Product and Tech Information Graduated Filters

Graduate To Better Skies

    Tiffen's have been our first choice for grads when comparing price and value. We still like them from the early 80s when they first became available in the P 85mm size. Tiffen calls the grads Colorgrad's and they come both in round screw-in, glass P series (2mm thick) for the Cokin holders. The round screw-in type filters are only available in three colors, blue, sunrise (amber tone) and only ND 0.6 (2 stops), 49mm-82mm.To Tiffen Filter Round Graduals The 2-stop version is the best one to start with from any of the companies. The glass  P series ND 0.3 1 stop, ND 0.6 2 stop and ND 0.9 3 stops  Made in USA   To Tiffen P Series

    Hitech Gradual filters are optical resin and are available in Cokin P size and 4x5. The Hitech ND filters come in 1,2,3 and 4 stop, both in a hard or soft edge. The Hitech hard edge is about the same as Tiffen's SE edge (standard edge). Hitech also offers a very high quality holder for P series and 4x5 type filters. Hitech was the first company to make special mounting rings and holders for ultra wide angle lenses. Hitech also offers 13 colors of graduals, in grades #1, 2 and 3 in both sizes, 3 styles of two color grads, #1, 2 or 3 and really interesting combo ND grads with warming filters (81B or 81EF) built in with the ND grad 1,2 or 3 stops. Hitech also offers the combo of the two color grads with gradual ND added in, again 1,2 and 3 stops. In total 59 creative choices in grads. Filters are made in the UK - Great Britain To our listing of Hitech Filters 4x5 series.or the ones that fit in the Cokin Holders To our listing of Hitech Filters 85/P series

    All P series 85 series type gradual filters cover lenses up to 82mm, using different adapter rings with the same Cokin or Hitech filter holder. The filters are 1/2 graduated in ND or color. The best feature of the P series and larger rectangles, is the ability to slide the filter up and down in the filter holder. This gives you the most creative control over the scene you wish to graduate (control brightness). On lenses 67mm and smaller the regular, Tiffen at 100mm long and Hitech P series, 115mm long,  work very well. Above 67 the 100mm long filters are still ok, you just, do not have as much slide ability, example with a 77mm lens filter size you have 23mm above or below center to adjust the graduals edge. Tiffen does offer an PXL extra long version for the P series holders at 165mm long.
 

   The Cokin gradual gray's are not our 1st choice because the Cokins have never been as neutral (sometimes referred to as clean) as the others. That's why Cokin calls the filters gray grads, A noteworthy Cokin filter is the Cokin Sunset grads (197 or 198), because the Cokin sunsets are the only filter that the complete filter is washed over with the burnt orange color along with the gradual density on top. All other sunrise sunset grad types are clear on the bottom. The Cokin grad colors are a very good choice for the price and color selection. Cokin's  are made in France.  To Cokin P and Z Pro Series

    Hoya graduals only come in round sizes 49mm up to 58mm screw-in. Hoya's are made of optical resin like Cokin and Hitech. Like the round Tiffen's 1/2 color 1/2 clear they too have rotating mounts. Hoya's are a good value for colors and an affordable way to try out graduals.  Made in Japan. To Hoya Graduals

    Sunpak Graduals come in round sizes 49mm-77mm screw-in. Sunpak's are made of optical resin like Hoya, B+W, Cokin Lee and Hitech. Like the round Tiffen's 1/2 color 1/2 clear they too have rotating mounts. Sunpak's are a excellent value for graduals.  Made in Japan.  To Sunpak Graduals

    B+W graduals are made only from optical resin. Available in 2 types of gray #501 and #502 with screw-in brass rotating mounts, 49mm - 82mm, The B+W have a very feathered edge, the full ND 1 stop or 2 stop effect is, in the top 1/3 of the filter. Other colors are available special order from Germany. One of our most popular color gradual beside the 502 is the 590 red gradual.

 Lee Filter Cokin P series Graduals also in stock at 2filter.com the Lee filters 4x6 Graduals both single or in 3 filter sets

    A brand that, we do not sell, but is well known, is the Singh-Ray Galen Rowell grads. They are made of optical resin C39, NOT glass and expensive, The Glass Tiffen Grads are a much better value for the money.

01-19-2008

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