DGC1 wrote:
Let us know what you think of the product when you get it.
I certainly will, Doug, and perhaps rather soon, as my order has shipped already. The quality of the circ pol will make or break this item for me, and I'll compare it with a B&W circ pol on the 24-70mm.
I can see why users of split NDs would prefer an approach such as Lee uses. And back in the film days, such filters were important to me. But when digital came along, I found myself rarely bothering with them, finding it easier to take two exposures and mask them together in PP. So last summer, realizing that my split ND gear hadn't seen use in quite some time, I parted company with it. But a polarizer--that's a hard thing for me to live without. Others' mileages will vary, of course.
Wow after all these years they have a filter..I bought this lens when it first came out and loved it but I too sold it because the front element was just so crazy and I didn't use the lens much..
Consider the $300 package price for the hood plus two such HUGE filters and that the 14-24 is unique in all the world. Yes Virginia 21 or 24 mm is not 14mm-with all the FL in between-even if it is a Zeiss.
Sure the lens' objective could be smaller if the F stop was smaller and/or vinetted. I own the 14-24, use it seldom, but would never sell this optical miracle.
The problem with the Lee kit for me was availability. I ordered 2 more filters for it, it sat on back order for two months before I finally just cancelled the order. and they were ~$150 per filter, and ~$400 for the kit (not sure on the exact number as my wife got it for me for christmas) depending on the quality of the CPL I might be interested in this as well.
A quick FYI to those waiting for a review. I received my unit Thursday evening, and my schedule since then has not permitted me to take it outside during daylight hours for testing. Also, I have some mechanical issues with my copy of the product--no idea if this is representative. I just now sent a message to Fotodiox describing these issues and asking them to contact me. In the interest of fairness and accuracy, I'd like to have their input before posting anything substantive. And of course I want to do a few performance tests, not just a mechanical inspection.
One quick finding: Based on shots of a white wall, I see no vignetting at 14mm, either at f/2.8 or f/8.
The price of the filters is a concern - way too cheap for them to be quality multi coated ones. Most likely these are more similar to low end Tiffen filters.
I love how the replacement lens cap costs the same as the CP filter...
If the quality of the filter proves an issue it's back to the lee hood with a 5x5" Schneider square polarizer at several times the price. I see polarizing a scene shot with this lens to be no different than any polarized setup, simply less polarized zone to work with. Fine for things like knocking down reflections on a window or two in architectural scenes or the foreground of a stream, etc.
I shoot of lot of interiors with no skies involved.The main reason for the polarizer is get get rid of reflections,like Daniel Moore mentioned as well.
Even my Helioplan Pola gives me grief with angles wider then 24.
Yes the price of the Fotodiox Pola for that size is a concern,unless we are all getting shafted by B&W or Helioplan.
wil_ret wrote:
I shoot of lot of interiors with no skies involved.The main reason for the polarizer is get get rid of reflections,like Daniel Moore mentioned as well.
Even my Helioplan Pola gives me grief with angles wider then 24.
Yes the price of the Fotodiox Pola for that size is a concern,unless we are all getting shafted by B&W or Helioplan.
B&W polarizers are much better than anything from heliopan. They are not comparible in any way other than scrap metal value for the brass.
