Photography News | Issue 65 | photographynews.co.uk
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First tests
Lee Filters LEE100Filter SystemHolder £83
Specs
Perfection is hard to come by, but the Lee Filters 100mm system folder gets pretty close. It has been around for 25 years, which tells a tale in itself. Perhaps with the influx of filter brands from the Far East, Lee thought it was time to innovate. So based on user feedback, product testing and its manufacturing expertise, we have the LEE100 holder, a precision injection-moulded, rugged holder that is 16% lighter than the original. My kitchen scales had the new holder (two slots, no adapter ring) at 52g and the old adapter (two slots and with the 105mm accessory ring) at 70g. Its curvy design, satin finish and traces of blue give the new holder a stylish, contemporary look. The modified design alsomeans it’s quick and simple to set up the holder to use one, two or three slot filters. No screwdriver or screws needed. All you need is the supplied tool. Importantly for current users, with the new holder all existing 100mm filters will fit. The exception to this is the polariser. Those with an existing 105mm polariser need to buy the 105mm polariser ring for £43. The filter screws into this and then it can be used just like the new polariser. The new Lee polariser sells for £234 and features lightweight, high light transmission glass with a gentle warm tone. Whether you use the new polariser or an old one in a ring, it is best to take the holder off the camera. That’s not to say the polariser can’t be attached with the holder on the lens because it can, thanks to a smooth locking action. But removing it is definitely easier and safer with the holder in the palm of the hand. Several newer filter systems (Benro, H&Y, Kase, Marumi) feature rear-mounted, cog-driven polarisers. Some have executed the concept better than others but Lee has resisted taking this route perhaps because of the impact on existing users as well as for design reasons. Whatever the case, and there are pros and cons for both methods, the front-mounted polariser is tried and tested and in the case of the LEE100 holder, helped by its clever locking action. Withthelockingpinatthreeo’clock, its spring action lifts up to fit the
Prices LEE100 holder £83, LEE100 polariser £234, LEE100 105mm polariser ring £42. Three new kits also available: the LEE100 Landscape Kit at £140, which includes the LEE100 holder and 0.6 ND medium grad; the LEE100 Long Exposure Kit at £229, which includes the LEE100 holder, Big Stopper, Little Stopper and 0.6 ND hard grad; and the LEE100 Deluxe Kit at £540 which comes with the LEE100 holder, LEE100 polariser, Big Stopper, 0.6 ND medium grad, 0.9 ND hard grad, 1.2 ND medium grad, 50ml ClearLEE filter wash and ClearLEE filter cloth What’s in the box Holder, slot removal tool and three pairs of slot holders for one, two or three filters, pouch Dimensions 14.4x12.2x1.4cm (including locking pin and two slots) Weight 70g (two slots attached, no adapter ring) Contact leefilters.com
Top image This shot was taken using the LEE100 polariser to cut-out any glare and saturate the sky. Shot on an 18-55mm lens on a FujifilmX-E3. Image left The LEE100 holder with grad and LEE100 polariser in place. Image above The smooth action locking knob has three posiitons: neutral, half lock and full lock
holder onto the lens mounted adapter ring. Nothing new there and the holder can be freely rotated and removed quickly. But you have options and the locking pin can be rotated to lock the holder in place so there is no chance it can fall off as you relocate. The wider blue nodule at six o’clock fully locks the holder in place; at 12 o’clock the holder is half-locked so it can still be rotated but can’t be detached. The new holder is great to use. I have on occasion managed to knock
the old holder off the lens and that is one situation that will not arise now. Also being able to lock the holder in place is handy during polariser use. I used my two slot holder and polariser on an 18mm wide-angle (on 35mm full-frame) with no vignetting problems. The polariser itself worked perfectly and looking at before and after shots could see no negative impact on image quality, nor did I see any evidence of flare. WC
Verdict
Improving on perfection isn’t easy but you can say that Lee has done a great job with its LEE100 holder and it works really well. I’ve no doubt most loyal Lee users will love it and will upgrade in due course. For the uncommitted wannabe filter user, however, with magnetic frames and rear cog driven polarisers offering viable alternatives, the choice has never been wider, which is great news for photographers everywhere. Pros Compatible with existing Lee 100mm filters, quick to change slots, locking action Cons Not much, polariser is pricey – and the supplied case could be smaller
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