Cokin filter system?
- Thread starter Caveman
- Start date
evil_edison
Active member
Re: Cokin filter system?
Hi There
I've used the Cokin filter system. The optics are not as good as glass for sure but I didn't find the system horribly bad to be honest. My personal feeling is that the Cokin system is great for people who are starting off because it is a cheap way to find out what filters you really need. I recently "graduated" to a matte box with glass filters but my experience with the Cokin system helped me narrow down which filters I actually use on a regular basis. Hope this helps.
Sean
Hi There
I've used the Cokin filter system. The optics are not as good as glass for sure but I didn't find the system horribly bad to be honest. My personal feeling is that the Cokin system is great for people who are starting off because it is a cheap way to find out what filters you really need. I recently "graduated" to a matte box with glass filters but my experience with the Cokin system helped me narrow down which filters I actually use on a regular basis. Hope this helps.
Sean
Caveman
Well-known member
Re: Cokin filter system?
Thanks Sean ;D
I know they're cheap as hell and I have to admit that that's what is appealing about them. Do you happen to know if you can use better glass with the holders or are they a "goofy" size? I really don't think that I would go the mattebox route, I would just invest in the 55mm plugins for Final Cut. Matte boxes are just CRAZY expensive. What brand did you go with?
Thanks - CAVEMAN ;D
Thanks Sean ;D
I know they're cheap as hell and I have to admit that that's what is appealing about them. Do you happen to know if you can use better glass with the holders or are they a "goofy" size? I really don't think that I would go the mattebox route, I would just invest in the 55mm plugins for Final Cut. Matte boxes are just CRAZY expensive. What brand did you go with?
Thanks - CAVEMAN ;D
evil_edison
Active member
Re: Cokin filter system?
I got the Bogen matte box that generated all the fuss on this board
I don't use a lot of filters on the camera as I tend to do a lot of things in post too. But I do like having ND filters to control the iris (ie keeping it open more for narrower depth of field) and a Polarizer for outdoor stuff. I got Jarred's filter disk and I'm considering getting a low strength black net and/or promist for some softer look stuff that would be difficult to simulate with a plug in filter. I think there's a little more to it than adding a gaussian blur As far as color filters go, I don't use any because I prefer to have a clean image to work with. I'm sure some die hards will tell you there is something better about coloring the shot in camera but I'd prefer to have the flexibility. As far as using other filters with the Cokin holder, the holder was the main reason I upgraded. It's a bit of a pain in the butt that it isn't locked in place. It will rotate in a good strong breeze and there are some definite "vignetting" issues if you aren't careful. All in all it's still a fun system for someone starting out who just wants to experiment with filters and not take out a second mortgage.
Sean
I got the Bogen matte box that generated all the fuss on this board
I don't use a lot of filters on the camera as I tend to do a lot of things in post too. But I do like having ND filters to control the iris (ie keeping it open more for narrower depth of field) and a Polarizer for outdoor stuff. I got Jarred's filter disk and I'm considering getting a low strength black net and/or promist for some softer look stuff that would be difficult to simulate with a plug in filter. I think there's a little more to it than adding a gaussian blur As far as color filters go, I don't use any because I prefer to have a clean image to work with. I'm sure some die hards will tell you there is something better about coloring the shot in camera but I'd prefer to have the flexibility. As far as using other filters with the Cokin holder, the holder was the main reason I upgraded. It's a bit of a pain in the butt that it isn't locked in place. It will rotate in a good strong breeze and there are some definite "vignetting" issues if you aren't careful. All in all it's still a fun system for someone starting out who just wants to experiment with filters and not take out a second mortgage.Sean
J_Barnes
Veteran
Re: Cokin filter system?
Yeah, Cokin filters tend to get a bad rap from photographers because of less then optimal glass, but then again...so does tiffen (ye olde green glass).
If you're neer a production center, you can rent film quality filters, but if you're not...cokin offers the best value for DV users. You can buy like 3-4 cokin filters for the price of one similarly sized B+W or Tiffen filter.
I think that alot of people don't take the filters seriously because Cokin makes so many rinky-dink filters (the rainbow grads and other useles crap), but to my eyes, the glass (being substandard) doesn't really show on most DVX footage.
Yeah, Cokin filters tend to get a bad rap from photographers because of less then optimal glass, but then again...so does tiffen (ye olde green glass).
If you're neer a production center, you can rent film quality filters, but if you're not...cokin offers the best value for DV users. You can buy like 3-4 cokin filters for the price of one similarly sized B+W or Tiffen filter.
I think that alot of people don't take the filters seriously because Cokin makes so many rinky-dink filters (the rainbow grads and other useles crap), but to my eyes, the glass (being substandard) doesn't really show on most DVX footage.