Hi Zoossh, thks for the info. Will Tianya's filter holder cause vignetting as well? Have you tried lee filters before? Heard that the latter's holder wun cause vignetting if i'm using a wide angle. I'm actually willing to spend more to get a quality one in terms of optical & durability. Which would you recommend?
Hi there,
If you're willing to spend more, you could have a hard look at the Lee filters. Total damage would be roughly around S$450 or so but you won't be disappointed with it. I would recommend getting these:
1. 0.75 ND Gradient hard & soft version - About S$165 each. The good ones are made of glass and they don't scratch very easily plus much easier to clean as well. No colour cast too hence the hefty price tag.
2. The holder system - About S$100 plus
3. ND 8 filter - Forgotten about the price
Or
If the prices sends chill down your spine, you can settle for a much cheaper alternative:
1. Tianya 0.6 ND grad soft version - S$11.50. Because of the cheap plastic used, I get a slight green cast. The surface of the filter scratches very easily and its hard to clean. The corners get chipped easily from the usual knocks and bumps.
2. ND 8 filter - S$11.50
3. The plastic screw on holder - Check prices at PPCP. If you're using a cropped camera (e.g. 350D or D80), you wont see any vignetting. If you're using a fullframe, you might have to saw off some of the slots away like what I did for mine. Its quite a hassle to use actually.
The biggest problem with investing in Tianya filters is they're not available elsewhere except through ordering online and it might take weeks before the goods arrive.
Or
If you can't hardly wait, you can opt for Cokin system which is IMHO, not a great buy. You have to offset in total about S$50 more for the same items which you can get from the Tianya system.
On a lighter note: If you're going digital all the way, don't waste your money on colored filters. Post-production can do the job.
Hope that helps. Cheers!