Circular Polarizing Cokin Filter or Round Filter with thread

[birddog114]

We have nearly 500 members in this forum, how many people are using:

- Cokin CPL filter.
- Round CPL filter (Hoya, Sunpak, B+W etc...)

[redline]

i tend to use hoya round filters for most of my stuff.
but i also just purchased a s/h cokin gradent filter now i just need a holder or should i just how it in front of my lenses for exp.?

[huynhie]

Nikon CPL II for me.

[sirhc55]

I do not use polarisers at all - I am a cheap bugger

Edit: In the old days of film I used a Nikon Ftn with a bellows and two polarisers to do macrophotography of crystal structures - a fascinating subject

[Glen]

Round

[Mj]

As mentioned elsewhere... I've gone with the cokin gear for now... seems to do the trick. Finding that much of my current photography isn't in need of CPL though.

[dooda]

My vote was round filter with thread because that is what I use for polarizer. However I do own the cokin and really like it for it's ND Grad and yellow. I also plan on getting a ND for waterfalls and the like, but haven't gotten around to it. Haven't noticed any lack of quality, and time to put the cokin on the lens isn't a big issue because the type of shots I take with ND grad are ones where I've expressly gone out to shoot, so I take my time with the set up. Polarizer I have threaded circular because I tend to leave it on for a while when I pull my camera from the bag, don't want the big Coking dealy getting in the way.

[birddog114]

My vote was round filter with thread because that is what I use for polarizer. However I do own the cokin and really like it for it's ND Grad and yellow. I also plan on getting a ND for waterfalls and the like, but haven't gotten around to it. Haven't noticed any lack of quality, and time to put the cokin on the lens isn't a big issue because the type of shots I take with ND grad are ones where I've expressly gone out to shoot, so I take my time with the set up. Polarizer I have threaded circular because I tend to leave it on for a while when I pull my camera from the bag, don't want the big Coking dealy getting in the way.

dooda,
You're exactly right, the Cokin system needs a bit of time to set up and the round filter you can do it on the move, if you're running around to do a wedding shooting and need a CPL filter, of course the round will bring you more flexibilty than the Cokin, I admitted I have Cokin sytems in my house, and used it at sometime which I relaxed of taking photos not as at the event yesterday and last night with 50000 of human around, hot, sweat and running, jump up on the stage around like a dog to cover the full event.

[mudder]

G'day,
I use a round screw-attach type CPL, but I'd love to try the Cokin system for the grad filters, but maybe that'd just reduce the need to blend in photoShop etc?

Cheers,
Mudder

[dooda]

mudder,

I guess if you're really good at blending and you don't mind spending the time getting it right in photoshop. I have no confidence in my PS abilities, so I do it with the cokin. Takes about 2 mins to set up. However, with the Neutral Densities, I don't believe you can do in photoshop (forcing long shutter speeds for waterfalls, blurry wind blown fields etc) as well as CPL.

[mudder]

I used to have an ND8 but lost it Was great for water shots...

[fozzie]

I use a combinationn of B+W MRC UV-HAZE FILTERS and ND 4x GRAUFILTERS, no CPL here.


Cheerio,

[birddog114]

I use a combinationn of B+W MRC UV-HAZE FILTERS and ND 4x GRAUFILTERS, no CPL here.


Cheerio,

In what form? Round filter or Cokin System, square style?

[fozzie]

Birddog,

I use a combinationn of B+W MRC UV-HAZE FILTERS and ND 4x GRAUFILTERS, no CPL here.


Cheerio,

In what form? Round filter or Cokin System, square style?

Slips, 'round'.

I need another drink .

