mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Why am I having such a hard time with this? I need a square ND filter holder and two adapters for my 77 & 82mm lenses.

Z series, P series, ??? I didn't want to spend a lot of time researching this, but apparently, I must. Can someone help me cut to the chase?

Sadly, I literally just want someone to tell me what to buy. Since I'll be spending most of my budget on the actual filters, please recommend a moderately priced holder and adapter that will work. Thanks. -M

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

The P series works with lenses up to 82mm, Z goes above that!

BruceLR Loc: Shoreline (Seattle), WA

Here are some top of the line Lee ND Filters $260 at Amazon. They are rectangular, not square.
http://smile.amazon.com/Lee-Filters-Neutral-Density-Filter/dp/B00009R7W3/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1431795125&sr=1-5&keywords=lee+nd+filter+kit

Here's a link to a Cokin Kit.
http://smile.amazon.com/Pro-Graduated-Filter-Black-Grey/dp/B000T95Q8I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1431794414&sr=1-1&keywords=cokin+z-pro

You'll want to consider whether you want a graduated transition across the filter or a "hard edge." The hard edge filter are really great for landscape shots with a clearly defined horizon. The Lees above are hard edge.

Don't forget to get the right adapter so that the filter holder will attached to your particular lens.

catfish252

The standard square filter sizes are:

84mmx84mm -- this is Cokin P series should be safe up to 82mm lenses.Some filter makers will make a filter longer in the length for ease of positioning in the holder,

100mmx100mm -- this is the Cokin Z series, you often see the 100mm filters in longer lengths 100mmx125mm, 100mmx150mm etc, it's just for ease of handling.

Other brands out there with square filters are Lee, Singh Ray, HiTech Formatt.

Theses filters all require an adapter ring sized to the screw-in filter the lens requires, this adapter ring outside diameter fits the filter holder.


You can buy almost any type of filter desired: ND from 1 stop to 10 or 12 stops, Lee's little and big stopper, ND Grad(soft or hard).

The filters come in plastic(resin) or glass, some claim that the resin filters aren't as good as the glass, Some of the newer resins are just as good imo.

The holder and the rings for the Z series can be fairly expensive if bought from the filter manufacturers like $45 for the adapter ring versus china bought brand on eBay for $5 - I have bought both the P and Z series filters and have always bought the good filters and the bargain holders/adapters. They work just fine.

See here for the adapter and 77mm ring:

http://www.amazon.com/Square-Multifunctional-Holders-Adapter-77mm-77mm/dp/B00N0EF9TA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1431795811&sr=8-8&keywords=z+series+filter+holder

and here for just the 82mm ring:

http://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Metal-Filter-Adapter-Holders/dp/B00UWY54VO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1431796019&sr=8-4&keywords=82mm++series+z+adapter+ring

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

Don't forget the view angle of the lens.

The P series on a crop sensor body with wide, say 10mm lens, will not fully cover the field of view, I would say about 12mm is the maximum.

This was my own experience using a Sigma 10-20mm (77mm thread) on a Canon 7d with Cokin P series filter ;)

steveg48

Hitech makes 16 stop ND filters

Tom47 Loc: Gettysburg, PA

I have used P series Cokin filters for years. I have never had problems. They are the cheaper alternative.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

You want to go LEE. The adapter screws on and the filters clips on. The Cokin screws on and then you have to insert the filter. If you lens has any creep to it, pushing the filter into the holder will change the distance and perspective.

With a 10 stop ND, you really can't see anything through the lens. With a Lee, I can clip the filter on or off in a second and readjust if necessary. With the Cokin, it is push in and off and it can be a hassle. The Lee adapters are metal, the Cokin are plastic. The Cokin filters are plastic, the Lee are scratch resistant resin. Cokin will scratch by just taking them in and out of their plastic cases. There is more distortion with Cokin than Lee. I use my filters when ever I am near any water, and that is often.

flamenkio Loc: Progreso, TX

Lee filters kick ass!

steveg48

The rectangular filters you are referring to are graduated nd filters. They need to be rectangular so you can adjust where the transition is. All of my non-graduated ND filters are sqaure.

O2Ra

Google Lucroft they make good holders up to 165 mm

Leitz Loc: Solms

Cokin adapters are metal, the holder is plastic, the filters are resin, distortion free and no more susceptible to scratching than any other resin filter, including Lee. I haven't scratched one in 30+ years of use. I use a Lee holder for gelatin filters.

catfish252

That filter maker referred by O2Ra is LucrOit

O2Ra

Thanks for the correction. I couldn't remember how it was spelled and Lucroft came up in spellchecker so I picked it. Lol. I had been looking up holders and filters for my sigma 8-16 when I came across this company.

catfish252

One place I have always had a great shopping experience is:

http://www.2filters.com

they have a terrible website but very good prices and fast shipping, the tech/sales support is great