Lee Filter Recommendation

[Scott™]

Hey guys.

At present I use Cokin filters. Now specialising in Landscapes, I think it's time to upgrade to Lee filters.

What set up would people recommend? All I have at the moment is a hard grad and Tobacco filter as I sat on my soft grad lol. I'm defo in the market for a 10 stop.

Where is the best/cheapest place to get them?

Scott.

 

[Martin!]

Good luck on the 10 stopper from Lee, huuuuuge waiting list, they simply cannot cope with the demand.

Last I heard, although a while ago, Teamwork had Lee filters and systems in stock...

http://teamworkphoto.com/shop/index...Path=1047_78&zenid=4jcjen6rj2l8ephj060ljaac75

I'm contemplating moving from my Hitech filters to the Lee system, but also considering the Hitech 100mm filters rather than my current 85's.

 

[Scott™]

Thanks Martin just ordered the 10 stopper.

Would you recommend Hi-tech?

 

[Scott™]

Just to let people know they are £105 on that site above. They go for more than £200 on ebay.

 

[SamP]

I'll give you My 10c's. Get the foundation kit and the 105mm CPL kit. Get a hitech 10 stopper along with the hard grad kit if you're using a crop camera, soft grad kit if you're using FF. All in all it'll come to about 500 quid but it WILL last you a lifetime.

 

[Scott™]

Sam do Lee/Hi tech filters fit within the same holders?

 

[SamP]

You have to specify when ordering, the thickness is different. But its just a case of the HiTech using a thicker foam gasket to make up the difference.

 

[Martin!]

Thanks Martin just ordered the 10 stopper.

Would you recommend Hi-tech?

I love my Hitechs tbh, for the money you can't go wrong for the 85 kit, and the 100 kit comes highly recommended from a lot of great landscape/seascape photgraphers I know.

Was it the Lee Big Stopper you ordered? In stock from Teamwork?

I'll give you My 10c's. Get the foundation kit and the 105mm CPL kit. Get a hitech 10 stopper along with the hard grad kit if you're using a crop camera, soft grad kit if you're using FF. All in all it'll come to about 500 quid but it WILL last you a lifetime.

Not too sure why you'd get the hard edge for full frame and soft edge for crop.....

Soft edge you want for landscape where the horizon isn't flat, for example for me, the Lake District, so you don't get an "edge" so to speak, across the hills.

Hard edge are great for seascape where the horizon is flat so you get a defined edge along the horizon.

 

[Scott™]

I got this one Martin.

http://teamworkphoto.com/shop/index..._info&cPath=1047_78_769_300&products_id=14764

Now what holder do I get? It will be going on a Sigma 10-20 mainly. I also need to look at that 100 kit?

 

[SamP]

Not too sure why you'd get the hard edge for full frame and soft edge for crop.....

Soft edge you want for landscape where the horizon isn't flat, for example for me, the Lake District, so you don't get an "edge" so to speak, across the hills.

Hard edge are great for seascape where the horizon is flat so you get a defined edge along the horizon.

Hard grads will appear more like soft grads on a crop due to the pixel density, if you use a soft grad on a 8x10/4x5 its practically invisible, where as a hard grad appears to work more like a soft. Ideally you want both, but both is pricey. I just generalised.

 

[Martin!]

I got this one Martin.

http://teamworkphoto.com/shop/index..._info&cPath=1047_78_769_300&products_id=14764

Now what holder do I get? It will be going on a Sigma 10-20 mainly. I also need to look at that 100 kit?

Don't quote me on this, as i'm not 100% certain on the Lee system, but I believe this is what you need....

http://teamworkphoto.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1047_78_257&products_id=10683

Please check first though mate.

You'll also need a 77mm adapter ring for the 10-20, but I assume you'll already have that if you use filters already.

 

[SamP]

Don't quote me on this, as i'm not 100% certain on the Lee system, but I believe this is what you need....

http://teamworkphoto.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1047_78_257&products_id=10683

Please check first though mate.

You'll also need a 77mm adapter ring for the 10-20, but I assume you'll already have that if you use filters already.

You'll need the wide angle adapter ring else you'll end up with darker corners, but apart from that you're spot on.

 

[Martin!]

Hard grads will appear more like soft grads on a crop due to the pixel density, if you use a soft grad on a 8x10/4x5 its practically invisible, where as a hard grad appears to work more like a soft. Ideally you want both, but both is pricey. I just generalised.

You learn something new every day. I have both soft and hard edge grads, as I do like to get over to the coast every now and then too.

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Good to hear you're upgrading your gear

Used my Big Stopper earlier today, I'll post up the results later when I'm happy with the edits.

Off out again soon to catch the sunset when I can think of a decent location!

