I plan on getting a Lee Filter Holder (not sure if the SWA or standard one; depends on what works & what doesn't)

my Q is: can I attach a 77mm or 82mm circular filter on the front of the holder?? Is there some sort of attachment accessory for the holder that will make me be able to do this?

My plan is to get a SinghRay VariND or generic HK Fader ND (I think the biggest size is 82mm; so could be a prob with the Lee holder?). And, use the Lee holder primarily for GND's

The adapter ring that threads onto your lens has threads to attach a filter. Just be aware that it will stick out a bit, and you will have to use your grad filter further away from the lens. It would definitely be a limitation when using the setup at full wide angle.

The only way to use a threaded filter on the Lee holder is by attaching the front adapter ring which is threaded for 105mm filters. VERY expensive. The Lee holder only comes in 1 size, it`s the lens adapter ring which determines whether it`s for wide-angle use. The other way is to use screw on filters on the lens, then a Lee adapter and then the holder, this can be quite fiddly with Vari-ND and polarisers which require the filter to rotate within it`s own mount. You could use a step-down ring on the Lee 105mm ring but this would probably cause vignetting. Best to keep the Vari-ND set-up separate from any other filters.

Hmm.the biggest size for Vari-ND's is an 82mm. Do you think if I use a 105>82 step down with a lee-holder (using only 2 filter slots) on a lens with a 77mm front thread that it will still vignette? (my largest front/widest lens is a 24L = 77mm front. My other lenses us 72mm: 45tse & 135L)

I'd really like to keep the filter setup in one nice package. Also, have the ability to use GND & Vari-ND at the same time.

I`m pretty sure vignetting would occur by stepping down to 82mm on a 24mm lens(unless on dx). Could be wrong. I also doubt very much if such a step- down ring is even made. The alternative might be to use a screw-in Vari-nd straight on to the lens and hand-hold the grad, but the Vari-nd may make the viewfinder so dark that you won`t be able to see the transition. I`ve run out of brains on this one, perhaps you could try posting on the Landscape forum, there may be someone there who has tried this.

If your need is to add overall neutral densitiy to your setup, you should probably consider a solid ND filter in a square size, and put it in to one of the slots in the Lee holder. Since it is 4 inches square, it is less of a problem with vignetting than an 82 or 77 circular. You don't have adjustability, but you can quickly change between several solid ND filters to match the needs of the shot. The Lee holder is set up for holding up to three filters. If you start with a Lee wide angle adapter ring on the lens, you should be able to use two or even all three of the slots on a fairly wide lens without running into vignette issues.

^^ true, prolly the easiest solution to a holder; maybe get a solid 1, 2, 3 stop ND and use them in comination w each other depending on sitch. But, the ease of the Vari-ND is really attractive, especially when using with 5d2 video; where I like to just fix the Ss at 1/50th or 1/60th for the right blur, set Ap, and just fiddle with the iso and the VariND precisely without messing with the Ap/Ss.

What about the Cokin Z-Pro holders Are they better or worse quality than the Lee holder? From pics, it still looks as if the Lee holder is better quality w/ all it's know, etc.

But also, the Cokin Z-Pro comes in a nifty mattebox set-up http://www.adorama.com/CKMBZ.html... And I do believe this is the only mattebox in existence that allows the user to use "still-photography" GNDs, where you can slide the long-way up & down vertically and align the GND to the horizon. All the other Matteboxes I have seen only allow 4x4 with rotation, if not long ways (4x5.xx) with inability to slide up&down.

Check out the Lee system in full. The quality of the hardware is very good, and I especially like the way you can add or remove filter slots from their system with a simple rebuild of the filter holder stacks. The system offers a way to add a mattebox like hood with filter slots aligned to the hood. They also offer a way to combine two filter holders, so you could add additional slots that could be aligned at a different angle, and it all can still be independently rotated from the camera alignment. I am not sure if any of their hoods would meet your needs, or how easily you could add true mattes to the front of the hood. I have the wide angle hood with filter holder, and it is well made, adjusts well, and stays put, even though there design does not have an external support rail.

Thanks, RolandW, you`ve saved me having to type out much the same thing. Yes, go Lee, the Cokin holder is a bit clunky.

I've been wondering about the same thing for the past couple of days and did some research and found the same thing... outside accessory ring that's 105mm ($$$$). In my case, it was w/ the Lee Foundation system and an SR polarizer that I wanted. However, they do not go up to 105mm. I also considered placing the Lee system on top of the circular polarizer, but one of articles that I read stated that the polarizer should be outside of other filters such as the NDs. Does anyone know why this is the case? I tried to find the article again but couldn't. But the article hinted at it was more than an easy of use issue, but rather something scientific.

hmmm...iirc..isnt there inner threads on the Lee lens adapters itself (i could be wrong) ..if this is the case, couldn't one just mount a circular-filter inside the adapter, then mount the holder atop/on the adapter (of course with shims or extra slots, as the circular-filter would prolly take up space of the slots closest to the lens itself). make sense?

ie: Lens>Lee lens adapter>(mount/screw or circ filter inside/on adapter)>Lee holder on adapter with extra shims/or slots.

