Filter Brand "Promaster"? - DPChallenge Forums

12/04/2003 10:07:47 PM · #1

All my local camera shop currently sells are Cokin and Promaster filters. I don't see myself needing a Cokin system, so I was wondering if anybody knew of the quality of Promaster filters.. I haven't been able to find out much about them and their website looks low quality (although I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything)

Thanks,
Brian

Message edited by author 2003-12-04 22:08:24.

goodtempo

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

12/04/2003 10:14:11 PM · #2

i have a promaster flash for my sony and it is very good quality. i don't have any of their filters so i don't really know. it was hard to get information on the flash when i was looking for it but it turned out to be very good.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

12/04/2003 10:40:39 PM · #3

I'm not familiar with that brand of filters but they don't look bad or anything.

If you are not against mail order, you should check out:

//www.2filters.com

They have some great prices.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/05/2003 12:12:14 AM · #4

thanks for the replies - i'll look through that site within the next couple of days and see what i can find. btw, do many people here (that shoot b&w) use the red, orange, yellow or green filters? if so, which one(s) have you found the most useful?

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

12/05/2003 02:05:47 AM · #5

I've got a set of Promaster Spectrum 7 close-up diopters. They've worked well for me, though I don't think I'm really experienced enough to say authoritatively how good they are, especially compared to other filters. But they were reasonably priced, and they've done a good job for my amature level of photography.

Here are some shots I've taken with them:

Macro Economics
Look Sharp
Spin
Unpredictable - Economic Trends

...and, the piece de resistance...a shot of two of them, taken with the third...
Macro-roni

HTH. If there's any questions I can (attempt to) answer, let me know.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

12/05/2003 04:32:50 AM · #6

thanks for the info - good to know that a couple fellow DPCers have had pleasant experiences with this company. i'll probably end up going with whatever works out to be cheapest for me.. as long as i don't hear anything too negative about that particular company :-x

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

12/05/2003 10:12:37 AM · #7

Originally posted by brianlh:

I have shot a lot of b/w using a red filter. The red really strengthens the overall contrast in the image.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/05/2003 04:10:59 PM · #8

Ah, okay - might end up getting a red or orange just to experiment with.. have never used one of those before. :D

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

12/05/2003 04:30:07 PM · #9

Are you intending to shoot in B&W "in camera" (with the filters) in order to save time?

Because there are a number of ways to approximate the use of such color filters when converting to B&W in editing programs like Photoshop without the expense of buying a filter "just to experiment"... unless you are taking a lot of images and don't have time for the post-processing.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/05/2003 04:37:46 PM · #10

Well, I figured that if I purchased a filter such as this, I would shoot in B&W mode just to see how it would look while it's still on the camera's display. But, I suppose if it's not too difficult that Photoshop could be a good alternative as well. Would it be mostly levels, curves and contrast settings that would be adjusted? I'm still having trouble learning to use curves - although I suppose I've never really sat down and gave it a good shot, either.. I understand the principle behind it, but have no actual process as to working with it.. I tend to just kinda slide it around and see what looks better. =\

sonnyh

Canon EOS-7D

12/05/2003 08:56:21 PM · #11

I bought a really cheap promaster 100mm lens that came with the attachment packaged already. I purchased it because I just wanted to try that type of macro lens without laying out a bunch of money. As it turns out the macro part works well and I've used the 100mm lens and that is great too. A happy surprise.
The store owner told me that another good company makes Promaster but I don't remember which one he said.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/05/2003 09:01:46 PM · #12

It really isn't that much work, and shooting in color and converting to B&W offers so many more possibilities.

Check out this article, this article and this tutorial for some insight on how to use the Channel Mixer and other digital darkroom tools to achieve some really nice B&W images.

Message edited by author 2003-12-05 21:08:10.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

12/06/2003 04:28:50 AM · #13

Hmm, okay.. thanks everyone for all of the help and info - i'll have to do some more investigating and check all the filters and links out when I finally get my 717 (was sent a 707, but seller said they'd replace it) and finals are over for me. :)

Message edited by author 2003-12-06 04:29:08.

f-32

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

12/06/2003 05:05:59 AM · #14

PROMASTER is a brand name used by a 'buying group' of camera stores. They buy in volume, use their own brand name, and try to increase their profits through the volume they buy and by having other manufacturers build or label existing products with the Promaster name. Filters and close-up lenses are probably pretty safe. Whatever quality they have is acceptable, by and large. Lenses are another matter. They are generally built by the company with the lowest bid for a product with general specifications. This could be Sigma or Tamron, and could be their first-quality product, or it could be Kiron or any number of other manufacturers, who may not maintain the same quality controls as larger, better-known manufacturers.

The challenge is to hope that you got one of the 'good' ones, not a 'second' or one built in a factory with low quality control standards. I would recommend that if you buy this brand, you immediately test the product in depth for resolution, contrast, distortion, etc. If you like it, enjoy. If not, you might want to return it under the store's warranty plan.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

12/06/2003 04:32:37 PM · #15

:) everytime i come back and look at this thread, i get more and more helpful responses. i think this last one really helps clear up the deal behind Promaster. I'll keep that in mind when I make my purchases (although since I don't have a dSLR, I won't be needing extra lenses anytime soon - but it's good to know) in the future. thanks f-32.

dg02

Nikon D70

12/06/2003 04:52:11 PM · #16

I was at a camera store yesterday looking at filters and I inquired about the Promasters as well. I was told pretty much what f-32 said, they are purchased from other companies and marketed by the camera shops. The person I spoke with DIDN'T mention that they could be re-conditioned. I ended up purchassing a circular polarizer and a UV filter, both Promaster. I will let you know how they work out.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/06/2003 04:55:49 PM · #17

ah, okay.. hope those filters work out well for ya. =)

lykofos

Canon EOS-40D

12/07/2003 12:34:44 AM · #18

Originally posted by brianlh:

Well, I figured that if I purchased a filter such as this, I would shoot in B&W mode just to see how it would look while it's still on the camera's display.

I noticed you have your camera listed as the F717. I don't think this is a possibility with your camera, unless I got a defective model or there's some hidden menu setting. I have a F717, and to my knowledge there is no black and white mode. :( You have to convert to greyscale in photoshop.