Cokin system suggestions

[kpe_slotkin]

I will be going to the Galapagos Islands at the end of May and am interested in

trying the Cokin system for shooting some landscape and sunset shots, mostly

with a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II. I have read here how a number of people just

hand hold cokin filters rather than use the Cokin filter holder, but I

interested in recommendations about both which filter holder would be best to

use (they list several on their web site, and it looks like the X-Pro is

recommended for 15mm and up lenses, but I read that people seem to be using the

P system). I am also interested in which Cokin filters would be good to use (I

imagine some GND filters).

[colinsouthern]

Hi Kpe,

 

My suggestion would be to forget Cokin, and go with the Lee holder system. They're interchangeable in terms of filters, but the Lee holder is better quality.

 

For the EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM II you'll need to 6 x 4 filters and the WA adaptor ring.

 

You may find a post I made recently on this very topi to be helpful ...

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00NroS

 

Cheers,

 

Colin

[alan_myers]

Hi,

 

I'll echo what Colin wrote... Lee makes some nice stuff.

 

I've got the Lee lens hood to fit the Cokin holder, P size. It's an expanding/accordion type hood, not much use on the 17mm end of my 17-35/2.8, so it wouldn't work on your 16-35 either. I also had to cut down the Cokin holder to a single slot, to prevent vignetting on full frame/film. Not sure what the largest P-Series size is, either. My lens uses a 77mm filter, yours uses an 82mm. On a 1.6X camera body, it might be more useable on that lens.

 

You'll be wantin' ND Grad filters of various types. The Cokin are cloe to being the cheapest, but Adorama's own house brand are probably cheaper. Lee will be more expensive, but higher quality, and so will be Tiffen's. Top of the line are probably Singh-Ray, but be prepared to get a second mortgage on your house, if you want a set of three or four. I'm sure there are some other brands out there, they just aren't coming to mind right now.