Some Lee filters advice

nafan08 · 3rd March 2012, 7:34 PM

Im looking at stepping up to Lee filters, I can only get one filter to start of with. So I need to get the best one to suite my needs. The aim is to get one for landscape and seascape. But im not sure what im better of with 2 or 3 stop.

So the guys that use them all the time what is most commonly used?

Also is there a holder for them?

My largest lens filter size is 77mm, If someone could link me to the ideal setup that would be great, and if there is a cheaper holder that will do the same job and the lee filters that would also be great.

Frozen_Hell · 3rd March 2012, 7:37 PM

The Cokin Z-Pro filters are exactly the same size as the Lee filters, so you could save some money and get the holders etc. from Cokin and the actual filters from Lee.

Personally the holders from Lee are better quality than the Cokin ones I've seen, but if you're looking to save money, do it with the olders and not with the filters IMHO.

nafan08 · 3rd March 2012, 7:42 PM

I agree nothing beats good optics.

Zee · 3rd March 2012, 7:42 PM

3 stop. 2 stop is pretty useless...

Z...

sandwichamwin · 3rd March 2012, 9:03 PM

Might aswell go with the lee holder + 77mm wide angle adapter. I think it ends up being around $100-110 and I can't imagine the Cokin being much cheaper than that.

That will pretty much let you go as wide as you want and it's a really nice solid holder.

For filters buy lee or singh-ray. Both are expensive but very good!

kingbob86 · 3rd March 2012, 9:05 PM

Where's a good place to purchase filters and holders? I'm interested as well.

sandwichamwin · 3rd March 2012, 9:14 PM

Your landscapes are awesome enough, you don't get filters

I've bought all my lee stuff from Mediavision at Gladesville. He's pretty helpful and always happy to chat

TwinII · 3rd March 2012, 9:33 PM

I have some lee filters and I use my 3 stop a lot more than my 2 stop. I have the hard grads, but I think I would prefer to own the soft grads (although I haven't ever used soft grads).

I'd get the UWA 77mm adaptor ring and the filter holder. I am lead to believe the usual adaptor ring may vignette at wider angles. I got my filter holder off ebay (I paid like $140 second hand when there were NONE available in the shops!). I got the UWA 77mm adaptor ring from the store ^catalyst works at (I can't remember its name) for ~$70 (from memory). I also got a Big Stopper for ~$200 at the same time. I got a set of 0.3 0.6 and 0.9 Grads from B&H Photo for like $240 or something like that. This was all about 12 months ago. I think I paid a premium for them but they're great!

nafan08 · 3rd March 2012, 9:51 PM

Thanks ill look at ordering the gear soon.

nafan08 · 3rd March 2012, 9:53 PM

also what size should i be looking at?

TwinII · 3rd March 2012, 9:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nafan08

also what size should i be looking at?

I have 6x4 resin. I don't even know if they come smaller. I think the 6x4 are more flexible to work with.

stergiopilus · 3rd March 2012, 10:57 PM

Having shot a lot of landscapes and seascapes using graduated filters, I would recommend the Lee 0.9 (3 stop) soft graduated nd filter.

I have cokin 1, 2 and 3 stop soft grads (Z-pro) and lee 3 stop soft and hard grads, and for at least 95% of the time that I use the grads, it's the Lee 0.9 3 stop soft grad nd filter. The other 5% of the time is the Lee 0.9 3 stop hard grad nd filter. The soft is the best because most of the time you don't have a dead flat horizon, so it's a more gentle graduation. Even when doing seascapes (which are a flat horizon), you mostly have rocks and other things sticking up which you don't really want to use the hard graduation for (the graduation is more distinct).

The 6x4 size is great because most of the time the graduation isn't needed in the centre of the photo, so it gives you a good amount of room to adjust your graduations (if using rule of thirds etc).

The Cokin Z-pro ND filters have a magenta colour cast to them, whereas the Lee filters are actually Neutral grey (like they should be).

nafan08 · 3rd March 2012, 11:08 PM

thank you for that info i assume this is the one i should get when i can :S http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ensity_ND.html

Deftone2k · 4th March 2012, 1:01 AM

Actually the Cokin is not too bad if you dont stack them heavily (I cant anymore due to breaking one of the slots on my holder).. but yes...

I would definitely get the Soft Grad.

2 stop isnt bad, but 3 stop is good.. you can always adjust your settings for 3 stops.. but when the sun really starts coming up you run out of puff with 2.. (I know its not much but you know :P)

ElBeasto · 4th March 2012, 2:00 AM

I don't live too far from Gladesville, do Mediavision usually have any of the Lee holders or filters in stock or do you have to go in there and order it?

