Cokin Filter P X Z System queries

[VainKid]

Hi buddies,

I've actually turn over and search high and low in clubsnap for a week on cokin filter sys and have decided to try out those filters but I still have some queries troubling me and hope gurus (like nnb, daredevil, nightmare and many more) out there whom uses square filter sys to advice on.

1. I understand cokin filter holder has P , X , Z and P wide angle. I have a 67mm kit lens which I will temporary use for landscape at 18mm but soon will go into tokina116 /sigma 8-16 (have not decided yet) so I plan to get 1 holder that can fully share among all lens but the P holder with 3 slot seems like will have vignetting and the holder can be seen in eye view. But is the P wide holder sufficient to use even if I upgrade in future?

2. If I plan to get the X / Z filter which can hold up to 100mm, can I actually use it on my 67mm or smaller mm lens?

3. Can the X / Z holder hold the regular P size filter ?

4. Possible to do handheld with the filter sys on?

5. What are the prices for P X Z holder? Where can I get it other than CP n TK?

Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Vk

 

[yyD70S]

1. I understand cokin filter holder has P , X , Z and P wide angle. I have a 67mm kit lens which I will temporary use for landscape at 18mm but soon will go into tokina116 /sigma 8-16 (have not decided yet) so I plan to get 1 holder that can fully share among all lens but the P holder with 3 slot seems like will have vignetting and the holder can be seen in eye view. But is the P wide holder sufficient to use even if I upgrade in future?

On your current kit lens, the P wide is fine; not sure about the std holder.
On your Tokina 11-16mm, you will get vignetting even with the P wide until about a certain focal length. If you do not use a filter and you sandpaper off the inner P wide holder ring, you are barely fine at 12mm (I'm using 17mm on FX as a comparison) and that's only provided you don't 'rotate the P wide holder at an angle'.

2. If I plan to get the X / Z filter which can hold up to 100mm, can I actually use it on my 67mm or smaller mm lens?

Of course.

3. Can the X / Z holder hold the regular P size filter ?

Not too sure on this but I think it's a NO.

4. Possible to do handheld with the filter sys on?

If you meant holding just the filter in front of your lens, YES, but you wouldn't want to do that for 30sec++. If you meant filter on holder mounted on lens, SURE.

5. What are the prices for P X Z holder? Where can I get it other than CP n TK?

P wide souldn't set you back by more than $20. Next to impossible to get X & Z holder locally.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Vk

If you intend to do superwide and is starting from sractch, go the LEE way. But if budget is really a constraint, get the P wide and do your own mod but note the compromises.

Our fellow CS member has a thread which more or less covers what you are seeking:
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=726974

 

[VainKid]

Thanks YYD70s. Is there other alternative than DIY? How much does Lee holder cost?

 

[daredevil123]

Thanks YYD70s. Is there other alternative than DIY? How much does Lee holder cost?

For 100mm filters:

Lee foundation kit (the holder only, no ring included) cost around 120+. It comes standard with the ability to hold 3 filters. But you can remove the filter slots one by one. I recommend you use 2 filters max - i.e. remove one slot. The Lee 77mm ring adapter cost 90+ in TK Foto (heard it costs 70+ in CP. Not sure).

Hitech 100mm holder (2 slots fixed) cost 120+, 77mm ring adapter cost 60+. Available at TK.

No point getting different rings for different thread diameters. Get the ring the size of your largest diameter lens. Just get step up rings for your other lenses.

 

[daredevil123]

***Note: For the Sigma 8-16, there is no way you can mount filters. Just look at the actual lens and you will understand why. The 14-24 Nikon has the same problem, but Lee is custom building a very expensive filter holder and 150mm filters for it. But I do not think Lee will do the same for the Sigma 8-16.

You seems to be very confused about the different series of Cokin filters.

Here are the filter sizes (width of the rectangular filters) that holder uses
A series = 67mm (Good for small cameras, rangefinders)
P series = 84mm (Good for APS-C lenses >18mm, 4/3 cameras, NEX, m4/3)
P series (wide angle holder) = 84mm (Good for APS-C lenses >13mm, FF lenses >28mm)
Z-pro series = 100mm (Good for FF wide lenses, APS-C, UWA lenses, Medium Format)
X-pro series = 130mm (Good for FF super UWA lenses, Large Format, Professional video cameras)

- Your kit lens 67mm filter thread can fit holders P series and larger.

- For Tokina 11-16 (Nikon mount), If using the P wide, you will get vignette at 11mm when stopped down, and 12mm when wide open. You really need to go Z-pro (100mm) to be totally free of vignetting.

- Filters and holders from different series are not compatible. P filter cannot fit X or Z holders. Z filters cannot fit P holders.

- Z-pro holders/filters can be used with other brands' 100mm systems (Lee, Hitech)

- P holders/filters can be used with other brands' 84mm systems (Tianya)

- Handholding filters is possible but not recommended. You will introduce shake on the camera if you touch the lens. If your exposure is 5mins, what would you do? Hold for 5 minutes?

- Cokins is available in CP and OP. Lee is available in CP and TK. Hitech is available in TK.

- You can get pricing information by calling those companies listed above.

I think I just about covered everything here... Hope this helps.

 

[daredevil123]

BTW, you may ask what filters am I using.

Slotted filters:
Lee foundation kit,
77mm Lee adapter ring.
3 x Hitech GND (0.3, 0.6, 0.9)
Hitech ND0.9 (3 stops)

Other filters:
B+W ND110
Kenko Pro1D slim wide-band CPL

 

[VainKid]

Bro DD, I'm really confuse and dilema.

What will u do if u were me? Get the cokin to use for my kit lens first then go for lee after I get my tokina 116? What do u suggest?

Anyway many thanks for putting in layman terms for me.

Appreciate it

 

[VainKid]

I'm wanted to picture of landscape on sunny cloudy day, should I get the .3 or .6 GND for start as a newbie or should I get a screw on cpl ?

 

[daredevil123]

Bro DD, I'm really confuse and dilema.

What will u do if u were me? Get the cokin to use for my kit lens first then go for lee after I get my tokina 116? What do u suggest?

Anyway many thanks for putting in layman terms for me.

Appreciate it

If I am you, and knowing what I know now, I will go straight into 100mm filters and holder. Which holder really depends on your budget and preference.

 

[VainKid]

If I am you, and knowing what I know now, I will go straight into 100mm filters and holder. Which holder really depends on your budget and preference.

Thanks bro... Cheers