Hi Guys. Realise this post is old but I am considering getting the sw150 but more importantly I am wondering if there is an availability of filters out there? From the limited looking around the Lee site it doesn't seem like there is a lot?
Thanks in advance
Damien

Yes the acrylic will stick crack and also get scratched so they should be treated just like they were glass. I cracked my GND filter this past summer and it is made of acrylic. Lower right corner snapped right off in a Lowepro filter case too no less.

kanuck said:
200,000 won each which is about $180 USD?

That sounds about right, as I said in my earlier post, Lee told me that they can only be hand made, and that because of this, they are very expensive. This is the first ND filter set I have ever bought (most of my photography is reportage), and so I was surprised that the filters are made of acrylic. I was expecting glass. Is this normal? Obviously glass can crack, but I would have thought plastic will scratch?

Thanks for you comments casper, yes I agree.

SkinBrit

It is fantastic that you have returned to post a followup to your original post after nini months.

i wish everyone that has a problem, or inquired about equipment would do as you did.

good work,

thanks

Believe it or not I have seen that size in the Cokins here in Seoul just no filter holders for them. I actually can hand hold them for the 20-24mm range on the Nikkor 14-24 and its effective! haha I was pretty pleased with myself but not enough to buy them from him obviously. 200,000 won each which is about $180 USD?

If you need any help tracking some down and Lee has low stock it might be an option for you. In the mean time enjoy that 0.6 grad and I hope the metal holder to metal on the lens is alright I'm sure it will be as I hear its built very well :)

Thanks kanuck, and thanks for telling me I'm going to have a hard job finding more filters, and penniless when I do! NOT. :-) Seen anyone selling them? I suppose I could ring Lee next week and ask them for a stockest. I think from the reviews I've read 150x170mm is a common movie making size? Perhaps other manufactures make them also?

Congratulations! Finally. I already knew that you only get the .6 grad but still you would think they would throw in at least one more filter maybe a GND for the price you pay? You are obviously going to want more of those 150x170mm filters but they are going to be difficult to track down and even worse to buy $$$. I'm leaning towards the 16-35mm more and more now even though the 14-24mm is an amazing lens...

It came today! I think the postman was a bit concerned in case I kissed him :-) not much in the box for your money, but what there is seems very good quality. I'll have to see if I can get hold of any other 150x170mm filters for it, as the kits only come with a single .6 hard grad. (I understand from Lee, that this equates to a large proportion of the kits cost, and the manufacturing of them by hand, the main reason for the delay.)? Obviously haven't had a chance to use it yet, but one thing that does concern me slightly, is the way that the filter holder attaches to the lens. It looks like it uses a metal compression ring. I'm not sure I like the idea of metal to metal. Maybe I'm being paranoid, I'll let you know.

I'm sure this will be a popular item, I know many people who have this lens and obviously have the filter problem. I'm surprised Lee hasn't dealt with the demand by now. It would be truely amazing to be able to blur moving water and max out the true colors in a setting sky with the 14-24mm...

I haven't forgotten you guys, YES......I'm still waiting! I rang Lee direct to confirm that the retailer I put my order in with LAST YEAR, has actually got an order with them, yes they do, and yes they are trying to forfill the order, but have been experiencing "staffing issues"! Who are they using oompa loompas?

Wow skintbrit, its been 2 months and still nothing yet?! Thats unreal there really must not be many to be had then or demand is overwelming. I bet on lack of product I think. Keep us informed, I'll still be checking locally where I live for this product this week.

SkintBrit, I too am eager to know what it's like, I have a 14-24 lens but the cost of the Lee filter has put me off so far but I keep thinking about it.
Rich.

skintbrit - please let us know once You get it, I'm in a market for 14-24 this year, and filter holder would be nice for it.

Hey, I had forgotten about this old post of mine. Well I can see it was 2 months ago, and on the day of posting this question, I ordered an SW150 with one of Lee's authorised UK distributors. My news is I'm still waiting! I rang them to check on it's progress, and they have said they are due 6 units in this month (Jan) and that I am No4 in the que. How did 3 people get in before me??? Anyway, hopefuly I should receive mine with this first allocation (even if they send them a couple less), so I'll keep you posted. I know you're probably sick of my moaning, but I do find it frustrating that companies announce products for sale that you can't buy for months. I appreciate that it can be hard to judge demand for a new item, but I've yet to find anyone who has taken delivery, so it would appear that this is not a case of them selling out of their initial stock faster than they expected?