3rd March 2012, 7:34 PM	#1
nafan08 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Adelaide Posts: 294	Some Lee filters advice Im looking at stepping up to Lee filters, I can only get one filter to start of with. So I need to get the best one to suite my needs. The aim is to get one for landscape and seascape. But im not sure what im better of with 2 or 3 stop. So the guys that use them all the time what is most commonly used? Also is there a holder for them? My largest lens filter size is 77mm, If someone could link me to the ideal setup that would be great, and if there is a cheaper holder that will do the same job and the lee filters that would also be great. __________________ http://www.redbubble.com/people/nafan08

3rd March 2012, 7:37 PM	#2
Frozen_Hell Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 2,539	The Cokin Z-Pro filters are exactly the same size as the Lee filters, so you could save some money and get the holders etc. from Cokin and the actual filters from Lee. Personally the holders from Lee are better quality than the Cokin ones I've seen, but if you're looking to save money, do it with the olders and not with the filters IMHO. __________________ Flickr

3rd March 2012, 7:42 PM	#3
nafan08 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Adelaide Posts: 294	I agree nothing beats good optics. __________________ http://www.redbubble.com/people/nafan08

3rd March 2012, 7:42 PM	#4
Zee Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tatabanya, Hungary Posts: 5,585	3 stop. 2 stop is pretty useless... Z... __________________ Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines...

3rd March 2012, 9:03 PM	#5
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,501	Might aswell go with the lee holder + 77mm wide angle adapter. I think it ends up being around $100-110 and I can't imagine the Cokin being much cheaper than that. That will pretty much let you go as wide as you want and it's a really nice solid holder. For filters buy lee or singh-ray. Both are expensive but very good! __________________ flickr

3rd March 2012, 9:05 PM	#6
kingbob86 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toowoomba Posts: 864	Where's a good place to purchase filters and holders? I'm interested as well. __________________ Desktop \| HTPC \| Website \| Facebook \| G+ \| flickr Canon 5D Mark III \| Canon 60D \| Canon EOS 300 \| Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS II \| Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS \| Canon 85mm f/1.8 \| Canon 50mm f/1.8 II \| Canon 35mm f/2 \| Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 \| A bunch of lighting gear

3rd March 2012, 9:14 PM	#7
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,501	Your landscapes are awesome enough, you don't get filters I've bought all my lee stuff from Mediavision at Gladesville. He's pretty helpful and always happy to chat __________________ flickr

3rd March 2012, 9:33 PM	#8
TwinII Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brisbane Posts: 989	I have some lee filters and I use my 3 stop a lot more than my 2 stop. I have the hard grads, but I think I would prefer to own the soft grads (although I haven't ever used soft grads). I'd get the UWA 77mm adaptor ring and the filter holder. I am lead to believe the usual adaptor ring may vignette at wider angles. I got my filter holder off ebay (I paid like $140 second hand when there were NONE available in the shops!). I got the UWA 77mm adaptor ring from the store ^catalyst works at (I can't remember its name) for ~$70 (from memory). I also got a Big Stopper for ~$200 at the same time. I got a set of 0.3 0.6 and 0.9 Grads from B&H Photo for like $240 or something like that. This was all about 12 months ago. I think I paid a premium for them but they're great! __________________ View my photos at MartinCanning.com View Flickr

3rd March 2012, 9:51 PM	#9
nafan08 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Adelaide Posts: 294	Thanks ill look at ordering the gear soon. __________________ http://www.redbubble.com/people/nafan08

3rd March 2012, 9:53 PM	#10
nafan08 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Adelaide Posts: 294	also what size should i be looking at? __________________ http://www.redbubble.com/people/nafan08

3rd March 2012, 10:57 PM	#12
stergiopilus Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 1,957	Having shot a lot of landscapes and seascapes using graduated filters, I would recommend the Lee 0.9 (3 stop) soft graduated nd filter. I have cokin 1, 2 and 3 stop soft grads (Z-pro) and lee 3 stop soft and hard grads, and for at least 95% of the time that I use the grads, it's the Lee 0.9 3 stop soft grad nd filter. The other 5% of the time is the Lee 0.9 3 stop hard grad nd filter. The soft is the best because most of the time you don't have a dead flat horizon, so it's a more gentle graduation. Even when doing seascapes (which are a flat horizon), you mostly have rocks and other things sticking up which you don't really want to use the hard graduation for (the graduation is more distinct). The 6x4 size is great because most of the time the graduation isn't needed in the centre of the photo, so it gives you a good amount of room to adjust your graduations (if using rule of thirds etc). The Cokin Z-pro ND filters have a magenta colour cast to them, whereas the Lee filters are actually Neutral grey (like they should be).

3rd March 2012, 11:08 PM	#13
nafan08 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Adelaide Posts: 294	thank you for that info i assume this is the one i should get when i can :S http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ensity_ND.html __________________ http://www.redbubble.com/people/nafan08

4th March 2012, 1:01 AM	#14
Deftone2k Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: North Strathfield, NSW Posts: 12,695	Actually the Cokin is not too bad if you dont stack them heavily (I cant anymore due to breaking one of the slots on my holder).. but yes... I would definitely get the Soft Grad. 2 stop isnt bad, but 3 stop is good.. you can always adjust your settings for 3 stops.. but when the sun really starts coming up you run out of puff with 2.. (I know its not much but you know :P) __________________ Jack Chauvel Photography Guide to B&W Film Development \| Flickr \| Facebook \| Twitter \| My Travels in Photos 186* Successful Trades

4th March 2012, 2:00 AM	#15
ElBeasto Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,909	I don't live too far from Gladesville, do Mediavision usually have any of the Lee holders or filters in stock or do you have to go in there and order it?