Fotodiox Wonderpana 145 ND and CPL Filter System: Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8
After purchasing my first full frame camera; a Canon 5D Mark II, I was in the market for a new landscape lens that wouldn’t break my budget. My solution was the Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 lens. It is an absolute stunner of a lens with build quality that rivals the 16-35mm f/2.8 L Canon counterpart. The one downfall to the Tokina was its in ability to accept standard filters due to its bulbous front end and built in lens hood. To solve this problem I turned to Fotodiox.
I decided to order their standard Wonderpana 145 ND filter package for the Tokina lens, followed by a CPL filter which was generously given to me to review, and I couldn’t be happier with the product. The overall build quality and craftsmanship is absolutely bulletproof. I’m fairly hard on my gear as I am always out in the field when I shoot. The Wonderpana system has held up in some atrocious conditions that we often see here in the Pacific Northwest, as well as 22 mile backpacking trip through the Enchantments in Washington State. The filter threads can stick at times, but overall I had minimal problems. There is a slight color cast with the ND filters, but it can be easily corrected through post processing. If you’re in the market for a lens specific filter system, the Wonderpana system is your best bet.
Here is a stock image from Fotodiox of the Wonderpana hood setup on the Tokina:
The other really nice thing about this lens filter kit is the professional appearance that it brings to your equipment. I’ve had countless people approach me to ask questions about my setup and lens configuration. It’s a fantastic and functional conversation starter. The hardware is constructed of color coded anodized aluminum which is very sturdy and is custom built for the lens. These are not universal kits; this fact alone makes them worth their weight in gold. Universal filter kits are wonderful but they don’t work well for every lens they are applied to. The Wonderpana system allows the photographer to utilize a wide variety of filters and systems that are designed for the chosen lens in an effort to optimize image quality.
The filters themselves are made up of high quality glass and glass coatings. I have used the 145mm ND 16 and ND 32 filters as well as the 145mm CPL filter. I have also stacked these filters for ultra-long exposures; the CPL accompanies the ND filters quite nicely when stacked.
Here are a few sample images from my recent outings with this filter system:
I couldn’t be happier with this lens filter system and I am very excited to try their square graduated filters and the new Free Arc Wonderpana System that was just released. They also offer a wide variety of filter systems outside of the Wonderpana kits as well as lighting and flash accessories for a variety of needs and uses.
Here’s a link to their site: http://fotodioxpro.com/
