Lee or Cokin

Darnun

Darnun

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Darren
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Hi Know this has probably been discussed before but I searched and found nothing exactly like this.

I am looking to invest in some new filters. I currently use a Kood system, which is ok but I know it's a cheap system and the colours I get from my shots are ok.

This was meant to be a questions about what the real difference between Lee and Cokin are but I want to include HiTech, as I am hearing some good reviews about them.

Can anybody tell me if the difference in buying Lee, is way above what I would get with HiTech or Cokin?
Is Lee really worth the money? Is the difference so noticable that you know why you have spent more on them.?

Recently I did a track day and drove a Lambourghini Gallano. Now I could instantly tell the difference between that and my Ford Foucs. LOL
I appreciate it's a different thing but is that the difference in filters.

Any help would be great, as I don't want to spend out on Lee filters, if I find out that I would get just as good results with Cokin or HiTech

Darren
 
i too shall be watching this as im looking for a filter set for my new wa lens
 
I use the lee holder and rings and hitech grad filters, found them a massive improvement on the chepo cokins I was using previously, I would however get the lee big stopper over the hitech nd filter as it does give a colour cast. Mix and match I say, I'm sure the lee filters are better.
 
I havent used hitech so cant comment on them myself, although I've heard they're ok.
I started with cokin but the magenta cast on them was pretty awful to be honest.
I now use lee and they are neutral, i.e. no cast
 
I've had Cokin but thier Graduated filters had a magenta cast.

I now have a mix of HiTech and Lee filters but use a Hitech 100mm holder, I would have used a Lee holder but I inherited a load of Hitech adapters so just bought their holder to suit.
 
Seeing as you have both Lee and Hitech EdBray, can you give me some idea of how you find the difference between them?
 
Hightech are less expensive, still give very good results, Lee are more expensive and difficult to fault.
 
And difficult to get hold of...
 
Yes I am finding that out myself. They currently have issues with meeting demand and therefore the stock is low everywhere but I am struggling to find a good UK supplier who does the whole range.
Thought of looking at the Lee Starter kit but no one seems to do it. :-)
 
That's what I've been waiting for for months. Although I did get a card through the door from Royal Mail saying they've got a box waiting for me, so hoping it is my filters.

FWIW I got mine from Speedgraphic, they seem pretty good.
 
Lee filters ALWAYS have a long restock. It's been mentioned on a lot of different occasions when I've been reading threads on forums, for the last few years. The last thread I viewed (on here I think) was saying it takes around 6 weeks for delivery.
 
It wasn't my filters :(

It was my 5D back from being repaired :)
 
As said above really... Lee are, imho, the best for the money - And yes I know they are not cheap... but compared to Singh Ray, they are!

If you are prepared to wait for stock, then I would not consider anything else. In fact, there are some for sale atm on here... :)
 
How well do the Lee filters keep their resell value? I've been uming and arring about buying a set for a few months now and would love to be able to try a wide range without bankrupting myself in the process!
 
depends entirely on condition, of course, but they hold value very well indeed. I wouldn't call it unreasonable to sell a mint set for 15-20% off retail. after all, if they are mint, who cares about a receipt with nothing to go "wrong" with them? :D

That said, it also depends on the relative demand of the specific filters. Grads hold value very well, whereas coloured filteres for B&W for example, might not be in such high demand, so S/H prices are lower. Worth researching before buying :)
 
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Well a grad set is definitely on the cards. Good to know they don't lose much value off retail. I can't imagine getting rid of graduated filters anyway, I'd just like to experiment with the multi coloured ones.
 
Hi Jonathan,
Current;y I can not get in to the Classifieds on here, as I have reached the 100 posts and months membership just yet. SO they will most likely be gone by the time I get that :-(

I think Lee is definitely the way to go.

One more question: I notice a Lee foundation kit available, which contains a 100mm filter holder and a couple other bits for £55 but when I see the 100mm Lee holder, on it's own it's over £100!!!! Is this right or are they different.?
Is there a holder that I could use with the Lee Filters because I would rather spend my cash on filters over the holder.
 
