Reasonably priced nd gel filter recommendations?

[pjd]

Here's my situation:


Kodak 2D 8x10 camera with a Packard shutter mounted in the front standard. Top shutter speed = 1/15th

A motley assortment of barrel lenses, some of which are soft focus (360 Imagon, 15 1/2" Velostigmat II, Kodak 305mm portrait, all quite wide barrels).

I want to use this setup outdoors, in which case the easiest way of bringing exposures at wide apertures to about 1/15th will be with ND filters.

It doesn't seem likely that I'll find a way of mounting filters on these different lenses easily, so holding a cokin style filter in front might be the best. I thought about slipping a filter in front of the Packard shutter behind the lensboard, but behind lens filtering doesn't seem ideal, and it's a bit of a tight fit anyway.

I've used Cokin P sized grad ND filters before (with a 35mm camera), it was ok for what I was doing, but 4" filters or larger seem better. Can anyone recommend a filter brand of decent quality with a reasonable price? I don't want to buy cheap filters to find they are junk...yet don't want to spend huge money on bits of plastic! Or, any other ideas? Thanks for reading!

[Jerry Bodine]

I got my ND filters from Rosco:
http://us.rosco.com/products/catalog/cinegel, then input "neutral density" into the Refine Search box.

I bought the Cinegel filters ND.3, ND.6, ND.9 (#R3402, #R3403, #R3404), but they have many others. They come in sheets about 20x24", about $9 each. I cut them up into 4x4" sizes because that's the size that fits the gel filter holder on my Sinar Norma. I checked them for density and found to be spot on. For outdoor use you may want to make some cardboard frames for them as they're very floppy in the breezes and likely will be damaged/scratched otherwise.

[Lachlan 717]

Cokin X499.

[pjd]

Hmm. Maybe I can make something like that X499 from a section of large PVC pipe and some bolts. Food for thought. It looks a bit expensive for what it is (or maybe I'm just a bit cheap).

Rosco Cinegel filters are new to me, exactly the sort of information I was hoping for. :)

[Bob Salomon]

Hmm. Maybe I can make something like that X499 from a section of large PVC pipe and some bolts. Food for thought. It looks a bit expensive for what it is (or maybe I'm just a bit cheap).

Rosco Cinegel filters are new to me, exactly the sort of information I was hoping for. :)
But they are lighting grade filters, not optical grade for shooting through.

[Willie]

http://www.ebay.com/p/kodak-no-96-1497320-filter/78805299?iid=391252796731&ul_noapp=true,true&chn=ps&lpid=82,82

http://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=371728947380&ul_noapp=true,true&chn=ps&lpid=82,82

Just two examples of Kodak Wratten Gelatin filters. One 4 inch, one 3 inch.

Check around and you can probably find many of them. A lot of older camera stores may have some in stock. Swap meets and private parties are a good bet. They have worked well for decades for many of us.

[Bob Salomon]

http://www.ebay.com/p/kodak-no-96-1497320-filter/78805299?iid=391252796731&ul_noapp=true,true&chn=ps&lpid=82,82

http://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=371728947380&ul_noapp=true,true&chn=ps&lpid=82,82

Just two examples of Kodak Wratten Gelatin filters in 4x4 inch size.

Check around and you can probably find many of them. A lot of older camera stores may have some in stock. Swap meets and private parties are a good bet. They have worked well for decades for many of us.

The problem with most, if not all, Wratten gels is that besides being easily scratched or damaged and not optically flat without the right holder, they are organic and will fade with exposure to light and the environment over time.

[Ted R]

While you are searching for the just right perfect gel filter also consider the purchase from ebay.com of silly low cost Chinese rigid ND filters, they may be better quality than you expect. I have a rigid (not gel) 3.25 x 3.75 inch ND 4 filter of surprisingly good quality for the money, it was few US$ with shipping. Placed close to the lens any small blemishes (if there are any) are out of focus. I would post a link to the vendor but I can't locate it unfortunately.

[pjd]

http://www.ebay.com/p/kodak-no-96-1497320-filter/78805299?iid=391252796731&ul_noapp=true,true&chn=ps&lpid=82,82

http://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=371728947380&ul_noapp=true,true&chn=ps&lpid=82,82

Just two examples of Kodak Wratten Gelatin filters. One 4 inch, one 3 inch.

Check around and you can probably find many of them. A lot of older camera stores may have some in stock. Swap meets and private parties are a good bet. They have worked well for decades for many of us.

Maybe I should have mentioned, I live in Seoul so no swap meets, and not much in the way of a second hand market. Shipping stuff here costs quite a bit too, generally. Thanks for the replies so far, all appreciated!

[BrianShaw]

I got my ND filters from Rosco:
http://us.rosco.com/products/catalog/cinegel, then input "neutral density" into the Refine Search box.

I bought the Cinegel filters ND.3, ND.6, ND.9 (#R3402, #R3403, #R3404), but they have many others. They come in sheets about 20x24", about $9 each. I cut them up into 4x4" sizes because that's the size that fits the gel filter holder on my Sinar Norma. I checked them for density and found to be spot on. For outdoor use you may want to make some cardboard frames for them as they're very floppy in the breezes and likely will be damaged/scratched otherwise.

Me too. I buy sheets and cut to fit. They get scratched in use so I tend to use them once and discard. They are both affordable and industry standards for lighting and good enough for me to shoot through... worth checking out!

[Eric Biggerstaff]

I use the Lee Gel Snap holder and like it, easy and inexpensive. Then you just get some gel frames and filter material which are also cheap.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/5331008-Lee-Gel-Snap-4x4-Filter-Holder