Singh Ray vs Hitech ND Grads in Cokin P size. Which to buy?

[l2oBiN]

I want to buy grads. Singh ray although with a great reputation, are very expensive. So I have been eyeballing the hitech grads both in hard and soft transition (the whole set). However, before I pull the trigger I want to hear from you on whether they are worth it. Any difference in quality between the Singh ray and hitech? Color casts? Quality of transitions? Size of filters (do both have same length) ? Hitech fit colin p? Etc..

Thanks in advance

[Policar]

The hi-tech filters are okay. They seem to be more neutral than the Cokins and the cheap no-name filters. The build quality is fine and they fit Cokin P but they are thin, not as sturdy as the Singh-Ray filters. The transitions are as clean or cleaner than the Singh Ray ones, which seem more home built. They're all just pieces of plastic so it's hard to say that much about them build-quality wise. They work or they don't and here's the issue:

My hi-tech filters look totally neutral and are completely neutral on my digital camera. With Velvia 100 film, they have a strong magenta cast. I'm not sure why, I think it's because they transmit IR. My three stop Singh-Ray filter does not have this problem (the newer three stop and higher filters from Singh-Ray are ND grad and also have an ND IR dye). I think both would be okay in black and white or with color film that's not as IR sensitive as Velvia 100 notoriously is.

[Eric James]

The Cokin grads should be avoided because of their color cast.

I've used a friends Hi-Tech filters and, frankly, they are a better value than the Singh Ray. The quality is roughly equivalent (some folks might argue that the Singh Ray are nicer but you would be hard pressed to demonstrate a difference in image quality). The transitions are different but which is preferable is likely a personal choice largely dictated by the scene being photographed. Certainly the Singh Ray pouches are superior, in fact the tackiness of the Hi-Tech plastic pouches could cause breakage and certainly frustration. For my Singh Ray filters, I cut out the top and a side of a quart-sized Freezer Ziploc bag to make easy-access sleeves - these sleeves open easily for removing and replacing the filters, and they slip into the pouches smoothly. Also, look for a Lock - n - Lock container of the right size - there is one that is a perfect fit for five Singh Ray pouches; it can probably be used for the Hi-Tech filter as well. Not sure if they have Ziplock bags of Lock - n - Locks in Sweden but I sure you have an equivalent.

With regard to size, I believe that the height and width are identical but the there are some reports on the www suggesting that the Hi-Tech are a different width and can slide from the Cokin P holders. This may have been true at one time but I did not have a problem using my friends Hi-Tech filters in my Cokin P holders.

All in all, I think the Hi-Tech filters are a great way to save money.