85mm or 100mm filter system on a 17-40 lens?

TanyaH

10

5 Jul 2012 - 12:01 PM

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Apologies if this has already been covered elsewhere, but although I did trawl through quite a few forum posts, I couldn't find a definitive answer ... if it has been answered already, then if someone could point me to the appropriate post that would be great.

I'm about to start building up a new filter system - I don't want to remortgage the house, so have decided against Lee for now (unless I win the lottery) and am going with Hitech as a halfway point between Cokin and Lee. However, I can't decide between the 85mm system or the 100mm ...

My widest lens is 77mm (Canon 17-40) and is used on an APS-C sensor, so there's the handy crop factor (so is effectively 27-64). However, eventually I'd like to move to a full-frame sensor camera so the 17-40 will be just that ... 17-40.

Will the 85mm system be okay on the 77mm diameter lens at the widest aperture (now and in the future)? Or would it be better to cover all bases and go for the 100mm system? As the basic holder, adapter ring and (probably) one filter is being bought for me as a present, I don't want to be too cheeky and go for the 100mm system just on the basis that it's a pressie. I'd rather get the right equipment for the job at the outset.

Many thanks
Tan

mikehit (e2 Member)

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5 Jul 2012 - 12:25 PM

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I would recommend the 100mm system.
For my 17-40, I bought a set of Hi Tech soft ND grads with the Lee filter holder plus slimline wide angle adapter from Teamworkphoto - a really nice bunch of people who spent the time to give me loads of advice so they could advise if the 85mm may cause vignetting at the widest focal length.

As well as the 100mm width, you can buy the filters in 100mm long or 150mm long. I chose the 150mm because it gives more flexibility on where you place the transition of an ND grad even on APS-C camera.

TanyaH

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5 Jul 2012 - 4:44 PM

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Thanks for the thoughts ... they've really helped to clarify the decision. Although the filters themselves at the bigger size do cost more, I think it'll just be a case of buying them 'as and when' ... hey ho!
T