Go for the Lee holder, I happen to use the Cokin Z pro filters but switched to a Lee holder initially to be able to use their wide angle adapter and found the holder to be better than the Cokin one. As for the filters I have no problems with colour cast with the Cokins and any minor cast is easily corrected with PP and or custom WB. They are a little cheaper than the Lee but I don't know about availlability at the moment.
 
petehb said:
...and any minor cast is easily corrected with PP and or custom WB. They are a little cheaper than the Lee but I don't know about availlability at the moment.
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Sorry to go off track, but a custom WB wont fix this issue if the cast is strong. The cast appears due to the dye that the filters are dipped in (I assume cokins are made in the same way LEEs are) and hence the cast appears much more strongly, if not exclusively, on the area of higher density. A custom WB might well correct the cast in this area, but will then adversely affect the zero density area. Sure the cast can, in most cases be removed in post, but the whole point of filters is to help get the image right, or as right as possible in camera. Granted, you use Z - Pro filters, which I hear are better, but roughly on par with LEE as far as price goes? Hence the OP might as well go LEE imho.

For the purpose of the OP, hitech filters would definitely be the way forward on a budget, or LEEs if funds can be stretched.
 
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Woodsy said:
Sorry to go off track, but a custom WB wont fix this issue if the cast is strong. The cast appears due to the dye that the filters are dipped in (I assume cokins are made in the same way LEEs are) and hence the cast appears much more strongly, if not exclusively, on the area of higher density. A custom WB might well correct the cast in this area, but will then adversely affect the zero density area. Sure the cast can, in most cases be removed in post, but the whole point of filters is to help get the image right, or as right as possible in camera. Granted, you use Z - Pro filters, which I hear are better, but roughly on par with LEE as far as price goes? Hence the OP might as well go LEE imho.

For the purpose of the OP, hitech filters would definitely be the way forward on a budget, or LEEs if funds can be stretched.
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I would refer the honourable gentleman to the text of my post which he kindly quotes specifically the word minor and in respect of PP who does not use PP to some extent even if it be only some sharpening:D Your point re cost is very valid and availlability is probably the same so you takes your chance and take your pick :shrug:

I have long since given up the task of recommending Cokins Z Pro or otherwise since there is so much prejudice against them it is a futile effort:bang: I simply speak as I find in relation to them having actually used them which I wager many who declaim them have not.
 
I have used all three (Cokin, Hitech and Lee).
I still have the Hitech and Lee, but got rid of the Cokin.
In my opinion Lee are the best, but Hitech do a really good job.
Are Lee worth the extra money....I would say yes, but don't disregard Hitech.
Are Lee worth the wait as there is always a huge delay....that I am not so sure, having just received my second Lee filter that was ordered last November!
 
I would be surprised if Cokin Z filters were made differently to their other ranges, and there is plenty of evidence of colour casts with their P range.

Still you pay your money and take your chance.
 
Yeah that's what is worrying me now Peter. The wait. I don't mean to moan but you would think a company as established as Lee would have plenty of machines and staff to push out to meet demand. Especially at their prices.
I could buy Hitech but really want to test Lee and see what differece they make to my shots.
Thanks for the feedback Peter, you've helped me make my mind up a little more. :-)

Oh out of curiosity, what difference does Lee have over Hitech, to make them better. ?
 
The common explanination is quality control which results in rejects and rework of the Lee products with 100% verification. It is still an essentially manual process as opposed to a fully automated one so things take time. Now it is a captive market with a finite although potentially large one so would you invest a great deal of capital in buying and developing an automated process which may not be so simple as it sounds or stick with what you have with a steady income stream knowing full well that it will by and large allways be there. Plenty of businesses have gone bust by expanding beyond what their ultimate marketplace will sustain.

As for Cokins I gather that most of the complaints arose from the the P filters and was down to manufacturing problems which were supposedly corrected in 2009 / 10 so buying second hand could be a lottery. T here have been rumours that Cokin are in recievership or gone bust I don't know so that is lokely to effect availabillity.
 
Test I did a while ago.

The big problem with a colour cast on a graduated filter is that whilst you can remove the cast in PP which is not particularly easy, if you try to remove it with a custom WB you will introduce the opposite cast to the area not being affected by the filter.
 