 

[SamP]

You learn something new every day. I have both soft and hard edge grads, as I do like to get over to the coast every now and then too.

My bad, its not due to pixel density, its due to sensor size. Its all about the gradient based upon sensor size though. Im sure you get the idea.

 

[Scott™]

What Lee holder would hold these as well as my 10 stop?

http://teamworkphoto.com/shop/index..._info&cPath=1047_78_768_271&products_id=14541

 

[SamP]

The lee foundation kit holder has 2 slots, you can upgrade it to 3 as well. It'll probably vignette hard though past 2 filters at 10mm.


//edit - Also, I'd look at getting 150mm length grads instead of 125mm ones. Gives you a bit of extra wiggle room if you want to set the filter at either the top or bottom of the frame.

 

[Martin!]

I've just been out tonight for sunset....maybe it's because i've had 6 hours sleep in 3 days, but I couldn't nail the filter shots at all. Then to top it off, i've left my wallet of filters down where I was, only noticed when I got home! I bet they'll be away tomorrow with the high tide tonight

 

[Tigger]

Looking at filters too - what you reccomend to start off with?

I'll be using a Nikon crop body & Sigma 10-20mm too for most landscape shots.

I would like to try and get some nice sunset shots in Malta next week

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Get either a 0.6 or 0.9 Hard grad ND. You could get a soft grad, but I think hard is better for sunsets, of course it depends on the landscape too.

Get the UWA adapter, if you're using it on a wideangle.

 

[Brazo]

Having shot at a beach last week, a soft grad was great as it also toned down the exposure in the rock pool I was using as middle/foreground interest.

SamP do you have a link to this hard/soft - fullframe/crop stuff as I have never heard of it said in that context.

 

[Tigger]

No need for the 0.3 ND grad filters or even the full ND's to begin with then?

I had this in my mind so correct me if I'm wrong;

Foundation kit
77mm Wide adapter ring
Lee Soft ND grad set 150mm
Hitech Big stopper

Plans are to get a better attempt at these kind of shots, taken last year in Malta with the 10-20mm and 2 screw-fit ND filters

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

That photo is very underexposed, whoever took that! Not the best use of filters at all.

0.3 won't be enough in my opinion. 0.6 is good, if it's a strong sunset (if you get what I mean), then 0.9 is best.

Also, in that shot about for example, I would use a hard grad at the horizon, then take a shot without it (at the same exposure). Then mask out the rocks with the bright exposure, so effectively the filter isn't making that bit darker in the photo. (is that clear lol!?)

 

[Scott™]

Looking at filters too - what you reccomend to start off with?

I'll be using a Nikon crop body & Sigma 10-20mm too for most landscape shots.

I would like to try and get some nice sunset shots in Malta next week

Get either a 0.6 or 0.9 Hard grad ND. You could get a soft grad, but I think hard is better for sunsets, of course it depends on the landscape too.

Get the UWA adapter, if you're using it on a wideangle.

So I ended up with a 77mm Adapter ring, and Lee holder. Then Hi Tech filters. 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 hard grads and full filters.

My Filter set up by scott.thomas21, on Flickr

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Nice! When are you trying them out?

 

[Scott™]

I went last night but got to my location late so I may delete those pictures. You missed an epic lot of sunsets in Pembrokeshire Dan

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

I bet! Sods law when I go they'll be crap.

 

[Tigger]

Wow Scott, thats a pockets-worth - or 2! nice collection!

Dan, I know what you mean it was far worse than that before my pitiful attempt in PP

I had it darker than that (shot at f22 I think) with a ND8 & ND4 filter screwed in to get the sun "beams" so this style of shooting is all pretty much new to me

 

[SamP]

Having shot at a beach last week, a soft grad was great as it also toned down the exposure in the rock pool I was using as middle/foreground interest.

SamP do you have a link to this hard/soft - fullframe/crop stuff as I have never heard of it said in that context.

I'll try and do a practical demo of it soon. Basically its relative graduation compared to sensor size in relation to the photo. Its not a huge difference, but if you compare M4/3rd's to Medium Format you'll notice a drastic difference.

 

[Tigger]

I had a go at my sunset that I was rambling about above with a Hitech 10 stopper - didn't come out how I would of liked but not as bad as I thought my first attempt would have been

On the camera - everything is Blue! I assume that is normal until I tweak the WB in photoshop? - otherwise it's back to the research - ie hours of trial & error

 

[SamP]

Yeah the HiTech one does give a pretty strong blue cast. I want the Lee so I can shot 10 stop work on film, as with the HiTech you end up with mad colours.

 

[Scott™]

My Lee gives off a blue colour cast.

 

[Brazo]

My b&w 10 stoppers, whilst expensive and screw in give no colour casts whatsoever.