Lee Foundation Kit: Polarizer Options

I've been looking into a Lee Foundation Kit holder (with a couple of 4x5 Hitech GND filters).
I'd also like to be able to use at least 1 GND with a CPL polarizer.

However, I see that the Lee polarizer is $300, PLUS, it appears that you need to buy some type of 105mm adapter ring for $119! Is this accurate? Do you really need to spend $419 just to add a CPL to the Lee Foundation Kit holder???
If so, is there any way to do this more economically?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ular_Polarizer_​Glass.html

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …5_Adapter_Ring_​105mm.html

I bought my Lee polarizer from Adorama about a year or longer ago, and it included the mounting ring, so there shouldn't be an extra cost for that. Anytime that you consider a 105mm polarizer, no matter which brand, its going to be expensive, period. Once you get to 77mm and beyond, the price of filters really escalates.

Another option is to use a regular CPL and attach the filter holder to it (as long as it has front threads), but that situation presents other issues...ability to get your fingers onto the CPL to make adjustments, possible vignetting, etc. FWIW, I use both methods. I also will resort to handholding the filter in front of my B+W CPL.

argyle wrote in post #8457732
I bought my Lee polarizer from Adorama about a year or longer ago, and it included the mounting ring, so there shouldn't be an extra cost for that. Anytime that you consider a 105mm polarizer, no matter which brand, its going to be expensive, period. Once you get to 77mm and beyond, the price of filters really escalates.

Another option is to use a regular CPL and attach the filter holder to it (as long as it has front threads), but that situation presents other issues...ability to get your fingers onto the CPL to make adjustments, possible vignetting, etc. FWIW, I use both methods. I also will resort to handholding the filter in front of my B+W CPL.

Thanks for the tips. I'm not sure how the Lee holder would work if you attached the adapter to the front threads of the CPL. My Kasemann CPLs all have full front threads, but those threads also rotate when you rotate the polarizer for effect.

I'll probably just do it the right way. $52 for the Lee Accessory Adapter and then ~$200 for a decent 105mm CPL. There's nothing special about Lee's 105mm CPL is there? E.g physically, it's just like any other 105mm CPL (no extra handles or anything to make rotating it easier) correct?

No, no difference at all. Its just like any other CPL, only bigger.

You should know that the filter holder will rotate on the adapter ring, independent of the camera position. So, if you attach the adapter ring to the front of your CPL, you will be able to adjust your filter holder independent of the polarizer adjustment. You will most likely need to use both hands, but its very doable. I do this myself at times with my B+W Kaesemann as well. Another method is to screw the adapter ring onto the CPL, then turn the adapter ring counterclockwise (when looking through the VF) to position the CPL as you like. Then, attach the holder to the ring and away you go. Its a very simple process, no need to overcomplicate or over-think the matter...

argyle wrote in post #8460834
No, no difference at all. Its just like any other CPL, only bigger.

You should know that the filter holder will rotate on the adapter ring, independent of the camera position. So, if you attach the adapter ring to the front of your CPL, you will be able to adjust your filter holder independent of the polarizer adjustment. You will most likely need to use both hands, but its very doable. I do this myself at times with my B+W Kaesemann as well. Another method is to screw the adapter ring onto the CPL, then turn the adapter ring counterclockwise (when looking through the VF) to position the CPL as you like. Then, attach the holder to the ring and away you go. Its a very simple process, no need to overcomplicate or over-think the matter...

That makes sense! I must have been trying to over-complicate the process you described earlier. I assumed that attaching the Lee holder was more complicated than it actually was, and that I'd have to completely remove the holder to get to the CPL to rotate it.
Loosening the Lee holder and rotating the CPL with my other hand would be fine by me.
I guess this is one of the down-falls of the internet...not being able to physically see how a coupe of parts fit together in front of the lens. Thanks for saving me some cash!

Quick question: What about vignetting if setup in this order (as you described above) on a full frame:
EF 17-40/16-35 --> B&W Kasemann --> Lee Wide Angle Adapter (attached to front threads of B&W Kasemann) --> Lee Holder.

Will it vignette in the 16-20mm range if I have it setup as described above? Thanks again for your help.

John_TX wrote in post #8457313
I've been looking into a Lee Foundation Kit holder (with a couple of 4x5 Hitech GND filters).
I'd also like to be able to use at least 1 GND with a CPL polarizer.

However, I see that the Lee polarizer is $300, PLUS, it appears that you need to buy some type of 105mm adapter ring for $119! Is this accurate? Do you really need to spend $419 just to add a CPL to the Lee Foundation Kit holder???
If so, is there any way to do this more economically?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ular_Polarizer_​Glass.html

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …5_Adapter_Ring_​105mm.html

The 105mm adapter ring is not what you want. This is simply an adapter ring for lenses with 105mm front threads, to which you attach the holder. All lenses require an adapter ring in order to attach the holder to the lens. You need a "front thread adapter ring", which attaches to the front of the holder, to which you attach the 105mm CPL. http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Adapter.html#a​ccessories I use a B+W Kaeseman 105mm CPL which is much less expensive than the Lee http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Circular_Polar​izing.html

NYPhotog wrote in post #8462014
The 105mm adapter ring is not what you want. This is simply an adapter ring for lenses with 105mm front threads, to which you attach the holder. All lenses require an adapter ring in order to attach the holder to the lens. You need a "front thread adapter ring", which attaches to the front of the holder, to which you attach the 105mm CPL. http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Adapter.html#a​ccessories I use a B+W Kaeseman 105mm CPL which is much less expensive than the Lee http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Circular_Polar​izing.html

Thanks for the clarification. That's the exact B&W CPL I had my eye on. It's a shame that none of B&W's 105mm CPL's come with the MRC coating. None of them! I actually e-mailed B&W yesterday and got a reply back this morning. I've got no idea why they don't coat them either!

I'm going to try attaching the wide angle adapter to the front of a 77mm CPL and see how that goes. Although I'll probably end up with the 105mm CPL eventually...

I would suggest a Lee 4X4 CPL. This one you can slide in the filter holder. I usually rotate the CPL before sliding it in the holder. Plus, it's a cheaper alternative.

John_TX wrote in post #8462079
Thanks for the clarification. That's the exact B&W CPL I had my eye on. It's a shame that none of B&W's 105mm CPL's come with the MRC coating. None of them! I actually e-mailed B&W yesterday and got a reply back this morning. I've got no idea why they don't coat them either!

The Lee is also not coated.

One comment and one question.

The square CPL is fine if used on it's own. No use in combination with an NDGrad, as rotating the CPL by rotating the holder, also rotates the NDGrad.

If screwing a WA adaptor to the front of a B+W Kaseman CPL, can you get this off again? Or does the WA overlap mean the rotating front of the CPL is obscured so you have no grip? Can this setup be reversed? I.e. screw CPL into the fron of a WA adaptor?

mdr wrote in post #9106709
One comment and one question.

The square CPL is fine if used on it's own. No use in combination with an NDGrad, as rotating the CPL by rotating the holder, also rotates the NDGrad.

If screwing a WA adaptor to the front of a B+W Kaseman CPL, can you get this off again? Or does the WA overlap mean the rotating front of the CPL is obscured so you have no grip? Can this setup be reversed? I.e. screw CPL into the fron of a WA adaptor?

You can do it but, if you're shooting FF, it will vignette. I would also be careful not to overtighten the adapter on the CPL since there's a potential for it to get stuck. I have tried this before and it seems to be more of a pain to rotate the CPL. The easiest thing to do is to screw the CPL on the lens and handhold the GND in front.