Niall, That reviews pretty much sums it up for me. The Lee filter gives a huge difference in quality compared to the Hitech and ironically he's using the same WA lens I have :-)
Edward you're so right.
 
Darnun said:
That reviews pretty much sums it up for me. The Lee filter gives a huge difference in quality compared to the Hitech...
Click to expand...

To be fair the review is of the Lee Big Stopper and Hitech 10 stop ND filter, which are somewhat different (or at least more extreme) than normal NDs or grads -- there was a recent thread on these along with details of the reworked Hitech 10 stop.
 
Jamtea said:
How well do the Lee filters keep their resell value? I've been uming and arring about buying a set for a few months now and would love to be able to try a wide range without bankrupting myself in the process!
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Well, I had a watch on a couple of used 2 & 3 stop Lee ND grads over this weekend.
These went for between £95 and £120 each!
 
Well I have taken the plunge and gone with the Lee Digital Starter Kit. Took me a while to find anyone who had them but I got there :-)
 
Where did you find it in stock?

I've been told next week, which is after my trip to the coast :(
 
Darnun said:
Yeah that's what is worrying me now Peter. The wait. I don't mean to moan but you would think a company as established as Lee would have plenty of machines and staff to push out to meet demand. Especially at their prices.
I could buy Hitech but really want to test Lee and see what differece they make to my shots.
Thanks for the feedback Peter, you've helped me make my mind up a little more. :-)

Oh out of curiosity, what difference does Lee have over Hitech, to make them better. ?
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My answer to this might start another debate, namely the subject of flare when shooting directly to the sun. Some will say filters does not affect it and it is the lens that prevents/causes flare, however I have found the Lee filters produce a sharper flare free image, when shooting directly into the sun. With Hitech, I find flare is a bit more likely.
I would say if cost and wait are not an issue, then go for Lee, otherwise go for Hitech, which I am sure you could sell at a later date, should you change over to Lee.
 
Darnun,


Not the best of comparisons, but here a couple, the first with Hitech and the second with Lee –

Hitech

Brixham10_012Devon.jpg


Lee

mearnssnowBowling_092b.jpg
 
Peter, see above. I have decided to go with the Lee stuff.
Should be here Wednesday. I'll let you know the results. :-)
 
They are both gorgeous shots Peter but I have to say there is a clarity with the Lee one that is not apparent on the hitech one.
Saying that, the hitech on eis damn nice too.

I went with Lee because I wanted something that would last me a lifetime. I didn't want to buy hitech and then have to spend more time and money getting Lee later on.
 
Hmmm. Fascinating.

Although the price of the Lee Filters makes me shiver,:eek: got to say there is something quite beautiful about the colour rendition.

Bit of a noob question about grad filters though…
According to the Lee website one should use a hard grad when used with a DSLR and soft only with Large Format but the Formatt website says hard for “longer lenses” and nothing about the format!!!
Er, which then do I use for a crop sensor with a 28mm lens?????:thinking:

Stumps
 
Easy call for me Andy. I stick with Hard, as the soft tend to only give you the actual stops of darkness at the very top, where hard tends to be the whole coloured area and the transition between the colour and the clear is a better transition.
Check out the details via google.
:-)
 
Stumpster said:
Although the price of the Lee Filters makes me shiver,:eek: got to say there is something quite beautiful about the colour rendition.

Bit of a noob question about grad filters though…
According to the Lee website one should use a hard grad when used with a DSLR and soft only with Large Format but the Formatt website says hard for “longer lenses” and nothing about the format!!!
Er, which then do I use for a crop sensor with a 28mm lens?????:thinking:

Stumps
Click to expand...

My understanding (from asking Q's on various forums - I've only just got by first grad and yet to actually use it) is that you select hard or soft dependant on the scene.
Where you have a fairly straight line transition between light and dark (as is usually the case with seascapes) you use a hard grad, where the transition is broken up (Hills, close trees, etc) then you use soft (to prevent a harsh line of exposure differential across and object).

On the price of Lee filters - either buy new (and accept the wait) or gamble and hunt for a reasonably prices s/h example. I had a watch on 4 grads on Ebay over the weekend, they went for between £95 and £120 each - crazy prices.
 
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