Format Cokin Hitech NXFirec rest Series 100 mm Filter Holder Holder Magnetic Kit
£100/$99.99
Cokin’s £175/ $189 NX Series Filter Holder is built to last and has features that should make it a popular choice Lee Filters among popular discerning Big Stop per photographers ND filter is now available as a screw-in filter as well cokin. com as a 100mm-type square filter.
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“Any frustration with mounting the filter frames is forgotten because they make the filters much easier to handle”
Cokin offers three series of filter holders – Creative and Evo holders, which are available in a range of sizes, and the newer NX Series. The latter is designed for use with 100mm-type square and rectangular filters from a range of brands including Cokin. What sets the NX Holder apart from most other filter holders is that the filters need to be mounted in an aluminium frame before they can be used. Cokin makes these frames to fit 100x100mm square filters and rectangular graduated filters.
Key features
In an odd quirk, Cokin’s graduated 100mm filters are 143.5 x 100mm, while most of its competitors’ filters are 150 x 100mm. Consequently, Cokin makes two sizes of rectangular filter frame and one square frame, so it’s important to ensure that you have the correct size. Cokin sells the frames separately an as part of a kit.
The holder is made of aluminium and is able to accept a Cokin circular polarising filter (CPL) and up to two square or rectangular filters in their frames. Before it can be mounted on a lens, an adapter ring must be screwed on to the filter thread of the lens. The low profile of the holder and the filter frames mean that the system is suitable for use with focal lengths as short as 16mm.
Build and handling
The NX Series Filter Holder is made from aluminium, and while it’s lightweight, it feels strong and looks well-made. Most filter holders have slots for accommodating the filters, but the NX Filter Holder has two rows of four ball bearings on either side. These ball bearings fit into slots in the filter frames so that the filters slide smoothly into place.
Before you use a filter, it needs to be mounted in one of Cokin’s filter frames. This is not something you want to do out in the field; it’s also something you really only want to do once, so it’s well worth ensuring that you have a frame for every filter that you’re likely to use.
The filter is held in the frame by a small aluminium tab that must be removed to allow the filter to be slipped in. The tab is secured on the frame by two tiny screws, and though they are easy to remove, refitting them is a frustratingly fiddly job. I lost a screw or two in the process, but thankfully, Cokin provides a couple of spare screws with the frames.
Once an adapter ring has been mounted on the lens filter thread, the holder can be clipped onto the adapter. It’s held by two metal tabs, one of which is sprung to allow it to be pulled back while the holder is aligned on the adapter before the clip is released. It keeps the holder securely on the lens.
With the holder on the lens, it’s time to mount a filter. If you want to use a polarising filter, mount this first as it pushes neatly into a dedicated circular area in the holder and sits close to the lens. A small metal cog in the filter holder engages with teeth in the CPL filter’s frame so that it can be rotated easily while you look in the viewfinder.
Now you’re ready to slide a framed filter into the holder. I found it helpful to touch the end of the filter frame onto the top of the holder and then slide it onto the row of ball bearings closest to the lens. This avoids any misalignment or straddling the two rows of ball bearings. If you want to insert a second filter, rest its frame against the first filter’s frame and then slide it into position.
Performance
As soon as you start using the NX Series Filter System, any frustration with mounting the filter frames is forgotten because they make the filters much easier to handle. The broad tab at the top makes an ideal holding point so you can adjust the filter position or remove it easily with less chance of covering it in fingerprints than with many other filters.
I used the holder with both Cokin Nuances Extreme filters and filters from
Lee Filters, and aside from the difference in the length of the graduated filters from the two brands, there’s no difference in how they slip into the filter. They push in easily and are held securely, yet are easy to adjust.
Cokin claims that the NX Series Filter Holder is suitable with lenses as short as 16mm. I found no reason to question this and although there was slight vignetting in some images that I shot with a Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM at 14mm on a full-frame Canon R5, it wasn’t problematic.
The Cokin NX Series CPL works very well with the holder, as the cog mechanism makes it easy to adjust the rotation precisely, plus there’s no danger of touching any of the filters in the process. The only hiccup is that it’s awkward to remove the CPL from the frame; you either have to hook it out with a fingernail or poke it through from the back after the holder has been removed from the lens. In a pleasing touch, the filter holder has a light seal that does a good job of excluding light when an ND filter is fitted for a long exposure during the day.
Verdict
While circular filters, especially those with a magnetic mount, are quicker and easier to use, a holder is required for the proper use of a graduated filter. The Cokin NX Series Filter Holder makes a great choice, having delightful build quality and holding the filters securely.
There are only really two issues that count against the NX Series Holder: the fiddly screws for mounting the filter frames, and the awkward way in which the polarising filter has to be removed. Neither of these is insurmountable. With patience, good light, a decent precision screwdriver and a clear table, the filters can be mounted in their frames ahead of their first use, and it doesn’t take long to work out a way of removing the polarising filter. After using the NX filter system, these points seem a small price to pay for the performance.