Lee Filter-banding problem

[michael_phlin_jahapne]

Hi

 

I've been having problems with my Lee filters. I get a strange

rainbow banding problem when using my filter system with all

my lenses. This happens when I use one filter or several

sandwiched--it doesn't seem to matter. I've tried re-positioning

the filter closer/further from the lens, as well as carefully shading

the lens/filter with my dark-slide. What is happening?

Suggestions? thanks a lot

 

-Thursty

[david_bradley1]

Which specific Lee filters are you using?

[michael_phlin_jahapne]

85b, plus various grades of magenta sometimes.

[alan_roberts]

I use the Lee system & the only time I have problems is if internal reflections occur due to my not keeping the sun off the filters. Even if the sun is behind you it can hit the filters edge & cause problems. I use my baseball cap to shield the filters. Can you see the banding looking through the groundglass?

[john_randall3]

Hi, Thurston

 

Are you using the Lee resin filters, or the gel or polyester filters? I

recently experienced a (possibly) similar problem when using a

gel filter sandwiched in an early Calumet cardboard holder,

which, through use and abuse, had wrinkled. The result was a

moire pattern - a sort of wave - in part of my priceless image.

This was used as a single filter, not as a combination.

 

Careful checking to make sure there were no striations in the gel

filter after installation on the lens seemed to cure the previous

sloppy execution.

 

In my own case, a return to the more expensive, but more stable

and scratch-resistant resin filters, was the answer.

 

Best regards,

[michael_phlin_jahapne]

I've been using the polyester gel-snap system. John, your

problems as you describe them seem close to what I

experienced (unfortunately including aberrations to a fine and

valuable image). Even after very neatly dressing the filter on the

lens, I've still been having problems. I believe Lee has delivered

an inferior product. I will follow your lead and investigate a

system of higher quality. Cheerio,

 

Thurston

[steve_lewis2]

I've also had a problem with a moire type pattern on images when shooting with Lee gel filters. I bought an 81 set mounted in Lee's own plastic frames and used them on a shoot for a week. When they shots came back from the lab, some had a rainbow type effect, most visible in the mid-tones. On one shot with a flowing river in the foreground, it looked like the shot had been a multiple exposure using red, green and magenta filters!

 

On checking my notes, it turned out that the 81c was the worst offender, but I could see nothing wrong with the filter.

A friend has suggested that as I was shooting in damp, rainy conditions, moisture had gotten sandwiched between the filters.

 

Anyway, I chucked the whole set away, and went back to the resin ones, with which I've never had problems. HTH

 

Steve

www.landscapesofwales.co.uk

[michael_phlin_jahapne]

I had the following email exchange with a techy from Lee:

 

 

Thurston Strom,

 

Thank you for your reply.  I am sorry that you have had this

problem. I have

never encountered this problem without a Polariser. 

 

We would gladly exchange the filter you have that is exhibiting

this

problem. This would save you the expense of replacing it with a

resin

filter.

 

If you could forward it to me at the address below, I'll gladly

exchange it.

 

 

Please include your postal address for the return.

 

I will also include details of your nearest Resin filter dealer.

 

Best Regards

Jon Young.

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Thurston Strom [mailto:the_fluz@hotmail.com]

Sent: 30 July 2003 04:26

To: JON@leefilters.com

Subject: Re: rainbow banding problem

 

 

Mr. Young,

 

Thanks for your reply. I am using the "Lee Camera Filters" -- the

polyester

sheet - that comes sold individually in a black envelope with gold

stripes.

I use it on wider (75mm) angle lenses on a view camera. The

said newton ring

 

problem had occured WITHOUT a polariser. Upon close

inspection, I have been

able to see the exact rainbow pattern on the filter itself, when

held at a

specific angle toward a ceiling light. I'm wondering if the pattern

is

noticeable because of the great depth of field my wide angle

lens affords

when stopped down? Otherwise, it seems that anything held that

close to the

lens surface would be out of focus.But come to think of it, I think

I've had

 

a similar problem with my 150mm. Are these filters not meant for

large

format?

 

Where might one obtain the resin version?

 

 

>From: Jon Young <JON@leefilters.com>

>To: "'the_fluz@hotmail.com'" <the_fluz@hotmail.com>

>CC: Heather Shooter <heather@leefilters.com>

>Subject: rainbow banding problem

>Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 09:55:11 +0100

>

>Thurston Strom,

>

>Thank you very much for your recent email, I am sorry to hear

that you are

>having this Rainbow Banding problem. Please can I ask, do

you have a

>Polariser screwed on the lens?   Also, are the filters you are

using Lee

>Polyester Camera Filters (technical filters)?

>

>If the answer to both these questions is yes, then the problem

is Newton

>rings.

>

>When viewing Polyester filters through a Polariser, the stress

patterns

>(the

>rainbow bands you see) in the Polyester filters (which are

normally

>completely invisible to us, lenses and film) appear.  These

normally

>invisible stress patterns are formed in the Polyester base

material when it

>is manufactured by an extrusion process.  These patterns

under normal

>conditions do not effect the optical quality of Lee Polyester

Camera

>filters

>at all. There are two solutions.

>

>a) Switch to using Resin filters.   These are cast and not

extruded and do

>not exhibit the same stress patterns.

>b) Remove the Polariser from the lens and use the Polyester

Filters between

>the lens and a Polariser attached to the outside of your Filter

holder.

>

>Should you need further clarification of this or if you have any

additional

>questions about any Lee Filter product, please do email again.

>

>Best Regards

>Jon Young.

[william_curwen]

I work with Lee filters all day long in the most demanding

conditions, and simply have no problems with them. This is

because I construct my own holders and lens shades, using

matte-black foamboard and velcro with black card and black

paper making serious kit for pennies. There is nothing wrong

with Lee filters other than understanding how they should be

used. I often shoot almost into the sun with the whole lens in

deep deep shade to get maximum tonality with no defects in the

image. This leaves me free to mount a centre-spot ND filter on

the rear element with minimal interference in the light path. I

prefer the Lee because they are so thin and dimensionally

stable. They work best cut in a big circle held within a small

aperture....this helps them breathe without buckling and keeps

them real flat. Use a small umbrella to keep the wind away from

the front of the camera. The alternate is B&W and they cost a

fortune for optical glass versions with no better results than the

Lee. The secret is in the handling.