They’re not square, they’re round! Introducing the LEE Elements range
In news that some landscape photographers have no doubt been anticipating for some time, LEE Filters has unveiled new versions of its photographic filters with one crucial difference – they’re circular, not square.
The new selection is called LEE Elements, and it includes five filters: a CPL (circular polarizer), two variable ND filters, the 6-stop Little Stopper ND, and of course, the iconic Big Stopper ND, which provides ten stops of light reduction. It’s hugely popular with landscape photographers for its mega light-controlling abilities, making it possible to shoot long exposures in all sorts of lighting conditions.
The main difference between square and circular filters is how they attach – square filters require a holder to be placed in front of the lens, while circular ones can be screwed directly on – provided that they are the correct size to fit. The new LEE Elements filters will come in four sizes: 67mm, 72mm, 77mm and 82mm. These are standard diameter threads that should fit a good number of lenses.
The filters incorporate multilayer-coated optics for high-level optical performance, with minimal vignetting (light fall-off in the corners of images. They’re constructed with a black anodized aluminium frame, and are made to be easy to attach and detach from lenses, even when the user is wearing gloves. This is largely thanks to the knurled finish that provides an all-weather grip.