Lee Filter Holder - Am I Crazy?

So after months of waiting, I finally received my Lee Foundation holder kit, and 77mm wide angle adapter ring. In my gitty anticipation, I opened everything and put it together ... and went what???

So after all the huge hype I heard about Lee holders being the best, worth the wait, etc, I guess I expected alot. So either I was really wrong or I am doing something wrong. The adapter ring screws on my lens just fine (it can only go on one way). I then mount the holder to the lens by the quick release brass pull, and it does seem to be on. But with a TINY amount of pressure pushing away from the front of the lens, it just pops off. I can just be turning it and it will pop off. What gives?? There's NO way this is "expected". I wouldn't trust my filters in this thing the way it is, no way. Everything seems flush, etc.

I've heard others say that the brass wedge might be backwards, I switched it, seems just as easy to pop off, almost worse! I would think I should be able to mount this thing, and it should be secure. Am I crazy? Anyone else had this? It just really looks like the 2 wedges on the holder and the brass one just dont sit behind the lip enough to catch enough of anything to hold, but it doesnt appear to be any way to go down.

Did I get the wrong lens adapter? I thought they're all supposed to work? For clarity I bought:

#LEFK - http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ion_Kit_Standar​d_4x4.html

#WAR077
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …77_Adapter_Ring​_77mm.html

Thanks!
Doug

The two plastic tabs on the bottom fit in the groove on the holder, then the brass one on top fits into the groove at the top.

Make sure you have the brass one in the correct direction (it should angle the same direction as the plastic tabs). You can also twist the brass screw on top to adjust how tight it is. The holder will always twist some, but it shouldn't pop off.

Edit: I just took a look at mine. It will pop off the ring, but it requires a substantial amount of force.

The LEE filter holder has always struck me as over complicated. Way too many pieces.

Give me a holder like Cokins any day, its a simple, one piece molding. Regardless of what people think of Cokins filters, this holder is an elegant piece of design.

Lowner wrote in post #14835992
The LEE filter holder has always struck me as over complicated. Way too many pieces.

Give me a holder like Cokins any day, its a simple, one piece molding. Regardless of what people think of Cokins filters, this holder is an elegant piece of design.

Too many pieces? It's a filter ring adapter and a holder, just like Cokin.

Yes you can customize the setup on the lee for how many filters you want it and such, but it's not very complicated at all.

Sounds like somethings wrong. I have the same combination and also find that it takes considerable force to push off the filter holder. Having owned and used the equivalent Cokin system the Lee wins hands down.

Neil

Here is the Lee "assembly" and the Cokin one piece moulded design. I stand by my earlier comment, the Lee design is badly designed, over complex for the task it has to perform.

Doesn't that Cokin "one piece mould design" still need an adapter ring to attach onto a lens?

Edit: Lowner, I think I understand what you meant now. You're saying the Lee holder can be unscrewed to to customize the amount of filter slots one would prefer while the Cokin is a "what you see is what you get" product. I still don't see how the Lee is "badly designed," complicated in its use, or is in anyway an inferior product.
_______________

To stay on topic, just checked my setup and my filter holder clips on fine and requires enough force from me that I rather not attempt to pop it out.

The LEE holder presumably does the job, or there would would be howls of protest on the forums, but in design the simple, elegant solution is always considered the best no matter what the area.

Yes, the cokin holder uses a simple plastic ring which screws into the lens filter thread to which the holder attaches.

Lowner wrote in post #14836484
The LEE holder presumably does the job, or there would would be howls of protest on the forums, but in design the simple, elegant solution is always considered the best no matter what the area.

Yes, the cokin holder uses a simple plastic ring which screws into the lens filter thread to which the holder attaches.

But the Lee is usable just like the cokin right out of the box. The Lee is just more versatile in the fact that you can choose to customize it if you'd like, or you can just leave it alone. I get what you're saying, I just don't see how it's a poorly designed product... It's like saying a pro DSLR is poorly designed because it gives you more options than a rebel. In the end both cameras take pictures, but they are marketed towards different groups. I guess that's how the Cokin and Lee are.

Doesn't sound right. When the holder is clipped into place on the threaded ring there's nothing you can do to get it off if you don't pull back the brass wedge.

I just got mine today and it holds nice and firm. It rotates very easily, but won't fall off. I think it's just user error. Make sure to put the two black tabs in first, then use the brass clip.

ncphotoguy wrote in post #14837810
I appreciate the discussion between Cokin and the Lee holders, but I mostly just wanted to hear from other Lee owners about if this was right. My adapter (screws on the lens) has no grooves, its perfectly smooth all the way around, so there's nothing for the tabs on the holder to catch onto. I have the 77mm wide angle adapter. I can push it off with barely one finger with almost no force at all. I think the adapter is either not right or something ... guess an email to Lee is in order.

Perfectly smooth is how it's supposed to be. It sounds like the brass tab isn't doing it's job. When the holder is mounted to the adapter ring, is everything flush? The adapter ring should sit flush with the holder and should be even all theway around. At least the WA versions sit flush.

Also, if you remove the brass screw is there a spring holding it in place? I mean that's really all I can think of.

If not, then yes I think contacting Lee is your next step.

Lowner wrote in post #14836484
The LEE holder presumably does the job, or there would would be howls of protest on the forums, but in design the simple, elegant solution is always considered the best no matter what the area.

Yes, the cokin holder uses a simple plastic ring which screws into the lens filter thread to which the holder attaches.

While the Cokin is simpler, that doesn't necessarily mean better. The Cokin requires more force than I'm happy to regularly subject my lens to, to slide it out of the adapter ring; I could see my lens bending every time I did it. No such problem with the Lee.

ncphotoguy wrote in post #14837810
I appreciate the discussion between Cokin and the Lee holders, but I mostly just wanted to hear from other Lee owners about if this was right. My adapter (screws on the lens) has no grooves, its perfectly smooth all the way around, so there's nothing for the tabs on the holder to catch onto. I have the 77mm wide angle adapter. I can push it off with barely one finger with almost no force at all. I think the adapter is either not right or something ... guess an email to Lee is in order.

The adapter should have a groove the whole way round, which is where the 2 plastic tabs and the brass tab sit to secure the holder. If there is no groove, something went very wrong with your adapter. You can see what the adapter ring should look like and how it should work in this video:
http://www.leefilters.​com …camera/system#n​d-videobox

I just took out my Lee set-up to see if I could figure out how this could occur. I think I may have figured out what might be wrong.

On your holder, pull the brass pin outwards and let it go. Does it spring back into place? If so, does it do it somewhat firmly?

There's a spring in there that forces the system to stay closed. If they forgot to put the spring inside, or if the spring is too weak, then that would cause the holder to pop off the ring adaptor with little to no force. You can easily unscrew the brass piece with your finger, pull the brass wedge off the other side, and see if the spring is in there. But when doing so, don't do it over the carpet! If the spring falls out, it could be difficult to find. (This actually happened to me once while standing on talus...I never found the spring and had to replace it.)

Take a look and let us know...

Bryan

It's made in England. Yes I have one. Yes, the quality overall sucks.