How Cokin Pure Harmonie Filter Caused Panic

Cokin Pure Harmonie Filters (Front)

I should begin by stating the following entry is my own experience, opinions and should be vetted by outside resources prior towards making your own opinions/decisions.  This blog post should be digested as an opinion editorial piece only.

In 2012, I first came across the Cokin Pure Harmonie filter at the PDN Photo Expo, in New York. I was completely blown away, by it's thickness (or lack of thickness); and knowing the quality of the Cokin brand, I was jumping at the bit to get my hands on this filter.

In 2013, I purchased a 77mm, 72mm and two 58mm Cokin Pure Harmonie filters from B&H.  My experience with the Pure Harmonie started turning south the moment I attached the first 58mm filter to my Zeiss 50mm 1.4 Planar lens.  I discovered the Zeiss lens cap wouldn't stay on with the Pure Harmonie filter.  Why?  Simply not enough threads on the filter for the cap to connect with.  The filter was removed; and replaced with the Zeiss' previous B+W filter.

Cokin Pure Harmonie Filters (Back)

@2013 Daniel Russo

The lens caps stayed on better with the 77mm and 72mm filters on my Canon 200mm 2.8L and 24-105mm 4L lenses.  

Last Friday (April 4, 2014), wanting to clean the 24-105mm.  I noticed the glass rotating when I began cleaned the lens with lens tissue and my finger.  My pressure was gentle.  Somehow the Cokin Pure Harmonie's glass dropped.  I was able to clearly hear a tinging when I gently rotated the lens.  I believed the glass was trapped between the filter ring and the front lens area.  I contacted Cokin via their website, asking for assistance.  As the date this entry was written, I've not heard back from them.

My immediate concern was the lens' front element.  Was this piece of glass touching or scratching the lens element?  I didn't know for sure.  I was unable to unscrew the filter.  The tinging had caused much concern.  I went to B&H, seeking a filter wrench.  No luck.  I knew Unique Photo in New Jersey had them.  They were out of stock.  However one of the employees helped me remove the Pure Harmonie filter by snipping the filter's filter ring.  It was done so carefully and patiently.  A number of things could have happened.  What didn't happen was the filter's glass coming in apparent contact with the lens' front element.

I was extraordinarily lucky.

I've removed all of the Cokin Pure Harmonie filters from my lenses.  Please be aware of my issue, if you have these filters.

Update:

This blog entry was written a short while after the Cokin Pure Harmonie Filter failed.  I had wanted to give the folks at Cokin an opportunity to take care of the situation.  They responded to me a week after the incident occurred, on April 4th, 2014.  I was told someone from the American branch of the company would be contacting me.  He did, a short time after Cokin Corporate contacted me.  He was apologetic, but unmoving (in my opinion).  He stated if there was damage brought to my Canon L Series lens, Cokin would not compensate me.

I told him, I removed all of the Cokin Pure Harmonie filters from my lenses.  And I would not want to obtain a replacement (especially because he wanted the failed filter.  And the failed filter was discarded).

Lastolight Ezybox Switch II & Octa Review

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Ezybox II Switch by Lastolight from lastolight.com

While at the PDN PhotoExpo in New York City at the Jacob Javitz Center in October; I feel in love with the Lastolite booth.  Why?  Good question.  The booth was centralized around the Manfrotto booth, as I later found out, they operate under the same flag. But the flash, glitz and glamor of those mighty names wasn't the cause for my affections.  It was the well built products.  Especially the Lastolight flashgun products.  I was introduced to the Ezybox II Switch XL softbox.  This softbox easily and quickly converts from a 46" x 17" softbox into a 46" x 46" softbox with the unzipping of two easily accessible zippers, located at the top and bottom of the unit.

Interior Zipper of the Ezybox II Switch by Lastolight from lastolight.com

Fabric Grid by Lasolight, photo from B&H, bhphoto.com

The Ezybox II Switch is well built.  Everything about the unit felt great in my hands.  It had weight and seemed to have been built for mobile use.  The fact that it works with everything kind of light source was a huge plus.  This means, I can easily purchase a bracket for any sort of strobe system out there, such as Profoto, Dynalite, Elinchrom and Hensel to name a few.  The units had flashgun brackets attached.  The flashgun brackets allowed for the support of two flashguns, with both Canon and Nikon mounts. Lastolite creates a grid for the unit as well.  However when used, I observed one flashgun was powerful enough to light a group of people well.  The Ezybox II Switch comes in a very portable light blue Lastolight bag.  Very easy to carry and light.  It assembles easily.  However I advise you assemble it at home completely to get a full understanding of how large it really is.  Off of one flashgun it provides a nice even and consistent light source.  There is one minor drawback.  Collapsing the softbox may take a couple of tries.  As it is very similar to collapsing a reflector, but not exactly the same.  I had to get my own motor memory skills adjusted.  Honestly I was afraid I may damage it, as I am a pretty strong guy.

Ezybox II Octa Medium by Lastolight from lastolight.com

In addition to the Ezybox II Switch softboxes, they offered two sizes of Octaboxes.  On display they had the Ezybox II Octa Medium and Large.  I was advised the Medium would be the limit for the flashgun configuration.  The Ezybox II Octa Medium is 31.5" in diameter.  Lastolite provides an optional grid for both Octaboxes.  I found the Octabox to be constructed just as well as the Ezybox II Switch.  In my opinion, it's just a bit more sturdy.  I believe its due to the shape of the unit, vs. the quality of the build or any other reason.  Just like the Ezybox II Switch, the Octabox also allows for a multitude of 3rd party brackets.  I would again suggest setting the Octa up to get a feel for it.  It's setup is incredibly easy and it collapses just like a reflector.  It too collapses small and comes with a great carrying bag.

