Lee filters - Are they worth it?
Discussion
Evening chaps,
I've decided I could do with some graduated density filters, which will mostly be used with a Canon 7D and a Sigma 10-20mm lens.
Looking at what's available, the Lee filters seem to be highly recommended, but also eyewateringly expensive. Are they worth the cost? Are there any cheaper alternatives worth considering?
Also, with the Lee filters, what would I actually need? I'm getting thoroughly confused by starter kits, foundation kits and God only knows what else!
I've decided I could do with some graduated density filters, which will mostly be used with a Canon 7D and a Sigma 10-20mm lens.
Looking at what's available, the Lee filters seem to be highly recommended, but also eyewateringly expensive. Are they worth the cost? Are there any cheaper alternatives worth considering?
Also, with the Lee filters, what would I actually need? I'm getting thoroughly confused by starter kits, foundation kits and God only knows what else!
You'll need the wide angle adapter for the Sigma lens. Rather than rush the purchase I suggest that you give Robert White a call, they are very helpful.
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/
DavidY said:
You'll need the wide angle adapter for the Sigma lens. Rather than rush the purchase I suggest that you give Robert White a call, they are very helpful.
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/
I rather figured that would be the case, based on my experiences with finding a suitable polariser for it. The website certainly helps make it all a lot clearer though, thanks! http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/
If you can justify the cost, definitely go Lee.
My wife has them and they're excellent. I went for the cheaper option when I upgraded from my Cokin P stuff - Lee holder/adaptors and Hitech 100mm filters. The Hitechs do the job and are much better than the Cokins. I also have a Heliopan CPL, which again is excellent. One of the deciding factors from me, aside from cost, is that Lee filters are glass whilst Hitech are plastic. The fragility worried me slightly, as I can be clumsy!
My wife has them and they're excellent. I went for the cheaper option when I upgraded from my Cokin P stuff - Lee holder/adaptors and Hitech 100mm filters. The Hitechs do the job and are much better than the Cokins. I also have a Heliopan CPL, which again is excellent. One of the deciding factors from me, aside from cost, is that Lee filters are glass whilst Hitech are plastic. The fragility worried me slightly, as I can be clumsy!
JulianHJ said:
If you can justify the cost, definitely go Lee.
My wife has them and they're excellent. I went for the cheaper option when I upgraded from my Cokin P stuff - Lee holder/adaptors and Hitech 100mm filters. The Hitechs do the job and are much better than the Cokins. I also have a Heliopan CPL, which again is excellent. One of the deciding factors from me, aside from cost, is that Lee filters are glass whilst Hitech are plastic. The fragility worried me slightly, as I can be clumsy!
Lee grads are resin not glass, there are some glass ones but I think they're tougher than the plastic, certainly don't scratch as easilyMy wife has them and they're excellent. I went for the cheaper option when I upgraded from my Cokin P stuff - Lee holder/adaptors and Hitech 100mm filters. The Hitechs do the job and are much better than the Cokins. I also have a Heliopan CPL, which again is excellent. One of the deciding factors from me, aside from cost, is that Lee filters are glass whilst Hitech are plastic. The fragility worried me slightly, as I can be clumsy!
JulianHJ said:
If you can justify the cost, definitely go Lee.
My wife has them and they're excellent. I went for the cheaper option when I upgraded from my Cokin P stuff - Lee holder/adaptors and Hitech 100mm filters. The Hitechs do the job and are much better than the Cokins. I also have a Heliopan CPL, which again is excellent. One of the deciding factors from me, aside from cost, is that Lee filters are glass whilst Hitech are plastic. The fragility worried me slightly, as I can be clumsy!
Cheers for that! I hadn't actually registered that they were glass, and with small kids around, I suspect the Hitech ones make a lot more sense for me then.My wife has them and they're excellent. I went for the cheaper option when I upgraded from my Cokin P stuff - Lee holder/adaptors and Hitech 100mm filters. The Hitechs do the job and are much better than the Cokins. I also have a Heliopan CPL, which again is excellent. One of the deciding factors from me, aside from cost, is that Lee filters are glass whilst Hitech are plastic. The fragility worried me slightly, as I can be clumsy!
Kermit power said:
Cheers for that! I hadn't actually registered that they were glass, and with small kids around, I suspect the Hitech ones make a lot more sense for me then.
As Justin quite rightly says, only the pro-glass Lee filters, and the Big Stopper, are glass, the grads are resin. Kermit power said:
Ah, posting overlap!
Do people tend to go for hard or soft grad to start with? Given that very few of the shots I'll take will have a sharply defined horizontal horizon, I'd assume soft makes more sense?
I personally prefer hard edges, even where the horizon isn't sharply defined. I find it easier to bring back odd bits that have been inadvertently filtered than rebuild a sky that has been blown. With soft edged grads I find that only the upper sections have the full filtration effect, and that most skies don't change in brightness like that soviet is easy to blow the bit nearest the horizon. Do people tend to go for hard or soft grad to start with? Given that very few of the shots I'll take will have a sharply defined horizontal horizon, I'd assume soft makes more sense?
That said I sometimes use a lighter soft grad on top of a darker hard grad, depending on scene.
I'd start off with a 3 and 2 stop hard and maybe a 2 stop soft.
Back again!
We've already had the debate about whether Lee filters are better than others, but what about the rest of the kit?
If the Hitech filters can be used in the Lee holders, then presumably Lee filters could also be used in Hitech holders? The latter is a fraction of the cost of the former, so is there any reason for me not to use Lee filters (thus getting the image quality people are talking about) in the much cheaper Hitech holder and lens ring?
We've already had the debate about whether Lee filters are better than others, but what about the rest of the kit?
If the Hitech filters can be used in the Lee holders, then presumably Lee filters could also be used in Hitech holders? The latter is a fraction of the cost of the former, so is there any reason for me not to use Lee filters (thus getting the image quality people are talking about) in the much cheaper Hitech holder and lens ring?
Lee filters are thicker than hitech filters. (2mm vs 4mm or so).
So hitech filters in a standard lee holder are loose. You can get 2mm rails for the lee system
I assume the hitech holder has 2mm rails as standard.
I've been very impressed with the quality of the lee 100mm holder system. I havnt used the hitech one.
The cokin P one(s) are crap.
So hitech filters in a standard lee holder are loose. You can get 2mm rails for the lee system
I assume the hitech holder has 2mm rails as standard.
I've been very impressed with the quality of the lee 100mm holder system. I havnt used the hitech one.
The cokin P one(s) are crap.
Mojocvh said:
Hmm somehow I doubt, at the present time, I'll be shelling out £73 for a 100mm #12 yellow filter.
Crazy prices.
Well indeed they are, but having spent £4k on a camera body and £1,250+ on a lens, I'm not about to chuck cheap plastic in front of it!Crazy prices.
I just spent £1300 on four winter tyres... same thing really. Didn't want to, crazy price, but I'm not about to put cheap crap on an expensive car.
Oh... and then there's the fact that they are tax deductible for some of us. I'd rather spend it on gear than give it to HMRC!
Lastly, I wouldn't buy the #12 yellow filter anyway
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