| FILTERS AND
FILTER HOLDER SIZES When
we start in photography we either don't know
enough, we don't have enough funds, or we are
just beginning to get interested. Any of the above
of course restricts our choices. And that is how
we end up accumulating some frustrations
and spending more in the end to correct those
previous decisions.
Independently
of brand, one of such choices is filters and filter
holder size.
.
| |
| Neutral
Density Graduated filter holders in
P size |
The
least expensive filter holder is the Cokin, followed
by the Hitech and the Lee holders, but let's leave
that aside for a moment.
FOCAL
LENGTH
What
determines the filter holder size is not the diameter
of the front thread of the lens, but mainly its focal
length.
Another
issue is the front end geometry of an specific lens
that may make this
vary; that is, how far from the front element glass is
the thread to support the filter holder. Nikon
pro lenses outer filter threads are designed to not
interfere at all in the angle of view of the lens with
a Nikon polarizer or a Nikon clear filter; but this is
not
necessarily
true in consumer lenses. The exception for pro lenses
are those with a meniscus type of front element. Tokina
and other brands
of lenses also have different
front designs.
The
wrong filter holder size choice will
likely drive you
into vignetting problems, rendering
many images useless.
Below
some sample images with a Nikon FX body and 17-35mm
f/2.8D ED AF-S Nikkor, shooting into a wall with
a 2-stops neutral density filter to illustrate. The holder
was attached directly into the lens; not on top of any
other filter.
| |
Cokin
Wide Angle Single Slot |
Hitech
Wide Angle 2 slots |
Cokin
Standard 3 slots |
| f/2.8 |
|
|
|
| f/5.6 |
|
|
|
| f/11 |
|
|
|
| f/22 |
|
|
|
FX |
No
vignetting on the
17-35mm Nikkor @ 17mm
|
Moderate
vignetting on this lens
It disappears @ 18mm |
Unacceptable
vignetting @ 17mm
It disappears at 22mm
|
DX |
No vignetting on the
12-24mm f/4G DX Nikkor @ 12mm |
No
vignetting on the
12-24mm f.4G DX Nikkor @ 12mm |
Vignetting
from 12 to 15mm
It disappears @ 16mm |
SUMMARY
If
you plan on using any other filter between a Nikkor
lens and the holder, even if a wide angle holder
on a pro lens, the P size is not for you. Start
out with the Z-Pro size.
If
you think you may need more than one filter
to balance the contrast in some scenes, go
for the Z-Pro size.
If
you plan to go even wider, like with the 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G
ED AF-S DX Nikkor, go for the Z-Pro size. More so with
a Tokina, Sigma or Tamron variation.
|
|
Even
if you don't plan on going wider, go for the Z-Pro size.
I was very happy with my 24mm f/2.8D AF until I saw the 17-35mm
f/2.8D AF-S in a store and later the 12-24mm f/4G
AF-S.
Yes,
it all meant having
to buy 4x5 or 4x6 filters instead
of the 85mm wide ones but
il has been well
worth it.
I
use the Hitech Z-Pro sized with two slide-in slots (HT1004),
made of machined aluminum by Formatt, with Hitech ND
grad filters.
A
special note is deserved by the Lee P-sized filter holder:
its special design will allow for a thin filter
stacking and up to a two ND grads filter configuration with
no vignetting. Yet, I would also recommend going up to
the Z-Pro size.
Without
vignetting
concerns you can concentrate on composition and use two filters,
up to the strength required for a good balance of contrast
in that landscape that will be hard to come back. Whatever
brand and size you choose, or not ....
Have
a great time!  |
