Hitech 10 Stop ND Filter Pro stopper

ianbarber

ianbarber

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As a backup system to my Lee Big Stopper, I have just bought the Hitech Pro Stopper 10 stop filter.

Took it for a test drive yesterday and have posted my findings on my website.

Read about my first experience with the Hitech 10 Stop ND Filter for Long Exposure Photography.
 
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Nice review. The prostop does look like a good contender.

With current silly 2nd hand prices, Im half tempted to sell my bigstopper and get a prostop and pocket the difference!
 
TCR4x4 said:
Nice review. The prostop does look like a good contender.

With current silly 2nd hand prices, Im half tempted to sell my bigstopper and get a prostop and pocket the difference!
Click to expand...

I've had both, I initially bought the Hitech version then I sold it after the cravings became too much and I bought a Lee.
In my tests the Lee actually had more of a blue cast than the Hitech it seems this varies but one thing that is constant is that they both have a colour cast.
After using the Lee on a short break to Skye where I should add it performed great, I came back and sold the Lee for an obscene sum on E-bay, some people really do have too much money.
I have now bought a Hitech as a replacement.
I would highly recommend that anyone craving a Lee as I did gets a Hitech instead you will still have a colour cast like you will with the Lee but at least you have the knowledge that if you accidently break it you do not need a 2nd mortgage to get a replacement.
 
I don't do anything remotely similar to what you do Ian, but that's a really interesting read nonetheless. Also, some really great captures on your flickr stream :)
 
Just got my Pro Stopper this morning from Teamwork (great service by the way). Can't wait to get out and try it.
 
Interesting review Ian.. I'm not sure how to relate the colour shift between the images back to SOOC, auto white balance and the reported colour temperatures.

Is it possible to see both sample images with the white balance set to daylight? (or is this already the case?) - it probably helps to understand why I'm asking if I explain that I shoot film as well as digital.
 
I have changed both images White Balance to Daylight.

Here are the results.

daylight-wb.jpg
 
Thanks Ian..
 
Rocket Blower said:
Thinking about getting the hitech 10 stop, but I'm a bit confused about the holders. I've got a pile of Cokin P's so have all the adapters and holders.

Will this fit in a Cokin p holder do you think?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hitech-10...dapter_Rings&hash=item3a6a9fb887#ht_500wt_689
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No the Cokin will not fit as far as I am aware

You can use the Hitech Holder or the Lee Holder. If yoou are going to use the 10 Stop Hitech Filter you need to ensure you buy the correct one for the holder you are using.

The ND filter for use with a Lee Holder has a 1.5mm foam gasket and a 3.5mm foam gasket for the Hitech Holder

Ian
 
just ordered one of these pro stoppers. To be honest, i don't mind if it takes a quick bit of post processing to fix any colour cast. What swayed me was that it's cheaper than the lee (without the obscene waiting times) and also less fragile apparently. Ordered the lee holder as well.
 
Same as my thread lol
Well my findings are that to get ANYWHERE with the color cast you have to have to set a custom white balance for each scene. Some cameras this is easy, some not so.
I am using my 85mm 3mm gasketed version in a cokin holder with a paper shim to totally seal the filter to the holder. I have also got my hands on a cokin modular hood, as flare is quite an issue, i quite fancy the bellows but are a bit pricey for me at the moment
 
is there any benefit to setting a custom white balance when you can just shoot raw and change it afterwards? Honest question - i've never played around with CWB's and just leave it on auto and shoot raw
 
rampanthamster said:
is there any benefit to setting a custom white balance when you can just shoot raw and change it afterwards? Honest question - i've never played around with CWB's and just leave it on auto and shoot raw
Click to expand...

your camera will get a bit spun out with the cast on auto. And while Using ACR white balance setting post shot is a powerful tool, essentially you are still just making adjustments and pushing colours. Getting it right in camera will give you more breathing space when it comes to the edit and you won't have to push things too hard.
Forget everything other than manual focus, manual aperture, manual shutter speed. If you have a light meter use it, i find that once my camera is set up, focus pulled and Im ready to shoot, having to slide the filter in and out to meter for every exposure can be a pain.
 
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