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Need advice on filter system.
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Mar 30, 2021 11:51:00   #
twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO
 
I am looking for a filter system, but do not want to spend as much as it cost on a LEE filter system. Are there others that are decent but not that expensive. I have seen the K&F system, but do not know anything about them.

I am looking at photographing some waterfalls and that is why I am interested in this.

I would appreciate any input you can give me.

Thanks

Reply
Mar 30, 2021 12:05:59   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
twillsol wrote:
I am looking for a filter system, but do not want to spend as much as it cost on a LEE filter system. Are there others that are decent but not that expensive. I have seen the K&F system, but do not know anything about them.

I am looking at photographing some waterfalls and that is why I am interested in this.

I would appreciate any input you can give me.

Thanks


Consider buying a Hoya set for your largest lens diameter and step down rings for other lenses

Reply
Mar 30, 2021 12:12:24   #
johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle
 
Just for clarification, you are looking for a filter set:
https://www.kentfaith.com/lens-filters/SKU.1601_kf-concept-square-nd1000-gnd8-metal-square-filter-holder-set


and not circular filters:

https://www.kentfaith.com/lens-filters/SKU.1628_kf-concept-49mm-nd4-nd8-nd64-nd1000-lens-filter-kit-for-camera-lens-filter-pouch

Just trying to make sure before you get the barrage of about 1000 different types and styles of filters.

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Mar 30, 2021 12:29:53   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
I've been using B+W filters for some years now. In fact, most of my filters have been replaced by B+W filters.
--Bob
twillsol wrote:
I am looking for a filter system, but do not want to spend as much as it cost on a LEE filter system. Are there others that are decent but not that expensive. I have seen the K&F system, but do not know anything about them.

I am looking at photographing some waterfalls and that is why I am interested in this.

I would appreciate any input you can give me.

Thanks

Reply
Mar 30, 2021 12:34:52   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
Glass filters are far more durable than that of a synthetic plastic. Not that the plastic ones are not good optical quality for after all most eyeglasses are made of optical plastic. However just like eyeglasses they are prone to scratches and static cling. They are also more likely to show smudges when cleaned compared to glass.

Of course, glass does break so handle them with care.

Reply
Mar 30, 2021 12:56:51   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
twillsol wrote:
I am looking for a filter system, but do not want to spend as much as it cost on a LEE filter system. Are there others that are decent but not that expensive. I have seen the K&F system, but do not know anything about them.

I am looking at photographing some waterfalls and that is why I am interested in this.

I would appreciate any input you can give me.

Thanks

You are looking for neutral density filters.

Check out this B&H link.

If anything I would invest in two polarizing filters as they will act like a variable neutral density filter when stacked...

Reply
Mar 30, 2021 13:39:08   #
Winslowe
 
PixelStan77 wrote:
Consider buying a Hoya set for your largest lens diameter and step down rings for other lenses

The OP would need step-up rings - step-down rings will not work.

Reply
 
 
Mar 30, 2021 13:54:01   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Here's another thought regarding filters. Once you place a filter on the front of your lens, it becomes part of the optical system of your camera. So, someone has a $2000.00+ lens and doesn't want to spend more than $30 for a filter. How much sense does that make?
--Bob
twillsol wrote:
I am looking for a filter system, but do not want to spend as much as it cost on a LEE filter system. Are there others that are decent but not that expensive. I have seen the K&F system, but do not know anything about them.

I am looking at photographing some waterfalls and that is why I am interested in this.

I would appreciate any input you can give me.

Thanks

Reply
Mar 30, 2021 14:14:16   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
You could buy my unused Lee filter system, if interested. The holder to the lens hood just never fit my shooting style. It's too much equipment for me, where a screw-in ND filter or 2 is much more efficient. If interested, let me know and I'll list out the various filters I have in the Lee system with a 'price to sell'.

Reply
Mar 30, 2021 14:59:55   #
amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
 
twillsol wrote:
I am looking for a filter system, but do not want to spend as much as it cost on a LEE filter system....


Since you mention the Lee system, so I'm guessing you're considering the square and rectangular type in a size large enough to cover your largest diameter lens. I don't know what that is, but will comment in generalities.