TTFN,

[W00DY]

My vote was round filter with thread because that is what I use for polarizer. However I do own the cokin and really like it for it's ND Grad and yellow. I also plan on getting a ND for waterfalls and the like, but haven't gotten around to it. Haven't noticed any lack of quality, and time to put the cokin on the lens isn't a big issue because the type of shots I take with ND grad are ones where I've expressly gone out to shoot, so I take my time with the set up. Polarizer I have threaded circular because I tend to leave it on for a while when I pull my camera from the bag, don't want the big Coking dealy getting in the way.

dooda,
You're exactly right, the Cokin system needs a bit of time to set up and the round filter you can do it on the move, if you're running around to do a wedding shooting and need a CPL filter, of course the round will bring you more flexibilty than the Cokin, I admitted I have Cokin sytems in my house, and used it at sometime which I relaxed of taking photos not as at the event yesterday and last night with 50000 of human around, hot, sweat and running, jump up on the stage around like a dog to cover the full event.

I tend to disagree with this...

I have used both the cokin filter system and threaded filters and in regards to the time it takes to get them on and off the lens the Cokin system is much faster.

It really is easy just to slip the Cokin holder from the metal ring (which you can leave on the lens) and then store it in your pocket. becouse of the way the holder is designed it is very hard to scratch the filter also (obviously you still have to be careful).

I am not sure how a round system will bring you more flexibility?

W00DY

[gooseberry]

Round - Nikon CPL II

[birddog114]

I tend to disagree with this...

I have used both the cokin filter system and threaded filters and in regards to the time it takes to get them on and off the lens the Cokin system is much faster.

It really is easy just to slip the Cokin holder from the metal ring (which you can leave on the lens) and then store it in your pocket. becouse of the way the holder is designed it is very hard to scratch the filter also (obviously you still have to be careful).

I am not sure how a round system will bring you more flexibility?

Yes, the round filter can be srcewed by one hand and on the move, read again my previously post, I mentioned to shoot at the event and you have to run and rush, the round filter always quicker than the Cokin system, if you use both of the system that means you have to take off the Cokin ring off prior to use the the round filter, I want to say the round filter is more suitable with any job on the other hand the Cokin System can be shooting with relax.
Everytime you change lens you have to remove the Cokin ring, with the round filter, you just screw in whatever lens you need.

How many wedding photogs using Cokin System which you have seen on their SLR or DSLR? Of course, there's a reason.

And you can put the lens cap on top of the Cokin System if you have the Cokin ring permanently attached to it.

[W00DY]

Everytime you change lens you have to remove the Cokin ring, with the round filter, you just screw in whatever lens you need.

Presumming you have enough fiters for all your lenses... which a professional photographer would have but maybe not amatures (which as you say is relaxed shooting).

Cokin filter is good for amatures as it leaves more $$$ left for lenses and other accessories.

Also with the cokin filter you can stack upto 4 filters at once for some creative photography (can you do this with round, I'm not sure???)

W00DY

[Matty B]

How many of us are there out there like me who are familiar with screw in filter types but only have a fleeting knowledge of the cokin system of filters. Personally I'll dob myself in by saying that I only know about cokin what I've seen from auction sites and a little online chat here and there. I expect it's a deep (black) art which is best learnt with hands on instruction rather than here-say and theory? I'm not surprised by the poll results but perhaps with time more of us will adopt the broad range of the cokin system?

[christiand]

Hi all,
I have absolutely no experience with the cokin filter reality.
Is there a tutorial or something alike that helps ?

Cheers
CTD

[stubbsy]

I probably agree with Matty B.

I have heard of Cokin system, but that's about it. I have screw in because that's what I've had access to. I'm guessing the more ready availability of round threaded vs cokin has to skew the results of the poll without really giving any indication of the relative utility of the two systems.

I respect both birddog and mj yet both have very different views on the two systems. The only conclusion I can draw is that it probably is horses for courses and this horse only had access to one course (if you'll allow me to drag out the metaphor)

[birddog114]

Everytime you change lens you have to remove the Cokin ring, with the round filter, you just screw in whatever lens you need.

Presumming you have enough fiters for all your lenses... which a professional photographer would have but maybe not amatures (which as you say is relaxed shooting).

Cokin filter is good for amatures as it leaves more $$$ left for lenses and other accessories.

