p.1 #1 · Quick (and very janky) first test of the LEE Filters ProGlass IRND 3-Stop
Calling this test "cobbled together" would be a massive understatement. It’s incredibly janky, but I was just too curious to wait.
Since my filter holder hasn't arrived yet (it's meant for the LEE Filters 100 system), I had to improvised using my iPhone 14 Pro Max and my hand as the holder. Naturally, the ND filter wasn't perfectly aligned or light-tight, so keep that in mind when looking at the results.
The Proglass IRND is the premium line for the LEE 100 system. They are cinema-grade filters with a certified, photometrically measured uniform optical density (with a tolerance of ±0.03). LEE claims they are "precisely neutral with virtually no colour shift".Of course, that "virtually" is the caveat. It implies that any residual color cast falls within a negligible, declared range. If it does show up, it should be easily fixable with a single balancing node applied uniformly across the entire timeline (speaking in video terms). I'll test this properly once the actual holder arrives.
I had never tried them before because the retail price is pretty steep. However, I stumbled upon a great deal on a UK online store, so I bit the bullet and bought both the 0.9 ND (3 Stop) and the 1.8 ND (6 Stop). For this quick test, I only tried the 3-Stop.
I have to say, despite the makeshift setup, the results are quite impressive.
In the first and third shots, I notice a touch of extra warmth (in the first one, you can even see the laser engraving from the filter in the top right corner, which is extremely professional of me ). In the second shot, I honestly don't see any difference at all.
For many people, these filters are probably overkill, and I definitely wouldn't have bought them at full retail price. But getting them for the price of a B+W Master filter made it a great buy.
A proper test with a real camera will follow soon, featuring both filters tested individually and stacked together for a total of 9 stops.
). In the second shot, I honestly don't see any difference at all.