I'm going to see if I can find this product in my local camera shop here in Korea because it has been out for a while now and we seem to get products much faster than in other regions of the World. I am tired of not being able to use the 14-24mm to blur water or having to wait until the sun has completely gone down because of the lack of filters :(

All,
The SW150 is a metal machined multiple piece filter holder kit which comes with a .6 ND filter. From my understanding of the kit, which I saw first hand at Photokina, (unfortunately I didn't have my 14-24 optic with me to actually test) you can either stop down at 14 mm to f4, or zoom to 15mm to prevent vignetting. This was the explanation I got from one of Lee's employees. When I asked about the product delays and scarce availability, that is when I found out that Lee isn't as big as they would like you to think. High demand and low production capabilities, being made in the U.K. all contribute to the high costs. The quality is very good, looks and feels like black anodized aluminum or brass. The 150 in the model corresponds to the mm width of the filters. That's 15cm or approximately 6 inches across. The filter size is no accident either, as it is a common standard fitter size in cinema photography. I wouldn't worry too much about vignetting if you are using this holder and the 14-24 lens combo to perform landscape photography, you will be stopped down anyway for good DOF. This was probably Lee's logic as well. If they went with a wider filter, the costs of the filters would be 5 times as much because the only filter buyers would be those using the 14-24 lens; it's all about economies of scale. Use standard cinema filters already being marketed keeps the cost down and guarantees sales. DISCLAIMER: Buy from a reputable dealer like B&H which gives you the option of hassle free returns. Thus if you don't like it, send it back. I am just waiting for US availability, as the Euro prices are still too high.

Sounds like the price has come down considerably then. I was quite surprised at the $450 price tag for the kit on ebay. This price sounds about right then if adamz is quoting holder only for $367.00.

Skintbrit, I can't find any links on the internet now which support my vignetting comments on anything under 18mm with this filter. Most sources say it is vignette free all the way down to 14mm. I do know that Lee filters designed multiple filter holders as test samples for the 14-24mm, and maybe the one that is available now is better than the tested designs? I first heard about the test samples back in the summer of 2008 and remember vignetting issues under 18mm. The SW150 sounds like the real deal though with no issues.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who has it I agree.

adamz said:
Just checked B&H, and they have the LEE filter holder and it's price is $367.60, which is much less than what kanuck wrote. Here's the LINK

That's just the holder. I think the higher price mentioned is for the kit.

Just checked B&H, and they have the LEE filter holder and it's price is $367.60, which is much less than what kanuck wrote. Here's the LINK

Just checked B&H, and they have the LEE filter holder and it's price is $367.60, which is much less than what kanuck wrote. Here's the LINK

SkintBrit said:
I don't see why this should be, because the pictures I've seen of it would seem to indicate, that the filter element is much wider than the end of the lens, and is held to the front of it by a mounting system that attaches to the side of the lens, and is not in sight of the end of the lens?

I can't speak as to the 14-24, as I don't own it, but the 14 f/2.8 is looking pretty damn sideways. One would need hemispherical filters to prevent vignetting on it.

kanuck said:
Apparently this Lee filter only works at 18mm or higher otherwise vignetting is extreme. Last I heard it was selling for $650 to $700

I don't see why this should be, because the pictures I've seen of it would seem to indicate, that the filter element is much wider than the end of the lens, and is held to the front of it by a mounting system that attaches to the side of the lens, and is not in sight of the end of the lens? That seems even more expensive than in the UK, where they are being sold for £300. They should be available now as Lee sent me an email telling me about them being available. I was just interested to know if anyone had taken delivery yet, and what their first impressions were.

SkintBrit good question. I have also heard it is very popular and rightfully so as such a wonderful lens (perfectly optically) needs to be used with filters. Apparently this Lee filter only works at 18mm or higher otherwise vignetting is extreme. Last I heard it was selling for $650 to $700 and you had to sign up on the website if you were interested in the product. I don't even think they have begun shipping although I have seen some for sale on ebay. For $450 you can purchase this one for example:

*Link Removed*

You're right Adamz, it is crazy expensive, however from what I can see/hear there is a very long waiting list of people trying to get their hands on it. I suppose if you've spent the money on the lens it's a case of "in for a penny, in for a pound (or Dollar)?

I guess You will have to wait a little bit more, as it's way to overpriced to sell like hot cookies.