Review: Tian Ya Cokin Wannabe Square Filter - Part 2 @ Great Ocean Road

Went to the Great Ocean Road at Melbourne, Victoria Australia on October 2012 with the Tian Ya Square filter set. The Great Ocean Road is a long scenic drive will many opportunities for great landscape photography and of course, to use the Tian Ya. The Tian Ya was able to its job well. The polarizer is almost indispensable. With a holder that can take in 3 filters, I left the polarizer almost permanently at the holder while I match it with the NDs. It was great when I was able to stack NDs to lower my shutter to capture the waves during the bright days. I can still turn the polarizer with the other filters in the holder, very convenience. But I had to be careful with staking too many filters as I feel it does degrade the picture quality somewhat. Below are some shots of the trip with the Tian Ya.

Review: Tian Ya Cokin Wannabe Square Filter Kit - Part 1

Got the Tian Ya Cokin P compatible square filter kit from Tagotech last week. Got the premium kit which includes the following:

1x ND4 Filter 
1x ND8 Filter 
1x Graduated ND Filter 
1x Graduated Blue Filter 
1x Graduated Orange-Sunset Filter 
1x Circular Polarising Filter CPL 
1x 10pc Filter Box 
1x Filter Holder 
1x Adapter Ring (58mm for my 28-105mm USM lens)

You can check the set here.

Damage --> SGD91+ (incl freight)

It's a lot of stuff for the money I paid. So was pretty happy when it came through the post. The filters are plastic (btw so are Cokin's & Lee's). I don't have Cokin's or Lee's around to compare the quality but Tian Ya's looks decent, even and clean. The filter holder can hold and stack 3 square filters or 2 square filters + 1 CPL. The holder, unlike Cokin's or Lee's are fixed. Good thing is that it's not bulky so fix config is ok for me. It does look cheap but surprisingly holds the filters nice and secure. However, unlike the Cokin and Lee, the holder can't accommodate my lens cap or lens hood (The Cokin or Lee can do either one but can't remember which can do what though)  Below are some sample shots I took this morning. All pictures are not post processed.

In conclusion, although I have not tested it much (especially it's durability), it's a nice value for money package. I'll be bringing it for my Australia trip next month. Let's see how it fare then.

CPL only - ISO200, 63mm f/11 1/15sec

CPL +  Graduated Orange-Sunset Filter - 1/12sec

CPL +  Graduated Blue Filter - 1/20sec

CPL +  Graduated ND Filter - 1/20sec

The Beginnings with my Kodak V35 K5

Back then my aunts and uncles had Yashicas & Minoltas to capture our moments. We will pop in a 35mm Fuji or Kodak film (usually Fuji as it was cheaper), wind it up just enough to maximize every inch of the sensitive roll of plastic and start snapping. Flash was a disposable cube affixed on top of the camera. I think it was good for 4 flashes before you need to change with a fresh one. My adolescent mind then calculated that it must cost a bit to own a camera and take pictures. The film, the disposable flash, film processing fee and printing. Every shot will be money wasted if not properly taken. I remembered after my PSLE, I took my first "understanding photography" book from the library and read it cover to cover. Well, if I can't have a camera, at least I can understand and appreciate it. Who knows? I may get a camera soon. I want to be ready. It was not until 2 years later that my Dad got me my first. A mean looking Kodak VR35 K5 with "cutting edge" technologies. The Kodak got built-in pop up flash, motorize winder and automatic rewinder! And choosing from bright light to low light was by turning the ISO ring from 100, 200 or 400 at the front. And what's more, it was a Kodak, the father of photography. How cool!

My Kodak VR35 K5 in 2012. still working including the flash. Now proudly owned by my 12yr old daughter. "Who needs Lomo  when I can have a real Kodak", she once said .