what the best "little stopper" (6 Stop)

Sootchucker

Sootchucker

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HI all. very quick question. I already have a Lee big stopper which i use quite successfully on a number of my cameras, in the classic 100mm size, but I'm now looking for something a bit less than 10 stops (around 5-6 stops), and so was naturally looking at the Lee Little Stopper.

The only thing that's stopping me, is that whilst the Lee filters are good, the Big Stopper at least, introduces a big blue cast to images, which whilst correctable in post, I'd prefer if it wasn't there to start with. As there are a few companies now competing with Lee, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Little Stopper, the Formatt Hitech Firecrest ND's and the new to the game NISI system.

Obviously all the filters have to fit in the Lee 100mm holder, but just wondering which was the best from a neutral colour and value for money perspective ?
 
The hi tech range is catching up but lee are still better!
 
Mark twiglet said:
The hi tech range is catching up but lee are still better!
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I'm not having a go, I'm genuinely interested; do you have any scientific evidence to back that statement up? E.g. a link to some objective tests?
 
The Hi-tech Firecrest ND filters are superb, that's what I would go for. Virtually zero cast on my 10 stopper.
 
I use the Nisi system and am happy with it, I had a Lee 10 stopper and I tried it against a Nisi 10 stopper and found the colour cast much less in the Nisi option, I cant comment on any other comparisons though as Ive not done any.

What camera/lens are you using it on?
 
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Progrey, expensive but from what I've seen worth it, and the only real competition for Lee. I'll be investing in a set in the new year.
 
Thanks guys. Will the Firecrest 2mm ND filter fit into the Lee holder (I'm not sure what thickness Lee filters are) ?

Are Formatt Hitech themselves the cheapest place to buy from ? I see they have a Firecrest 1.8 (6 Stops) for £130.76+ VAT which equal a mind boggling £161.91 + delivery... gulp :eek: - for one 100mm filter !
The Lee one is currently only £99.00 inc VAT from Robert White. Is the Firecrest really worth the extra ?
 
Sootchucker said:
Thanks guys. Will the Firecrest 2mm ND filter fit into the Lee holder (I'm not sure what thickness Lee filters are) ?

Are Formatt Hitech themselves the cheapest place to buy from ? I see they have a Firecrest 1.8 (6 Stops) for £130.76+ VAT which equal a mind boggling £161.91 + delivery... gulp :eek: - for one 100mm filter !
The Lee one is currently only £99.00 inc VAT from Robert White. Is the Firecrest really worth the extra ?
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Yes it will fit the Lee holder.
Amazon are probably the cheapest
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Formatt-Hitech-100x100mm-Firecrest-Neutral-Density/dp/B00OHMLNO4
 
Tbh the cast really doesn't bother me with Lee. I have both the big and little and it takes less than a minute to correct the CC
 
Cokin Nuances are very good
The review I read in Amateur photographer showed the 10 stop they tested had less colour cast than a Lee 10 stop.
 
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kellett said:
Tbh the cast really doesn't bother me with Lee. I have both the big and little and it takes less than a minute to correct the CC
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Maybe, but if you were buying now, would you go for the inferior product???
 
markyboy.1967 said:
Another vote for Progrey, fantastic quality with no colour cast. I wouldnt touch a Lee ND again( i do use Lee ND Grads though).
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I think you're pretty much stuck with Lee as Firecrests only come in soft edge, and the other Hitech ones are rubbish.

The Firecrests are a bit stiff in the Lee holder, especially in the cold, and it's a bit of a pain having to fit the gasket yourself.
 
A cast isn't much of a problem as long as it is easily corrected, some are some aren't (I believe Lee are).

Still, it's nice not to have a cast at all.
 
Sorry, another quick question. Does the Formatt Hitech Firecrest 100mm ND1.8 (6 Stop) filter come with the foam gasket like the Lee ones do ?
 
Sootchucker said:
Sorry, another quick question. Does the Formatt Hitech Firecrest 100mm ND1.8 (6 Stop) filter come with the foam gasket like the Lee ones do ?
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Yes they do, though they are not fitted to the filter. They are self adhesive and need to be stuck on yourself. At 6 stops its right on the border between being needed or not anyway, some dont bother.
 
Thanks - Hitech Firecrest ordered.

Another general question if I may. Since getting my Olympus 12-100 F4 Pro lens (which is simply stunning BTW and easily as sharp if not more so than my 12-40 Pro), with it having a 72mm filter ring, its at the maximum size for my Lee Seven5 system.

I've tried it with my Seven5 little and big stoppers, and it appears they might be a little too small at 12mm, as I can see the edges of the felt gasket on the stoppers in the corners of the images no matter where and how carefully I position them.

This got me thinking that I have two filter setups at the moment (bear with me).

The Lee 100mm System
• Lee Filter holder • Lee 100mm 0.9 ND Grad Hard • Lee 100mm 0.6 ND Grad Soft • Lee Big Stopper • Hitech Firecrest 1.8 ND • Lee 105mm Landscape polariser

Lee Seven5 System
• Lee Filter Holder • Seven5 0.9 ND Grad Hard• Seven5 0.9 ND Grad Soft • Seven5 0.6 ND Grad Soft • Seven5 Little Stopper • Seven5 Big Stopper

For Christmas my wife has bought me the NISI V5 100mm holder system with special adapter for my Olympus 7-14mm F2.8 Pro from Phil Norton Photography.which comes with another Polariser

I'm looking to consolidate into one system for both my Mirrorless (Olympus & Panasonic) systems, as well as my Nikon D500 APS-C system. Whilst I know that for the majority of lenses the Seven5 works well on M4/3, it's not so good on my Nikon system which vignettes on my 16-80 F2.8-4 up to around 18mm, and can't be used on my Sigma 10-20 due to it's 77mm filter thread.

Due to having more on the 100mm side (especially with the NISI coming and the added polarisers which I don;'t have for the Seven5 system), I'm leaning heavily towards the 100mm system (which would also serve well if i ever decided to get back into full frame), but I'm not sure if the larger ND grads work well enough with the smaller sensor on the micro four thirds. I've had a look side my side and the graduation portion on both the Seven5 and 100mm filters looks very similar to the eye, but I'm wondering if the 100m Hard grads woudl work more like a soft grad in the Seven5 series and if the 100mm Soft grads will be too soft with too great a graduation on M4/3.

I am obviously missing a 0.6Hard grad from my 100mm system that I do have on the Seven5, so I might have to purchase one of them ?

I could of course keep both system but it does seem overkill. Anyone any thoughts or suggestions please ?
 
Steve B said:
Maybe, but if you were buying now, would you go for the inferior product???
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Just had a look throught the Lee vs Fire Link and it is quite amazing the difference. so yes if I was starting again or replacing a damaged ND id probably look at the firecrest, as long as what people have said is true and the lee filter system would take the hitech ND'S
 
Just for info, according to Graham Merritt at Lee Filters (he is in product development there), they have recently changed their "recipe" for the ND filters so they will have less cast. How much less I don't know as my filters are prior to the change.
 
PaulButler said:
Just for info, according to Graham Merritt at Lee Filters (he is in product development there), they have recently changed their "recipe" for the ND filters so they will have less cast. How much less I don't know as my filters are prior to the change.
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About time really, even Cokin are producing a more neutral 10 stopper with their Nuances range.
Like everything, technology is progressing constantly and what may be best filter today, probably wont be tomorrow :)
 
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