Photography News Issue 57

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

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First tests

H&YQuick ReleaseMagnetic Filter Frames From£38

In the context of filter brands H&Y is a newcomer. Established in 2009, it has built a reputation for offering high- class filter products. Its latest product launch, however, doesn’t feature glass at all and uses your existing filters. H&Y Quick Release Magnetic Filter Frames are compatible with Lee and Formatt-Hitech filter systems; compatible frames for B+W, Cokin and NiSi filters are due out later this year. I tried a set with my 100x100mm and 150x100mm Lee filters. The principle of the system is simple. First, modify your existing filter holder by removing the holder slots of the Lee holder replacing them with magnetic adapter strips – a pack of two costs £15. A small Philips screwdriver and eight tiny screws are supplied in the pack and the job takes a few minutes. A well-lit, clean work surface is advised but the process is simple enough. Fitting the frames needs a little effort. In each Magnetic Frame pack you get the frame’s four sides, a cleaning cloth, a storage wallet, a plastic ‘toothpick’ and some labels – the frame obscures the name of Lee grad filters so the labels have a use. The inner groove of each frame is lined with a strip of double-sided tape so to prime this ready for use you need to remove the backing paper – it’s this that the toothpick is for. This worked fine but a couple of backing strips were more stubborn and for this the screwdriver came in useful. Then, starting with the top strut you push this onto the filter, followed by the two sides (making sure the sides marked by stars are facing the same way) and finally the bottom rib, making sure the locating lugs get pushed fully home. The process is simple but it can be fiddly. Some locating lugs slipped in smoothly, others needed more force. On a couple

Specs

Prices Adapter Strips for Lee 100mm system £15, 100x100mm Magnetic Frame £23, 100x150mm Magnetic Frame £25. Triple pack contains 3x 150x100mm frames and Lee Adapter Strips £80. Formatt-Hitech Adapter Strips £15 H&Y K-series Holder with 95mm circular polariser £229 Compatibility Lee and Formatt-Hitech currently. B+W, Cokin, NiSi and H&Y K-series to come late summer 2018 Contact johnsonsphotopia.co.uk

I found it easier to assemble the top and the two side struts first so I could apply more force before pushing the filter into position and adding the bottom strut to finish the frame. Once done, and it took about 20 minutes to get the adapter strips in place and prepare six filter frames, you’re ready to go. With them in their frames you can stack the filters together which protects their inner surfaces and saves space. I got three of each filter size in one of the supplied pouches, so I had six filters in a very compact form. Attaching filters is fast. Locating

them on the holder is easy and possible evenwith gloves on, although separating stacked filters with gloved hands is trickier. Once on, the filters feel secure. The first filter on can be lightly locked in place with the supplied screw (take care not to lose this) and this helps with security especially if you add extra filters. Adjusting grad filter height proved easy. While the magnetic grip is firm, it’s not so firm that it makes this tricky. As well as grads, I tried Lee’s 100x100mm extreme NDs too. Lee’s NDs have a foam gasket that prevents any light seepage between filter and holder. With the H&Y system the foam gasket still comes into play but there seems to be a marginally wider gap between filter and holder. I tested this by doing four- minute exposures with the camera standing out in direct sun covered in a light-tight changing bag to prevent any light entering the body. I did see signs of flare in this extreme situation. The magnetic frame system in this form doesn’t suit Lee polarizer use. The Lee 105mm polarizer screws onto a circular frame which attaches to the standard Lee holder. That frame is not available once the H&Y adapter frames are in place. If you want to use your framed Lee filters with a polarizer you’ll need H&K’s holder and 95mm polarizer and that combination costs £229. For this test I used my H&Y framed Lee filters successfully in a variety of situations including in strong winds and with cold fingers. I often leave filters in place when I change location, and that is fine with a normal holder because the filters are physically held in place. This is possible with the H&Y frames but with care. That said, they are so quick to take off as a stack and slide into a wallet that is no point in taking the risk of filters dropping off. WC

Attaching filters is fast. Locating them on the holder is easy and possible even with gloves on

Images Lee and Formatt-Hitech filter users can get a speed upgrade with these H&Y quick-release filter frames. B+W, Cokin and NiSi users will have towait a while for theirs.

Verdict

The H&Y frame system is a simple but ingenious concept. I tried the H&Y system with my Lee filters and found it good to use with grads and NDs, but not with the Lee polarizer. The H&Y system is practical, space saving, effective and quick to use. Pros Fast to use, easy to adjust, space saving, filter protection, good prices, gapless between filters Cons Polarizer use an issue, initial frame set-up can be fiddly

Images Modifying the Lee Filters holder with the H&Y Adapter Strip set to accept themagnetic filter frames is easy. Getting the filters into the frames is a littlemore fiddly but not too challenging.

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