Cokin NX Series Filter Holder review

Cokin’s NX Series Filter Holder is built to last and has features that should appeal to discerning photographers

Cokin NX Series Filter Holder review
(Image: © Angela Nicholson/Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Cokin has manufactured filters since the 1970s but for most of its history it has been regarded as the choice of amateur rather than professional photographers. The NX Series Filter Holder, however, is designed to appeal to professional and dedicated enthusiast photographers. While it requires the filters to be mounted in frames which are very fiddly to fit, they improve the handling, making the filters easier to use and less likely to get covered in fingerprints. Conveniently, with the correct frames in place, the NX Series Filter Holder can be used with any 2mm-thick 100mm filters as well as Cokin’s excellent Nuances Extreme range.

Pros

  • +

    Low profile and robust build

  • +

    Frames make filters easier to handle

  • +

    Suitable for use with wide-angle lenses

Cons

  • -

    Requires filter frames

  • -

    NX filter frames are very fiddly to fit

  • -

    Tricky to remove the polarizer

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Cokin offers three series of filter holders, the Creative and Evo holders which are available in a range of sizes and the newer NX Series Filter Holder which 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 aluminum frame before they can be used. Cokin makes these frames to fit 100x100mm square filters and rectangular graduated filters. In an odd quirk, Cokin’s graduated 100mm filters are 143.5x100mm whereas most competitors’ filters are 150x100mm. Consequently, Cokin makes two sizes of rectangular filter frame and one square frame, so it’s important to ensure you have the correct size. Cokin sells the frames separately and as part of a kit.

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Angela Nicholson

Angela has been testing camera gear from all the major manufacturers since January 2004 and has been Amateur Photographer’s Technical Editor and Head of Testing for Future Publishing’s photography portfolio (Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-PhotoPractical PhotoshopPhotography Week and Professional Photography magazines, as well as the Digital Camera World and TechRadar websites). She is the founder of SheClicks - a community group that encourages and supports female photographers.