John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

I purchased the Lee Filters adapter for my Nikkor 14-24 lens, which you all know has a large diameter, a protruding front element and a fixed-in-place lens shade. The adapter is the kind you install before the lens is on the camera - it sort of grabs on to the diameter of the lens and two pieces screw together to hold it in place. After the front ring is installed, they tell you to mount the two plastic rear reflection baffles to keep light from behind reflecting off of the back side of the filter and in to the lens.

The problem is, the baffles do not work and you still get light reflecting. There is about 1.5 cm of space between the baffles and the back of the filter. Light leaks in where the fixed lens shade is the smallest. Where the shade is large (top and bottom) the shade is only a hair from the filter.

I was out shooting waterfalls this morning in a forest without any direct sunlight. I got rid of the glare from the top corners by placing one of my lens cleaning cloths over the space between the lens and the filter. Unfortunately, I could not do this on the bottom and so still had glare in the bottom corners.

I think the product is defective and is missing a key part like a 1.5 cm ring to wrap around the lens shade to completely fill the space between the filter and the lens. The big stopper I purchased, made by Firecrest, came with two black strips of felt that have a sticky side. I cannot figure out what to do with these. If I put them on the back of the filter, they will hit the lens shade. The problem is the open space where the lens shade is the smallest.

Does anyone out there use this product or have others had the same problem? Are these black felt strips part of the solution?

Thanks,
John Howard

AzGriz Loc: Sedona, Arizona

If you go to the Lee Filter website you will see they have a new version (No. 2) that takes care of your problem. They have a upgrade adapter to your version (No. 1). Problem is finding someone in the US who has the adapter available. Looks like they gave all the first available units to Britain.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I watched a a very good Matt Kloskowski course on Creative Live earlier this week. He demonstrated a three piece system that includes an ring for the lens. I think he was using a smaller diameter lens.

There seems to be some "baffles" for that lens. Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxilH1dGD9o

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Thanks. Yes, I have the baffles, but they are flat and properly mounted are 1.5 cm away from the filter. I will pursue the adapter through B&H where I purchased the mount.

AzGriz Loc: Sedona, Arizona

You are looking for the "Lightshield" for the Mark I. The new Mark II has it included. I just checked B&H and they still don't have it available. For now, it's only available in Europe.

DaveHam Loc: Reading UK

If you are stacking multiple filters you can also get the same problem of light leaking in between the stacked layers.

I get round this by draping a small cloth over the filters so as to shield the light effect.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

Just get some black tape and gently cover the leaking areas.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Exactly what I was thinking - black elec tape each time.

smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama

Dont use electrical tape, it can leave residue. Get some narrow black gaffers tape

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Thanks for the advice.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Thanks to all for input. I searched the Lee site and found the fix - a rubber 3-d gasket that fits between the parts to shield the back of the filter. I then contacted B&H where I had purchased the system. They offered to let me return it all or to purchase the gasket only at a discount. I think they and Lee knew there was a problem. Cudos to them both for standing behind their product and service.