I stopped using that type of filter years ago when I switched from film to digital. With film the Graduated ND filters I was using were necessary. They aren't needed with digital. In fact, there are easy ways to accomplish even better results with digital. I also used a few other square/rectangular filters back then, included some standard ND and other special effects, but only because I was already carrying the kit for the Grad NDs. Since "going digital" nearly 100% in 2004, while I've kept a couple of the Grad NDs (just in case I shoot film) they've seen little use and I sold off other types of square filters ages ago. As soon as I learned some multi-shot post-processing techniques with digital, I pretty much stopped carrying that bulky square/rectangular filter kit.

twillsol wrote:
I am looking at photographing some waterfalls...


To be able to take photographs at slower shutter speeds, all you really need are one or two fixed strength ND filters. A 6-stop filter is sufficient for most purposes, but occasionally you might want a weaker ND filter and other times you may want stronger. So you might want to also get a 3-stop filter that can be used by itself or combined (stacked) with the 6-stop for a total of 9 stops of light reduction. That would cover nearly any photographic situation (videography might have other requirements, since there is less exposure adjustability available).

This can be done with both standard screw-in or with square/rectangular type of filters. Both are offered in a wide variety of ND strengths.

If you decide on the square/rectangular type there will be choice of either optical resin (i.e., plastic) or optical glass. The glass filters are more expensive, but easier to clean without doing damage. In many cases both types are not multi-coated.

To use the square/rectangular type you will probably want a filter holder and one or more screw-in lens adapters, possibly in different sizes. The holders are available from a number of sources and in different styles. There are special ones that are lower profile for ultrawide lenses, which often only accommodate a single filter. Others have two or more slots to accommodate multiple filters.

With the square/rectangular type it's difficult to shade them very effectively. Obviously you cannot use the hood designed for and possibly included with you lens. The best solution I found was a "bellows" style hood offered by Lee. That could be adjusted in length to work with various lens focal lengths. At the time I was using the filters on various lenses for a 35mm film SLR system as well as several large format lenses. I was no longer using a medium format film system, but could have utilized the filters with that too, if necessary. It was just a matter of selecting a filter size large enough to work with the largest diameter lens without any vignetting, then "build" a system around that. I was able to use approx. 85mm, which was same as Cokin "Pro" size. As a result, my filter holders and lens adapters were inexpensive Cokin, though my filters were mostly Lee or other brands. I tried the Cokin modular, rigid lens hoods, but the Lee hood (made specifically to fit the Cokin filter holders) works better and could be stored relatively compactly between uses.

Today with digital I don't use those. So few filters are needed with digital.... and I use post-processing techniques instead of Grad NDs... that I now just use round screw-in filters. They are high quality optical glass and all are multi-coated. Plus they work well with my lenses' matched hoods, so are more easily and effectively shaded. It's also easy to stack filters to combine effects, if needed, on most lenses.

Also because so few filters are needed, I don't use step-up rings to mount oversize filters on my lenses. That makes it impossible to use a proper lens hood, so instead I simply buy the sizes I need for each lens (the types needed vary by focal length... for example, I mostly use both C-Pol and ND with wide to normal lenses, very rarely with telephotos.) With my DSLR system I currently use 58mm, 67mm, 72mm and 77mm filters (to fit more than 15 different lenses, many of which share certain sizes). With a small mirrorless system I've recently put together, I use three filter sizes: 43mm, 55mm and 72mm (on three lenses... a fourth lens uses a different size, but I really don't need filters with it because it's a short telephoto macro lens). Note: I do use step-up rings, but only to be able to store various size filters together in a "filter stacker" system.

twillsol wrote:
I have seen the K&F system, but do not know anything about them....


I mostly use B+W filters and have been very happy with them. All B+W use German Schott glass and brass frames (to reduce stuck filters due to galling). Their F-Pro and XS-Pro are 8-layer multi-coated and 16-layer "Nano" multi-coated, respectively. All B+W filters use a pretty slim, low profile frame... I've never had any vignetting issues with their standard frames even on ultrawide lenses (as wide as 17mm full frame and 10mm APS-C). But, if needed the XS-Pro filters are also low profile... VERY low profile... so slim the C-Pol can be difficult to manipulate. Speaking of which, B+W's Circular Polarizing filters are among the best value out there. They cost less... sometimes a great deal less... than most other brand filters of the same or similar quality. But while they are similar high quality, B+W's ND filters aren't nearly so favorably priced.

