Why use filters?

Filters help to create impressive images, either by helping to correct contrast issues in tricky lighting situations, or by adding extra effects to your image. The most popular filters are ND (Neutral Density), which are either solid or graduated (grad), and polarising filters.

ND filters reduce the amount of light entering the lens. This is particularly useful when you need to use a longer shutter speed, to get motion into a scene for example, but where this would result in an overexposed image. A 2 second exposure in bright daylight, would normally result in a completely overexposed image. When using a suitable ND filter, you can have achieve long exposures even in bright light.

ND grads, allow you to balance out the image where the light is stronger in one part of the scene. For example in the images above, the sky is much brighter than the foreground. Even modern cameras with top of the range sensors struggle to balance the contrast between the two areas, resulting either in an over-exposed sky (as above) or an under-exposed foreground. By using an ND grad, you let less light in from part of the picture. In the examples above, the grad was positioned with the ND section covering the sky. This results in a balanced picture. The filter can be used the other way to reduce an over-exposed foreground, for example in a snowy scene. The Lee 100mm and SW150 system both allow the filter holder to be rotated, so you can counter bright light coming from the corner of the scene too. Grads come in soft, where the effect fades gradually and hard, where there is a distinct break in the effect.

Polarising filters help to reduce reflections and also increase colour saturation, particularly blues, but the LEE Landscape polariser is designed to enhance greens too. Polarising filters can reduce glare from reflective surfaces. This effect cannot be replicated in post-production.

Why LEE?

Handmade in a way that meets the company’s exacting quality control in colour and optical flatness, products in the LEE Filters range have become the benchmark by which other systems are judged, and are the indispensable tools of many photographic professionals worldwide. No filter leaves their UK production space without being thoroughly checked by a LEE technician. Anything that could compromise image quality is rejected. This way, you know that with LEE Filters, you won't be compromising the quality of your images.

What do I need to get started with LEE filters?

 

At the core of every system is the filter holder and the lens adaptor ring. Whichever system you choose, you’ll need these to get going. The filter adaptor ring screws into your lens filter thread, and the filter holder attached to the ring.

First you'll need to decide which system is right for you. There are 3 main systems in place, depending on the type of camera and/or lenses you use:

• LEE Seven5 Micro Filter System (75mm filters) - Designed with compact system cameras in mind, these filters are smaller and lighter.
• LEE 100mm System – for DSLR’s and their larger lenses.
• LEE SW150 – Specifically built for the ultra-wide Nikon 14-42mm lens, and now including SW150 Mk II for Sigma 12-24mm, Canon 14mm, Tokina 18-28mm, Samyang 14mm and Nikon 14mm.
• LEE Bug – LEE filters for GoPro action cameras

LEE Seven5 Micro Filter System

Designed with compact system cameras in mind, these filters are smaller and lighter. 

Seven5 adaptor rings come in the following sizes:

37, 37.5, 39, 40, 40.5, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 60, 62, 67, 72mm. They go perfectly with Panasonic Lumix G, Olympus Pen and OM-D, Sony NEX and Alpha Mirrorless, Leica, Fujifilm X, etc. The Sony FE lenses dsigned for the Alpha 7 range are larger and therefore we would recommend the Lee 100mm System.

 

Currently the range of Seven5 filters includes a Polariser, Neutral Density filters, warm-up filters & colour effect filters (special orders) and the Little Stopper (6 stop ND) the Big Stopper (10 stop ND), consisting of both resin and glass filters.

 

There are a range of Seven 5 Kits available, offering savings compared to buying the items separately. These include:

 

• The Seven5 Starter Kit – one filter and filter holder
• Seven5 ND Grad Soft Set – three filters
• Seven5 ND Grad Hard Set – three filters
• Out of Town ND set – three filters
• Seven5 Deluxe Kit – Filter holder, polariser and 4 filters

The Seven5 filter holder features two slots, so you can combine filters quickly and easily. In addition to this, the polarising filter clips onto the front of the holder, where it can be rotated independently.

Don’t forget, that you will always need a Lee seven5 filter holder and Lee Seven5 Adapter ring. You will need an adapter ring for any lens you wish to use with your filters, unless your lens filter threads are the same diameter.

LEE 100mm System

The 100mm system is intended for use with DSLR’s due to the larger lenses.

