How to carry square filters in backpack

Hi guys,

So I am planning to pull the trigger on a Lee foundation kit with wide angle adapter ring.

I've talked to someone in the past that said that when carrying the square lee filters in the wallet or whatever it was, they ended up being all scratched which was a very large loss. This was due to the fact that when the backpack is bouncing up and down consistently it jiggles ever so slightly back and forth.

Now with the price of quality filters these days I REALLY don't want to run the risk of scratching these even the slightest.

Is there a hard case or anything that can hold X amount of square filters without the risk of scratching or bending/breaking them in a backpack?

Its not Pelican hard but it should do an adequate job unless you carry jagged rocks in your backpack with it.

http://products.lowepr​o.com …ter-Pouch-100,2225,53.htm

This is something that had to have been solved already. I imagine a hard case along with placing soft tissue or foam in between each filter so that they're all nestled.

does the lee filter pounch/holder/case not work then?

mike_d wrote in post #11862514
http://products.lowepr​o.com …ter-Pouch-100,2225,53.htm

This Lowepro filter pouch is made for 10 4x6" filters and a filter holder too, with room to spare. If you are only using 4x4" square filters or 4x5" Hitechs, its an overkill. Heck, it seems overly large to me and I have 4x6 filters as well as both a P and Z size filter holder. It is rather thick, I wish it were a bit thinner.
Before I was using a very thin f64 pouch for 4x4 and P size filters.
Mike K
The Lee filter pouches that come with the filters are impressively robust and fine if you only had one filter. If you had several, they will really take up a lot of space.

mike_d wrote in post #11862514
Its not Pelican hard but it should do an adequate job unless you carry jagged rocks in your backpack with it.

http://products.lowepr​o.com …ter-Pouch-100,2225,53.htm

That looks awesome, a bit big but its nice that it even holds the holder in it as well.

Savas K wrote in post #11862865
This is something that had to have been solved already. I imagine a hard case along with placing soft tissue or foam in between each filter so that they're all nestled.

That could work, but it would also mean there are a bunch of loose lightweight floppy things on those windy days or just bad weather in general. If one of them flies away its now filter against filter.

Grumbledook wrote in post #11863277
does the lee filter pounch/holder/case not work then?

I honestly don't know. I had my tripod all setup one day out in the bush and a random photog let me hand hold a filter he had for his film camera and we started chatting. He said he used the pouch (I think it was) for all his Lee filters and after a day of hiking and bouncing ever so slightly back and form in the pack he had his filters all scratched up. So he changed into a hard case to carry them and never had a problem with his new (replaced) filters and figured he would pass on the message as I told him I was planning to get filters down the road.

Mike K wrote in post #11863884
This Lowepro filter pouch is made for 10 4x6" filters and a filter holder too, with room to spare. If you are only using 4x4" square filters or 4x5" Hitechs, its an overkill. Heck, it seems overly large to me and I have 4x6 filters as well as both a P and Z size filter holder. It is rather thick, I wish it were a bit thinner.
Before I was using a very thin f64 pouch for 4x4 and P size filters.
Mike K
The Lee filter pouches that come with the filters are impressively robust and fine if you only had one filter. If you had several, they will really take up a lot of space.

Thats good to know Mike thanks. I will most likely be carrying 4 filters that are 4x4 and 4x5. Possibly a 4x6 and the holder since I generally bring a small ICU from F-Stop for the lenses and camera and it does not fit the holder on the end of the lens the way I have it setup. That or a bring the medium size and I lack gear space.

I wonder if they have a smaller version of that pouch.

I just purchased a bunch of LEE filters. They come packaged in filter pouches. I have purchased filter cloth. I wrap them filter in the cloth and put it in the package. Yes, they do take up space, but I carry a fairly large pack on my day trips. I place the filter pouches in the large outside portion of my pack. So far this seems to work well.