Also with the cokin filter you can stack upto 4 filters at once for some creative photography (can you do this with round, I'm not sure???)

W00DY

Relaxing photogarphy is not only for amateur, say in this term is when you shooting in landscapes, pano etc... you just don't rush yourself to shoot the subject, you can sit back have a glass of Red and thinking what are you going to do with the scene in front of you like an artist who's preparing to paint the pictures. With the same landscape scene, my photo will be difference than yours, though my brain calculates and think difference way of yours, in lighting, angle, composing, photog is an artist!

Amateurs never have any thoughts in doing of this.

Shooting in rush mode: shooting bird and plane, covering an event, shooting wedding, these opportunities of photos won't wait for you but you have to be quick and take it as fast as you can.

Yes, round filters can be also stacked as well and same as Cokin with its limitation.

[birddog114]

I probably agree with Matty B.

I have heard of Cokin system, but that's about it. I have screw in because that's what I've had access to. I'm guessing the more ready availability of round threaded vs cokin has to skew the results of the poll without really giving any indication of the relative utility of the two systems.

I respect both birddog and mj yet both have very different views on the two systems. The only conclusion I can draw is that it probably is horses for courses and this horse only had access to one course (if you'll allow me to drag out the metaphor)

Stubbsy & Matty,
Cokin Systems is another system of filter with more creative arts, it has a wide range of filters in doing or manpulation of effect than the round threaded filters, unfortunately I have about 25 difference Cokin filters in my inventory which I acquired them in my film days and still keep them for some odd jobs and rarely used by now, another good side of Cokin system is one filter can be used on many lenses you have, except you have to have the difference rings to suit the lens diameter.
Now we are in the DSLR era, the Cokin System can be replaced by PS or some other manipulation software, but not all as other said, some special effect in colours as tobacco, ND etc... only filters can create it with your photos and your intention.
The most common filters we are using now are UV, skylight and Cir-pol, both systems have them and the popular is the threaded round filter, why?
It's easy to carry, fast to mount it on the lens and less bulky when you want to do the rush or quick shooting as I mentioned in earlier reply, it's more expensive than the Cokin filters cos you have to get one for each lens size or doing the economical way is buying the step up or down ring.
But then if you have the 50mm, 62mm, 67mm. 72mm, 77mm in your bag, the Cokin System need to have difference ring size or adapter to suit same as the round threaded filter, it has the ring in A-P-X series same as A-P-X-Z filters series to work on and prices ain't cheap for each set up, though it can be shared with other lenses.

Most of our popular DSLR kit today we have are in 50mm, 58mm,62mm,67mm, and each one people want an UV filter on the lens permanently, how can Cokin Sytems do it for you? with one UV filter and one set of ring adapter? if you say CPL, Cokin sytem once again still need the adapter ring or difference size of filter to fit on the lenses you have, same as once you can afford to move up with 72mm, 77mm.

Everyone has a difference taste of what they're doing and having, I'm not against their will but I learned from many Pro shooter and I recommend with what I got in photography experiences with difference situation of shooting and event, how many war correspondences or PJs carry Cokin filter with them? they do have them but keep them at home for some other tasks, we don't need to have a good education in choosing the Cokin System instead of the round threaded filter, we only choose whatever are in common, ready and wide available, easy to make an acquisition when needed.

I'm still learning

[goodrich62]

B+W CPL

[Matty B]

Thanks for the Cokin System 101 lesson. I gathered some of that already re: sheer numbers of different filters but the simplicity of the different rings for lenses is appealing. I take your point on post process editing which may render some filters redundant in this modern age of photoshopping image files but I always believe you must have an image worth editing to begin with. I'm still learning too! - my learning curve is steeper than others perhaps - eh?
Thanks for the enlightenment - I do appreciate the explanation - I must get 'out there' more and peek over the shoulders of experinced filter using photogs and see this cokin system in action for myself!

Cheers,

Matty B.