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Product and Tech Information
Graduated ND Camera Filters



For more tech info on the 100mm gradual holders visit this page

Graduate To Better Skies in digital image making     Many of our photographers, image makers do not want to change the natural beauty of the scene before them, yet they use camera filters. All digital devices and film cameras have a certain contrast range that they can capture, but when the sky is several F-stops brighter than the foreground, what can you do? Try using a graduated ND camera filter. No outdoor photographer, image maker should be without a ND gradual filter. Almost every brand of camera filters that we sell offers gradual ND filters, but all are not equal, in quality vs. price. Graduated ND filters come in many sizes and types. Three of our most popular Graduated / Gradual types are from Lee filters, Tiffen and Hitech. All three brands are a true neutral density with no color shift (bad ones make pink and purple blue skies or green clouds.

Tiffen's glass ND gradual filters have been our first choice for graduated filters when comparing price and value. We have liked them now for over 23 years. They became available in the early 80s in the P/ 85mm size. Tiffen calls the graduals Colorgrad's and they come both in round screw-in, glass P series (2mm thick) for the Cokin P holders, (4mm thick) 4x4, 4x6 and larger sizes for MPTV. The round screw-in type filters are only available in three colors, blue, sunrise (amber tone) and the ND 0.6 (2 stops) Now in 2012 Tiffen HT multi coated versions the only ND gradual filters in the world with digital HT Multicoated optics, In sizes 49mm to 82mm.To Tiffen Filter Round Graduals The 2-stop version (0.6-ND4) is the best one to start with from any of the camera filter companies. The glass P series come ND 0.3 1 stop, ND 0.6 2 stop and ND 0.9 3 stops all only with a Soft Edge, The Tiffen 4x4 4x5.65 and larger sizes come both in a Hard feathered Edge or the classic Tiffen Soft Edge. All Tiffen gradual ND filters are made in USA   To Tiffen P Series


Lee Holder and Lee filters sold separately

   Lee Camera Filters, The Lee Filter FK 4x4 100 holder combined with Lee 4x6 gradual ND gradual filters is the perfect solution to any wide angle lens with no compromise of image quality works out of the box on Canon 10-22mm lens Lee 4x6 Graduals Filters are sold singularly in Hard Edge and Soft Edge in many ND grades or in Lee filters now classic ND 4x6 graduated 3 filter ND sets all Lee camera filters are really hand made so delivery from 2010 into 2012 has been limited and in very short supply allow ample time to get the Lee filters and Lee FK holder gradual tools you need. Starting in 2011, Lee created a special holder for the Nikon 14-24 full frame lenses after seeing the results the new system is working perfect. Also a full choice of Lee ND 150mm x 170mm filters for the new SW150 Super Wide Lee filter holder and 150x150 filters the Lee SW150 Holder and mount for the Nikon 14-24 available in kit form with a Lee 150x170mm ND 0.6 SE

Hitech ND Gradual filters are optical resin and are available from 2filter in 85 size and 4x5 size. 2filter is not currently offering the Hitech 4x6 size, In 2012 US Hitech prices have gone up so close to the really perfect hand made Lee 4x6 ND graduals which include a needed padded pouch. The 4x6 Hitech's for $5 to $6 less are just not a good value. The Hitech 4x5 ND filters are priced lower and are worth considering they come in 1,2,3 and 4 stops, both in a hard or soft edge. Hitech for 2012 offers new holders for the 85 series and 4x5/4x6 size ND gradual filters. 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 grades. Hitech also offers the combo of the two color blended graduals, again 1,2 and 3 stops. In total 59 creative choices of colors in gradual filters. Hitech filters are made in the UK - Great Britain, In 2011 Hitech added reverse ND graduals Also coming in the spring of 2012, super wide holders in Hitech 165mm wide size with a very complete line of filters to match including reverse grads and up to 10 stop ND solid filters To our listing of the complete Hitech ND Gradual Filters Product Lines.or just the filters that fit in the Cokin P Holders To our listing of Hitech Filters 85 series

    All P series / 85 series type gradual filters cover lenses up to 82mm but never any wide angle lenses. The 4x4 100mm holders are right size for most wide angle lenses. The best feature of the Cokin P or Hitech 85 series and the larger 4x5 or 4x6 rectangle ND filters is the ability to slide the graduated filter up and down in the filter holders. This gives you the most creative control over the scene you wish to (control brightness of the sky) with a gradual. On lenses 67mm and smaller the regular, Tiffen P or Cokin P both 100mm long and Hitech 85 series 110 mm long  work very well. Lenses above 67mm size the 100mm long filters are ok for some zoom ranges. You just do not have as much slide ability, example with a 77mm lens filter size you have 23 or 28 mm above or below center to adjust the 100/110 graduals filters edge. Tiffen does offer an PXL extra long version for the P type holders at 165mm long. Now in 2012 many new choices are offered in modular holders for 4x5 and 4x6 size ND gradual filters the best way to go with any super wide's


New for 2012 Schneider 4x4 Graduated Filter holders for glass 4x4 or 4x6 gradual filters ,Schneider 4x6 Glass Gradual ND filters in Schneider kits with holders and filters with 4x4 Lee FK holders and Lee 77mm wide angle rings

   The Cokin graduated gray's are not our 1st choice because the Cokin's have never been as neutral (sometimes referred to as clean) as the other brands. That's why Cokin calls the filters gray graduated, The Cokin Z pro or P series gradual colors are a good choice for color selection. Cokin's are made in France.  To Cokin P and Z Pro Series

    B+W round graduals are made only from optical resin. Available in 2 types of gray #501 and #502 with screw-in brass F-Pro rotating mounts, 49mm - 82mm, The B+W's have a very feathered soft edge, the full ND 1 stop or 2 stop effect is, in the top 1/3 of the filter. Other colors are still available special order from Germany.

    A brand that, we do not sell, but is well known, is the Singh-Ray Galen Rowell grads. They are made of optical resin CR39, NOT glass, The Lee Filter ND Graduals are a much better value for the money have been for 10+ years.

04-08-2012