K&F Concept filters caught my eye, too. Their "green" or "High Definition Digital" series, in particular, has specifications similar to B+W... German (Schott?) glass, 16-layer or 18-layer "Nano" multi-coatings. And the prices for K&F are VERY reasonable. I needed C-Pols in a couple sizes, so I thought I'd give them a try and ordered direct from one of their Chinese/Hong Kong distributors. The cost for two filters was less than even one B+W C-Pol, which itself is a very good value!

I have to say, their specs sound good and the K&F C-Pol I bought look very good. However, I haven't had much chance to use them yet and I can't say if they work as good as they look. They are "slim", though not as slim as a B+W XS-Pro. Also, K&F filters are in aluminum frames, which may not be as resistant to getting stuck as brass (as used by B+W and Heliopan). With modern lenses that use plastic threads there should be no problem. But it may be another story if a lens has metal filter threads or if stacking filters.

I can't be sure if the K&F are "High Transmissive" C-Pols either. They don't appear any darker than a B+W XS-Pro I compared (all XS-Pro and F-Pro are "HT", B+W "MRC" C-Pol are not). Of course, this only applies to CX-Pol... not to ND filters like you're wanting.

I have tried to buy a couple sizes of round, screw-in ND 3-stop and 6-stop K&F, but haven't been able to find what I need. They offer several different types of Variable ND, but those aren't what I want. (Although, supposedly their higher quality, small range, 1-to-5 stop and 3-to-7 stop don't produce the dreaded "iron cross" uneven effect.) They just don't offer very many choices of fixed strength ND and not in all sizes. I'll keep looking and hoping though, because their prices are 1/3 or 1/4 the cost of comparable B+W. That would be an incredible bargain... if they're close to as good as B+W.

It can be difficult to tell them apart online, but apparently K&F also sells a lower spec, lower priced line of filters. They also have a wider range Variable ND that I'd avoid.

If you are in the US, K&F are starting to show up in some of the big retailers. Prices aren't quite as good as buying from Hong Kong... but I bet the wait times are a lot less (it took about 3 weeks to get mine... though they spend most of that time sitting in customs). A Chinese (Hong Kong?) a distributor offering them: www.kentfaith.com.

If you still want the square filters, K&F's 100mm claim both that they ARE German optical glass and ARE Nano multi-coated. If that's true, the $51 price for a 6.stop filter is a steal. You'll find quality 6-stop filters in that size tend to cost $85 to over $200. And, particularly at the lower end of that price range, they may use unknown glass and won't have multi-coatings.

If you decide on round screw-in filters instead... K&F also offers those in various diameters. Their "best deal" is a three filter kit that includes a C-Pol, ND8 (3-stop) and ND64 (6-stop). The "High Definition" version is the 18-layer Nano multicoated and, for example, that kit of three sells for $70 in 72mm size. https://www.ebay.com/itm/K-F-Concept-72MM-Filter-Set-CPL-ND8-ND64-w-Cases-Slim-Circular-Polarizer-Camera/254807787069?hash=item3b53ba463d:g:1EsAAOSwPjxf14gx Similar are available in most common filter sizes.

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Mar 31, 2021 06:49:28   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
twillsol wrote:
I am looking for a filter system, but do not want to spend as much as it cost on a LEE filter system. Are there others that are decent but not that expensive. I have seen the K&F system, but do not know anything about them.

I am looking at photographing some waterfalls and that is why I am interested in this.

I would appreciate any input you can give me.

Thanks


I have but away my Lee filter system, I now use my $10.00 a month Photoshop to do all of my filter needs.

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Mar 31, 2021 08:04:41   #
tomlovesdestin
 
Check out Blue Frog filter system. New company. I have the system and very pleased. Filters are glass.

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Mar 31, 2021 08:42:48   #
Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL
 
billnikon wrote:
I have but away my Lee filter system, I now use my $10.00 a month Photoshop to do all of my filter needs.


Please explain to me how to replicate the effect of a polarizer cutting reflective glare in PS.

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Mar 31, 2021 09:23:31   #
Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida
 
Nd2

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Mar 31, 2021 10:02:27   #
johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle
 
Rick from NY wrote:
Please explain to me how to replicate the effect of a polarizer cutting reflective glare in PS.


It doesn't, but for a cup of coffee.......LOL

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