Lastolight Flashgun Bracket from B&H, bhphoto.com

Be advised, the Speedlight brackets also come in a small Lastolight bag.  All in all the packaging for Lastolight is in my opinion unparalleled.

 

In the end, I purchased the following:

  • LL LS2731 EZYBOX II SWITCH show price  x  2
  • LL LS2701  EZYBOX II Speedlight Bracket x 3
  • LL LS2957 Fabric Grid for EZYBOX II Switch  x  2
  • LL LS2720 EZYBOX Octa Medium x 1
  • 1052BAC-3 Manfrotto 9’ air cushioned Stacker stands 3 pack x 1

If your lighting configuration is portable; and you need softboxes, I highly recommend you consider the Lastolight line.  I've not been so happy with lighting equipment since I purchased the Profoto Acute 2 1200's.

Below you'll find links for each softbox at Lastolight's and B&H's site.  Please be advised the imagery used in this posting come from Lastolight.com and BHPhoto.com  They deserve your business.

 

It should have been in my Blog: My Little Leica IIIC

A little bit ago, I wrote an entry into the Viewpoints section of my blog.  At the time, I thought it was best served as an entry there, because it was going to a Opinion piece.  However it developed into a far more sophisticated piece.  I'd like to hear your feedback on it.  Here it is:

My Little Leica IIIC

So a few months ago, while suffering from a severe sprained ankle, I purchased a Leica IIIC camera in very rough shape, from a guy off of Craigslist.  I got a great deal.  He found it in his recently deceased grandfather's attic.  Of course he didn't know anything about it; or if it even worked.  But the price was outstanding and it came with a Leica 50mm F2 screw mount lens.  

The one thing I loved about the Leica photos above other cameras, is the feel they possess.  Even throw away photos has this feel. 

In an effort to make my reentry back into 35mm film photography, I went back to what I knew worked.  Ilford film and unfortunately the great desire to buy a Leica M4. 

Why did I say unfortunately the Leica M4?  Why the M4 over all other Leicas?  I fell in love with the mechanics of the camera.  It was simple.  A brick.  And felt incredibly well in my hand.  This was the time shortly after buying my Canon 5D. So I didn't want to get into another digital camera system and there is of course a substantial amount of capital investment needed for the latest Leica M9 (circa 2010).  But let me tell you something... the Leica M9 is an amazing camera.... But I was stuck on Leica black and white photography.  I've seen color images taken from Leicas.  My friend Cubie (Kew-BEE) is a fantastic photographer.  His color Leica photos look amazing.  Unfortunately I never took any color photos with it.  I just go into the fun of black and white photography.

What I was able to do at the time, was reach out for advice from other photographers as to which 35mm Film Camera would be a good one to reenter the film world, noting I was using a Leica M4.  A woman named Ruth H. contacted me and offered me a Canon AE-1.  I was blown away, and wouldn't have dreamed of choosing anything else.  What she gave me was an entire camera system.  Lenses, filters, the camera of course and even a camera bag.  Cubie lit the black and white fire... Ruth built a rocket ship for me to travel on.  I was able to take some amazing photos with it.  My very first roll produced this amazing photo, of my friend's son.  It was taken in his house while he watched his Pittsburgh Steelers play the Patriots.  

After a few years, I finally got myself a Leica... The Leica IIIC.  But as I said at the beginning of this massive entry, it was in rough shape.  In fact it's currently awaiting repair.  What was wrong with it?  Take a look a the photos to the right.  Click them to see much larger images. The aperture on the lens is hard to turn.  The shutter speed dial doesn't allow you to choose the proper shutter speed.  And God only knows how much more.  The fact is, there's a waiting list for it's repair.  I should get it back in December or January.  I sent it in in August.... Yeah that bad.  But when I get it back, it will be mine.  And the Leica IIIC will be as good as new.  

 

 

 

Catching The Photographer

This photo was taken while my Canon 5D mark II and a Canon 28-300mm F/3.5-6L IS USM lens, while attending a friendly photo walk with the talented Verena Koenig and many others with the MeetUp.com group, NYC Photographers

Click for LARGE image

From The Archives: Jetta

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This is Jetta.  I've known her since she was a young dog.  She played with my dog Marley nearly every day for many many years.  On Sept 11, 2010 Marley died 2 months short of turning 15 years old..  In my dispair I wanted to take one more walk to the dogrun across the street from my apartment.  I had not seen Jetta for some time, but while I was crossing the street, I saw Jetta and her owner, Louis.  My heart wondered... I had not expected to see any of Marley's dog mates.  Seeing her, I watned to make sure I captured her... if not for Louis, then for me.  In honor of my Marley.  I learned that Jetta died 2 weeks later.  She was shy of 13 years old.

Hiding Behind 42nd Street

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Taken during the late winter of 2012-2013, while on my way to photograph near the Brooklyn Bridge, I saw this wonderful combination of color.  I quickly reached into my camera bag, pulled out my Canon 5D mark II afixed with my Canon 100mm 2.8L lens and took just one shot.  I got lucky.  All I needed was one shot.  I love how the Red and Green in the 3 & 4 also reflect the Red and the Green of the woman's coat and the Pillar.  There are so many more subtle loves, I can speak forever about this piece.  It's one of my favorites.