Hitech Filters, good choice?

Wissel

Wissel

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David
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Firstly, I'm sure this has been asked before but unfortunately search isn't working so I thought I'd ask.

I'm looking to get a filters kit for my CSC. After doing a search online the Hitech 67mm kit looks ideal, but I'd like some opinions on it before ordering.

I shoot mainly landscape and was thinking of purchasing the resin ND kit to get me started, along with the holder and adapters.

I'd also order the Firecrest glass 10 stop and replace the resin grads over time with the Firecrest equivalents.

I see they also sell a 13 and 16 stop filter, but not in 67mm at this time. I've emailed them to see if this is something they plan on releasing as I'd really like both of these.

Are the Hitech filters a good choice? Should I be looking at others? (the Lee Seven5 system is a little expensive for my budget)

Thanks in advance,
David
 
whats the widest lens you will want to use? 67mm maybe a little small for a wide lens.

PS - I used lee filters with my Nikon, and have used hitech with my Olympus to no complaints.
 
Rapscallion said:
whats the widest lens you will want to use? 67mm maybe a little small for a wide lens.

PS - I used lee filters with my Nikon, and have used hitech with my Olympus to no complaints.
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I use a Canon Eos M (M3 is ordered) and have all 4 (lol) of the lenses for it. The largest one is only 55mm so 67mm should be fine, and I'd like to keep everything as compact as it can be.

Nice to hear you like the filters. I think I'll wait until I hear back from Hitech to make sure they will release the 13 &16 stops in 67mm and if so order.

Thanks.
 
Don't make the mistake of just buying a 67mm filter just to fit the lens...you could buy a 77mm filter and use a step up ring. That way if you get a bigger dia lens it will still be useful, also probably reduce the vignette around the edges too. I had used Hitech in the past, but use LEE now and certainly notice the difference. Also the B+W 10 stop is a great filter too.
 
andy main said:
Don't make the mistake of just buying a 67mm filter just to fit the lens...you could buy a 77mm filter and use a step up ring. That way if you get a bigger dia lens it will still be useful, also probably reduce the vignette around the edges too. I had used Hitech in the past, but use LEE now and certainly notice the difference. Also the B+W 10 stop is a great filter too.
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Vignetting is the main thing you need to check - I have had vignetting with a 100mm filter on a 77mm nikon 10-24. (it vignetted from 10 to around 13mm from memory)

I know that previously lee were ahead of Hitech. But in the past couple of years Hitech seemed to have really upped their game.
 
I have Hitech in 85mm form [old Cokin P holder] & Lee in 100mm form [Foundation Kit] & no complaints of either really in the fact they do the job they are supposed to.

Obviously the Lee is a better bit of kit but then that cost me around £180 where the Hitech kit cost me about £30. 28mm on FF & the 85mm Hitech is fine. 17mm on FF & you need the bigger 100mm filters.
 
After doing more research and taking advice I've now ordered a few Hitech Firecrest glass filters.

I've started with a 67mm holder (aluminium which is nice) and the adapter rings to fit my lenses.

Filter wise, I really enjoy long exposure photography, so the 10 stop was a no brainer. After reading about their 13 and 16 stop filters I emailed them to find out if they will release them in the 67mm size and they had a couple already in stock, just not officially available yet. So I've ordered the 16 stop as well (really looking forward to trying this out).

I will be ordering a Firecrest 6/7 stop and a 13 stop as well soon, as I know I'll use these a lot.

Now I'm torn on ND filters and grads.

As I've mentioned, I shoot mainly landscapes. The glass Firecrest filters, whilst good value compared to others, are not cheap at around £40 each. I was thinking about maybe ordering say a 2 and 4 stop ND and grad (4 filters) to see how I get on, but maybe I would be better off buying the resin kit (1,2 and 3 stop ND and grad, 6 filters) for around £40 in total?

I could really do with some advice here. Are the resin filters okay or should I bite the bullet and go straight for the glass filters?

Thanks,
David
 
I've recently moved to the firecrest 67mm system from the hitech resin 85mm. The resin filters I have gave various colour tints and attract dust like a magnet in a tub of iron filings.
I got the 10 stop and 6 stop ND and the 2 and 3 stop soft ND grads in firecrest and there's no discernible cast on auto white balance on jpegs. I haven't had a chance to play with raw files yet(I'm on olympus m4/3 system).
I'm made up with the firecrests and would say get the glass and give the resin a miss personally!
 
I used to own Hitech 67 filters, and they were OK, but since migrating from m4/3 to Fuji X I changed to Lee Seven5, and their holders are a lot better made and easier to use. Especially the polariser. Rumour has it the Stoppers are more neutral, but I can't confirm or deny that yet.
 
Yelkrub said:
I've recently moved to the firecrest 67mm system from the hitech resin 85mm. The resin filters I have gave various colour tints and attract dust like a magnet in a tub of iron filings.
I got the 10 stop and 6 stop ND and the 2 and 3 stop soft ND grads in firecrest and there's no discernible cast on auto white balance on jpegs. I haven't had a chance to play with raw files yet(I'm on olympus m4/3 system).
I'm made up with the firecrests and would say get the glass and give the resin a miss personally!
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Cheers for that Paul, I've ordered a few Firecrest filters and a couple of resin versions to see if I use them before investing in glass versions.

Quick question, I'd quite like to be able to leave the rings on my lenses, I don't suppose you know of a cap that fits the Hitech 67mm rings?
 
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Stephen L said:
I used to own Hitech 67 filters, and they were OK, but since migrating from m4/3 to Fuji X I changed to Lee Seven5, and their holders are a lot better made and easier to use. Especially the polariser. Rumour has it the Stoppers are more neutral, but I can't confirm or deny that yet.
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Cheers Stephen, I did consider the Lee Seven5 range.

When you say the polariser, do you mean the actual Hitech polariser isn't so good or the holder?

I ordered the 77mm circular holder which takes my (existing) 82mm Marumi polariser (with a step down ring) a treat.
 
Wissel said:
Cheers Stephen, I did consider the Lee Seven5 range.

When you say the polariser, do you mean the actual Hitech polariser isn't so good or the holder?
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I think the Hitech polariser filter itself is fine. But it's awkward to screw into the (extra-cost) adaptor. The Lee one simply clips on to the front of the standard filer holder. So it's easy to set the rough rotation before you fit it. Mind you, it's not cheap ...
 
Wissel,
my apologies for not replying to your question, I've not been on for a while.

I unscrew the rings each time as I have a 52 and 58mm adapter and step rings for my other size lenses.
I'm sure you sussed that there's no thread on the rings so any caps would need to be push on fit and these seem to be slim on the ground having had a quick look.
Calumet have some sizes.
Good luck with your search!
I also have the polariser adapter and bought some longer 3mm screws to leave it fitted to the holder all the time.
Just need a 3 stop hard edge grad now☺
 
I have the firecrest & pro stop 10. The new pro stop is nearly as goos as the firecrest. The firecrest is better then the Lee.
My test was done on a color passport chart and checked for colour shift in LR. Lee did appear to retain very slightly better contrast though. All were 10 stop NDs
 
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