z series is more expensive, but you will have fewer vignetting problems than you would have with the smaller P series. I have used both P and Z series, and find the Z series to be much better in that regard.

Leitz Loc: Solms

With your lens, the Cokin P series should be fine for focal lengths over 20mm. For focal lengths under 20mm, I would recommend the Z series. My widest lens is 21mm with a 72mm filter thread, and I get no vignetting with the P series.

Edit: A friend has a Zeiss 18mm f/3.5 lens, 82mm filter size, and uses the Cokin Z-Pro series. She gets vignetting with the P series.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Lagace4,

The idea of the Cokin system is to purchase one filter holder, then the filters for that holder, and finally adapter rings to fit the various lens diameters for the lenses you own. If your lens has a diameter of 77mm and is threaded, the Cokin "P" holder should fit very well.

I have the "P" system for my Canon EOS 1000D and 18 - 300mm zoom lens with an objective lens diameter of 77mm. There have been reports of vignetting at the shorter focal length of wide angle lenses, but all reports I have read also had additional threaded lenses attached between the holder and the main lens. Some people think they need a protective lens in front of their main lens (UV filter, or clear scratch protector).

The old belief (film days) of needing a UV filter to cut the blue haze is not longer necessary, most modern digital sensors have a built in UV filter on the surface of the sensor. For scratch protection, the Cokin filter holder come with a lens cover that slides into the holder just like a filter, in fact you can have the cover in front of the filter itself for protecting the filter.

In addition to the Graduated ND filter you might consider a Cokin CPL filter.

Michael G

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

This is an interesting question, and I'm not sure that there is a single answer that fits all situations. If I understand your situation correctly you are using an APS-C Nikon body and DX lens.

I have a Canon APS-C camera and a collection of P-Series Cokin filters left over from film days. With a Canon EF-S 10-22mm zoom with a 77mm filter thread there is vignetting below 12mm with the Cokin filter holder mounted normally (filters slide in vertically) in landscape format. If turned sideways (for portrait format) there is no vignetting, but since the Cokin filters are rectangular that makes graduated filters a little problematic at the widest zoom setting in landscape orientation. Filters that are not graduated (uniform density) should be fine.

You may just be OK with P-series for your 12 - 24 mm lens. There are some pretty cheap chinese Cokin type filters and holders available on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Complete-ND-2-4-8-16-Filter-Kit-for-Cokin-P-Square-Filter-Holder-Adapter-Hood-/200979459491?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ecb4f2da3 or Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Complete-Square-Compatible--Inclues/dp/B00T7CGBIW/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1437762202&sr=8-29&keywords=cokin+P-series

You could experiment with those with very little to lose.

The filter pouches that are supplied with the sets above are pretty handy in my opinion, and to protect the Cokin filters I bought some 4x4 ziplock bags that add a little protection without much weight or bulk http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZZUL5Q?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

As for the Circular Polarizer, I also have one of those (genuine Cokin) and they are pretty expensive these days. You might be better off with a regular Hoya or B+W or other brand 77mm filter. I would get one as slim as you can and don't stack filters on these ultra wide lenses if you wish to avoid vignetting.

Good luck.

hcmcdole

The P series will vignette for a wide angle (17mm) so get the Z series to be on the safe side. I haven't used it on my 10-22 lens though so would find it very impractical.

I bought all the ND/GND filters for the P series after reading a British book on how to do landscape photography and that you needed some ND/GND filters in your kit.

Coming back home from TN we stopped at a scenic overlook and I took a series for a panorama. As my wife was driving, I continued reading the book after we left this spot and it said the P series would vignette for a wide angle. Reviewed all the photos I just took and sure enough - there was vignetting. Fortunately I had enough overlap to crop the edges to make the panorama.

The next week I ordered the Lee system - lesson learned the hard way. I can use these filters with the 10-22 without issue.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Are you using a full frame or APS-C body? It probably makes a difference.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I have used Cokin P series size filter with 77mm adapter on lenses as wide as 17mm (full frame)... No problem with vignetting at all. On your camera, 12mm is equivalent to 18mm on full frame, so I suspect that the P series would be fine.

Note: I DID modify one of my Cokin P series holders, trimming it down to a single slot to reduce any possibility of vignetting. I forget if that was for the ultrawide I mentioned, though. I also have used them on Tilt Shift lenses, so it may have been for those.

The Cokin ND Grad filters are good to experiment with initially. If you find you like using them, you will probably want to later upgrade to something of better quality (Lee, Singh-Ray, etc.) Some of them make filters in Cokin P-sizes, too, so you may be able to continue using the rest of the kit you set up. Lee makes a neat adjustable lens hood for the Cokin P series holders, too.

I've never used the Cokin Circular Polarizer. I used their Linear Polarizer when I was shooting film and using manual focus cameras. I was never that impressed with it... would rather use a better quality, multi-coated B+W or Hoya (maybe Marumi... haven't used them, but have heard they're good).

Frankly, my ND Grad filter set is now gathering dust. I haven't used it in a couple years, because shooting 100% digitally now I can do a far better job in post-processing, than was ever possible with the filters. It's a little extra work later, but worth it to me.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

The P series will be plenty enough, though the Z series leaves you a little more room to play (but not necessary). If getting a graduated ND filter, I would opt for the hard stop filter, as they are much easier to place! (3-stop makes for a good start)!
The bad thing about Cokin filters is, that they have a very strong color cast!! Well, they're made from very cheap plastic!

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

speters,

I find your color cast statement interesting, I have had mine since 1984 (for film) and never notices a color cast on Kodacolor, or Ektachrome. Maybe its a digital thing, but then again I haven't seen it on my Canon EOS digital, either.

If what the poster wants is a means to gradually darken an area of the scene, like sky over ocean, he will find it very difficult aligning the horizon, but with a GND its a piece of cake.

Michael G

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

If there is a color cast, then I guess the question would be is it uniform or only to the graduated areas? If uniform it should be very easy to adjust, and if only to the graduated areas then that may be a bit more challenging, but I would have thought that with the power of available post-processing software that could also be adjusted for preference....

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

An easy test to verify a color cast.
Take your digital camera and place the suspect filter on the lens.
Go outside with a white sheet of paper on a sunny day.
Set the camera White Balance to sunny.
Photograph the paper with the GND filter adjusted about half way through the scene.

Transfer the captured paper image to your computer and check for odd color tint. If it appears click the White Balance tool in your image editing software.

Another thing you might try for your computer monitor.
With your image editing software, open a new image about 8 inches square, and pure white. Take a sheet of white bond paper from your printer and place it beside your white image. If they both look similar in color tint you are okay.

Michael G

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Makes sense to me!

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Let me know what you find out.

Michael