The filters are longer and the adapter rings come in much larger diameters. The 100mm system is much more adaptable, with the option to add extra filter slots and additonal filter holders, allowing you to rotate filters independently and lens hoods.

100mm system has adaptor rings in the following sizes:

Standard: 49, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82, 86, 93, 95 and 105mm. The standard adaptor is suitable for lens focal lengths of around 24-28mm (in 35mm equivalents) and upwards.

 

For wide-angle lenses we would recommend the wide-angle adaptor. If you have an ultra-wide angle lens, such as the Nikon 14-42mm lens, then have a look at the SW-150 System further down the page.

Wide-angle: 49, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82mm. The wide-angle adaptor rings are designed to sit closer to the front element of your wide-angle lens. This drastically reduces the change of vignetting when using wide angle lenses.

The 100mm System Filter Holder comes assembled with 2 filter slots, but is adaptable to hold a total of 4 filters at once. Once fitted to the adapter ring, the holder can be rotated to any angle, so no matter where you need the effect, you'll be able to create it.

There are various kits available to get you started in the Lee 100mm System. The kits usually save money compared to buying the individual items.

• Digital SLR Starter Kit- Filter holder, Pro Glass 0.6 ND standard, 0.6 ND hard grad (100 x 150mm), Cleaning cloth, Triple pouch
• Foundation Kit - Filter holder, with ability to hold up to 4 filters

There are a huge range of 100mm System filters, including Neutral Density, ND grads, warm-up filters, colours and effect filters, and polarising filters. There are also the Big and Little Stoppers, 6 stop ND and 10 stop ND filters respectively.

There are also a range of filter kits available:

• Sky Set - 3 filters
• Landscape Set - 3 filters
• ND Grad Hard Set - 3 filters
• ND Grad Soft Set- 3 filters

Don’t forget, that you will always need a Lee 100mm System filter holder and adapter ring. You will need an adapter ring for any lens you wish to use with your filters, unless your lens filter threads are the same diameter.

LEE SW-150 & SW-150 Mk II System

The SW150 system was originally designed to fit the ultra-wide Nikon 14-24mm lens.

Recently announced, SW150 Mk II is available to fit Nikon 14-24mm, Samyang 14mm, Sigma 12-24mm, Tokina 16-28mm, Canon 14mm and Nikon 14mm, with more lenses scheduled for future too.

These ultra-wide lenses need a different adaptor due to the shape and size of the front element. The SW150 Mk II fits around the outside of the lens using a special adaptor. This stays on the lens, and the filter holder can then be slotted over the front. This system comes with 2 filter slot as standard, but be aware that due to the nature of wide-angle lenses, using 2 filters can cause vignetting. As with the 100mm System, the filters can be rotated easily.

Until recently, there was a smaller range of ND filters, including grads for the SW-150 system, but LEE have just announced the SW-150 Big Stopper, Little Stopper, Polariser, Solar Stopper and Super Stopper - as well as a range of new SW-150 accessories.

To get started with the SW-150 Mk II system, you will need an SW150 Mk II adaptor for your specific lens and the SW150 Mk II filter holder. This comes with a Light Shield included. The Light Shield helps to prevent unwanted back reflections and creates a light tight seal enabling the use of both the Little and Big Stopper. Photographers who already own the SW150 Mark I can purchase the Lightshield separately and retro fit it to their existing SW150 filter holder.

LEE Bug

Designed especially for GoPro Action Cameras, the Lee Filters Bug consists of a filter holder for Hero 3 or Hero 3+ / Hero 4 cameras, and a selection of filters, including ND and polarising, designed to give your films a professional look and counter tricky lighting situations.

There are 2 kits currently available. Both kits include 2 filters, a filter holder, cleaning cloth and protective pouch. 

The Action Kitcontains a 3-Stop ND Grad, which will add detail to the sky and prevent "whiteout" or "burnout". The filter can be left in place for pretty much all outdoor filming. It also includes The Polariser, which is especially helpful when filming on snow or water. It will reduce glare and increase contrast, saturating colour and adding a "popping" vibrancy to your videos.

The Underwater Kitcontains The Blue Water Filter and The Green Water Filter, designed to counteract colourcasts found in underwater photography. Both filters can be used to a depth of 60 feet.

There are also additional ND filters available, and all components can be bought separately, so you can create a custom kit for your own action videography needs.