Lee Filters have been synonymous with landscape photography since the 1980s. Because\u00a0colour transparency film had a very small exposure latitude between the lightest and darkest\u00a0tones it could capture, Lee Filters developed the graduated neutral density filter. This works\u00a0like a set of graduated sunglasses with a dark strip across one end of the filter and clear end\u00a0at the other.<\/p>\n
Photographers such as Joe Cornish, David Noton and Paul Wakefield used these filters to\u00a0control the bright skies in their photographs, allowing them to create balanced images of the\u00a0most beautiful of natural scenes.<\/p>\n
Over 30 years later, Lee Filters have a wide range of different products you can choose from\u00a0and we\u2019ll be writing about how to choose the right system for you and how to use them most\u00a0effectively over the coming posts.\u00a0This article is a quick introduction that will hopefully let you choose the best starter kit for\u00a0your photography system.<\/p>\n
The three main Lee filter systems are<\/p>\n
In order to work out which system is best for you, you need to check which size filter threads\u00a0you have on the front of your lenses (and which lenses you may buy in the future).<\/p>\n
If all of your lens front filter threads are less than 72mm , then you can use the\u00a0Sev5n system. This will give you a much smaller package (and cheaper filters!). Typically\u00a0you\u2019ll use these on micro four thirds cameras or full frame SLRs with small lenses.<\/p>\n
If you have one or more lenses with front filter threads bigger than 72mm but they are all\u00a0105mm or less (which most normal lenses are) then you can use the Lee 100mm system.\u00a0These are the normal filters most people with DSLRs tend to use.<\/p>\n
If you have lenses that don\u2019t have a front filter thread (very wide angle lenses with integrated lens hoods for instance) then the SW150 system that has 150 x 170mm filters will be the solution.\u00a0This system also has adapters to accept lenses with filter threads from 105mm down to 72mm.<\/p>\n