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Cokin Tips
If you use a TRIPOD, you always have time for a second shot with a filter!!
To learn how to use any Cokin Filter go to the Users guide
Watch those fingerprints -- Make sure your filter is crystal clean!
005 Sepia 045 Sepialight
When you have color negative film printed tell the lab the sepia tone is intentional or they will correct it. You can use this filter with most other Cokin filters but not color filters.
022 Blue (80 C)
For use with clear flash and daylight color films.
026 027 028 Warm
Don't combine these with color filters or the subtle effect will be destroyed. You can combine them with optical effect filters including Pastels, Dreams, Star, Speed, etc.
036 FLW
Designed to eliminate the greenish color that florescent tubes and mercury vapor lights cast on color film (I've never used mine for that). Because this filter is magenta in hue, I use my Cokin 036 for exaggerating or enhancing similar hues in a sunrise or sunset sky, a landscape or in the northern lights.
060-68 and 070-78 Spot Filters
60s series are for focal lengths of 50 to 250 mm
70s series are for focal lengths of 20 to 35 mm
The size of the central area also depends on the groove into which the filter is inserted.
The circle becomes larger and less clearly defined if the filter is placed further forward. The distance between your lens and the Center Spot filter can be varied by using the Cokin Modular Hood (255) and a Coupling ring (308).
080 Color Varnish / 376 Basic Filter
Use wide angel lenses at the smallest aperture.
Longer focal lengths will only produce a diffused color haze.
Apply the spots of color as lightly as possible to the 376 basic filter
To clean immerse the filter in very hot water for five minutes and peel of the varnish or you can remove it with alcohol so the filter can be used again. You can apply the varnish to the 082 Filter too. The filter should not be inserted into the rear groove but placed far forward.
081 Colored Vaseline's/ 376 Basic Filter
Apply a very thin layer of Vaseline. As you look through the finder adjust the quantity and color to Your liking. The result does not depend on the thickness of the layer.
Vasline-free areas will preserve a sharp image so have fun and experiment. Wash off with warm water and reuse the 376 Basic filter over and over. You can apply the Vaseline to the 082 Filter too. The filter should not be inserted into the rear groove but placed far forward.
All Diffusers
Diffuser shots should have a light and airy impression if they are to have a romantic feeling. The tendency should be toward over exposure. The aperture should be opened as wide as possible as any stopping down reduces the effect. This filter should not be inserted into the rear groove but placed far forward.
Diffusion filters often collect light from outside the image area that can mislead the camera meter and cause it to underexpose.
Long focal-length lenses require less diffusion than short ones to achieve the same visual effect
086 087 Pastels
Focusing can be very tricky. Here too a tendency toward overexposure is recommended. This filter should not be inserted into the rear groove but placed far forward.
091 092 093 Dreams
These filters create halos of varying intensity depending on witch one you chose to use. The effect is more pronounced when light subjects are placed against dark backgrounds. Focusing can be very tricky. Stopping down reduces the halo effect and will bring out the original image clearly. If you stop down too far all you will get is a double contour and not the dreamy halo effect. Avoid wide-angle lenses the effect is not very pronounced with lenses less than 50 mm. Remember that the halos visible only with light subjects against a dark background. Here too a tendency toward overexposure is recommend.
101 102 103 Close Up
When using close-up lenses, the lens being used should be stopped down to at least f/8, or even better, to f/11, so that losses of quality, particularly around the margins of the picture, are not so easily noticed. Nor is this a problem as close-up lenses cause no loss of light Careful photographers will place important details in the center of the frame
120-151 and 660-671 Graduated filters
The filter effect can be judged with the preview button depressed.
The effect of the filter depends not only the aperture setting but also focal length. The transition is more pronounced as a wider angel lens is used and with longer lens it becomes steadier softer and weaker. So a sharp and clear transition can be achieved using extreme wide-angle lenses and a small aperture.
Pay attention to the light reading. If the metering result is greatly effected by turning the filter by more than two stops, Make a manual change or take a reading from a unpolarized surface.
209 Multi-parallel
As with all filters make sure wide-angle lenses do not vignttethe image. Don't stop down to much or the filter will be visible and not the effect. This filter can be used with most all other Cokin filters. Try using stars, color filters and other effect filters. Here again, a mixed and preferably dark background accentuates the radiating streaks and so the apparent impression of motion.
217 Super speed
Can be used with focal lengths up to 250 mm. Use a large aperture for wide-angle lenses and a small aperture on long lenses. Do Not cover the entire image with the filter. Keep part of the image sharp for best effect. You can combine all color filters with this one. Here again, a mixed and preferably dark background accentuates the radiating streaks and so the apparent impression of motion.
197 198 Sunset
I find this filter works best when combined with most all other Cokin filters. The pink or tobacco filters, for instance, can enhance the sunset effect.
219 Prism
Prism shots should never be given to little exposure, As the spectral colors lose their brilliance and simply come out badly-filterd colorers areas. Best results with focal lengths over 100 mm to 250 mm
220 Mirage
The cleanest reflections are obtained with focal lengths of 35 through 50 mm
342 , 345 Double Mask
Set your camera to make a double exposure, unlock your Autofocus, and measure light without the filter. Use an aperture between f5.6 and f8 for focal length from 21mm to 35mm, and between f11 and f16 for foca lengths from 50mm to 105mm, and then proceed as follows. First insert the first mask (small out-out) dead centre in the COKIN Filter-holder (second groove fror the lens). Frame and take the first shot. Next replace the first mask with the second (first groove for Ref. 345, third groove for Ref 342). Then take the second shot.
346 Double Exposure
An aperture setting of f/8 through f/4 is good for wide angle lenses and f/22 through f/8 for telephoto lenses. The lighting must be the same for both shots and a tripod is required for best results.
This neat gadget lets you use "A" filters in the "P" filter holder. So you can move up to the "P" size and not have to replace all you "A" filters
Creative Project Ideas Stuck for ideals? Then check out this page.
How do I remember all this stuff? The Avery # 8160 labels work best for doing just this.
A CD protective case is a great way to protect Cokin filters in the field and much easier to store and use too. This idea from Daryl Benson and Dale Wilson's book
Canadian Landscapes
Cokin `A' system filters can be attached to most Camcorders providing the camera exposure meter is TTL (Through the lens.) and that the camcorder microphone does not obstruct the front of the lens where the filter system attaches
If you use a TRIPOD, you always have time for a second shot with a filter!!
It takes three tries to get a new process or effect right. The first try reveals any obvious shortcomings, and the second try cleans these up so you can see what you really need to do.