Would this work

A way to adjust your Vari ND is very important, just as it would be if you were wanting a standard polarizer mounted, so make sure you keep that in mind. That is as you guessed the most likely reason that having the Vari ND or polarizer on the front was recomended. There should not be an optical reason for one way or the other, but vignette issues will always be important. Obviously from a size point of view, it is much easier to get a good polarizer or Vari ND in a normal size than to find one in 105mm or bigger.

If threads are indeed included on some Lee filter adapter rings, that may work out. The Lee holder goes on and off fairly easily and quickly, and with a tilting action that would allow a filter to be pre attached in front of the adapter ring. So you could perhaps just take the holder off to adjust the filter underneath. There are two types of Lee adapter rings, the Wide Angle ones, and the normal ones. The way I remember the Wide Angle ones, they do not have threads, but I will check out both types tonight and post what I find. Even if threads are not there, you may be able to add some threads using a step up ring that has been modified, and then attached to the front of the adapter ring. It may also be possible to "reach in" the gap on the two edges of the filter holder that would be needed to allow the graduated ND to clear it, and adjust the Vari ND or polarizer with your finger. But that gap is also going to be a source of light from the rear getting in behind your graduated ND, and possibly causing reflection problems.

Well, you learn something every day. While looking for more information about Lee filters, I found something on their FAQ that supprised me:

" ... that polyester filters, if used in the holder in front of polarizers, will stop the polarizer working correctly."

So my statement in a post above that there should be no optical issue with putting a grad ND in front of a Vari ND is likely wrong. Lee states that you should not put a polyester filter in front of a polarizer, and Vari ND filters use two polarizers in them, so I would not risk it. So I will not look into mounting filters behind the Lee filter slots, because it is not a good idea. All or nearly all Grad ND's are made with polyester, so a polarizer needs to go in front of it if you want to use them together. And Vari ND filters seem to only be made up to 82mm, so you can not put one of those in front of a 100mm wide Lee filter and expect much success with anything much wider than a normal lens.

Roland W wrote:
Well, you learn something every day. While looking for more information about Lee filters, I found something on their FAQ that supprised me:

" ... that polyester filters, if used in the holder in front of polarizers, will stop the polarizer working correctly."

So my statement in a post above that there should be no optical issue with putting a grad ND in front of a Vari ND is likely wrong. Lee states that you should not put a polyester filter in front of a polarizer, and Vari ND filters use two polarizers in them, so I would not risk it. So I will not look into mounting filters behind the Lee filter slots, because it is not a good idea. All or nearly all Grad ND's are made with polyester, so a polarizer needs to go in front of it if you want to use them together. And Vari ND filters seem to only be made up to 82mm, so you can not put one of those in front of a 100mm wide Lee filter and expect much success with anything much wider than a normal lens.


That may be so for polyester, but grads are made from C39 optical resin so they can be used in front of a polariser. I use the Cokin Z-Pro and in this system the polariser is the first filter that goes onto the holder

As for the Lee lens adapter rings having threads for screw-in filters I`m pretty sure they don`t .

Lee make an accessory threaded 105 mm. filter holder that attaches on the front of their foundation filter holder in place of the end pieces... their # FP105.

Yes 105 mm. filters are expensive, but a "Vari-ND" can be made by combining a linear polarizer in front of a circular polarizer for less than the commercialized and agreeably more elegantly-mounted "Vari-ND".

As the threaded adapter mounts in front of the other slot(s) there may be some vignetting on the widest lenses, but 105 is better than 82.

A quick Google search under "variable neutral density" will bring up a number of articles on how to make your own set in any size, which may be a solution for those willing to experiment.

A built up home made Vari-ND will be twice as thick as far as vignetting, and you need two fairly expensive polarizers. And reports are that they are not too uniform at high density, because they were not planned for that use. A set of good solid ND square filters will cost much less, and they don't take that long to "adjust". And you all ready have the Lee holder avaiable to put them in.

Thought you may be interested. I received a $109 77mm Fader Varible ND filter this week. It may be a defective one, but the IQ is very poor. I compared it to a .3 & a stacked .3+.6 Tiffen ND combo on my 100-400L. It was not a focus problem. Purely IQ. I wrote to the Ebay seller to see what he said. I don't see anything on the web that is negative on the Fader, I'm just saying be warned & stay tuned.

John

John~ any update on your fader experience?
Was it basically a linear PL in front of a CPL?