I will say this. The total dollar value of the filter holders and filters cost a lot of money, more than 1/2 of my lenses cost. So, it is imperative they are well cared for.
One poster mentioned putting a number of filters in one pouch. That seems to be more bulky. The pouches are not small, but I sort of arrange them 2 on top of each other.

+1 for the LowePro.

Yeah it's a bit bulky, but it gives great protection. Very happy with mine.

Marlfox wrote in post #11865487
+1 for the LowePro.

Yeah it's a bit bulky, but it gives great protection. Very happy with mine.

I like it because I can finally stick the filters, holder, and adapter ring in one pouch that's ready to throw in a bag or attach to the side of my Retrospective.

What about those "cases" you put CD's into? With soft pouches and a clear layer ontop on each side.
That should be both cheap, easy and great for travelling.


EDIT: Oh and i just wanna add that i feel the irony with these really expensive filters not even being the slightest scratch proofed. Should be atleast that..

Resin filters are abraded too easily by simple contact of its surfaces. The best filter holder would have slots which hold the filter at its edges, with only air coming into contact with the main part of the filter surface. If the Lee filter mounts http://www.leefiltersu​sa.com …/show/ref:C47BE​96B4E501C/ are thicker than the filter itself, it would be safe to stack filters, since the mounts are the point of contact.

Vladimer wrote in post #11861695
So I am planning to pull the trigger on a Lee foundation kit with wide angle adapter ring.

...

Is there a hard case or anything that can hold X amount of square filters without the risk of scratching or bending/breaking them in a backpack?

I'm curious about this as well since I'm planning on pulling the trigger on this kit myself.

A bigger question, for me, is where are you finding one? They are sold out everywhere, at least stateside!

I might go with the Lowpro then, If anything I could attach it to the outside of the pack. I wish it was a wee bit smaller or thinner though.

My biggest worry with the soft side ones or pouches is that in a backpack or just outdoors in general, that is something WAY to fragile and darn expensive to run the risk of it cracking or breaking after I accidentally push in the center of it or who knows what and the filter bends and snaps into a million pieces. Super paranoid over the whole thing for the cost that it all is as you can tell

@ Erik - I'm actually up in Canada and there are a few places that are selling them here. But like usual its twice as expensive then buying from the states. I plan to get all this stuff from BH since its ridiculously priced here. The cheapest foundation kit (basic not pro) is $140, others going for $180 which is nearly twice as much as on Adorama or BH. But on the other hand, it is in stock.

Vladimer wrote in post #11869706
@ Erik - I'm actually up in Canada and there are a few places that are selling them here. But like usual its twice as expensive then buying from the states. I plan to get all this stuff from BH since its ridiculously priced here. The cheapest foundation kit (basic not pro) is $140, others going for $180 which is nearly twice as much as on Adorama or BH. But on the other hand, it is in stock.

Ooof. That's pretty steep although a bird in the hand...

My order with Adorama has the kit at $75, the adaptor rings at $28 and the Big Stopper at $130, but all of it is backordered and has been for weeks...

Last time I checked B&H was running a few loonies more per item and they were also backordered.

I'll have to start looking into cases for the filters. The idea of slotting them like microscope slides in a hard box appeals to me.

Vladimer wrote in post #11869706
I might go with the Lowpro then, If anything I could attach it to the outside of the pack. I wish it was a wee bit smaller or thinner though.

My biggest worry with the soft side ones or pouches is that in a backpack or just outdoors in general, that is something WAY to fragile and darn expensive to run the risk of it cracking or breaking after I accidentally push in the center of it or who knows what and the filter bends and snaps into a million pieces. Super paranoid over the whole thing for the cost that it all is as you can tell

How about getting something the size of a filter and sticking it in the outer-most slots inside the LowPro case? That way if there were some impact, it would be on that rather than directly against the filter. Maybe some sheet of thin polycarbonite. Or maybe just a cheap sacrificial Cokin filter.