Weird Interference Patterns Using Lee Polyester Filters

[William Curwen]

Hello everyone, I have practiced large-format photography for many years, and one thing that has been drummed into me time and again, is to baffle off the front of the taking lens due to flare. Flare is particularly noticeable when using filters - any filters, either thick or thin, in front of the lens. So I make my own lenshoods which look like waste paper bins, they are that big! There is a lot to be said for matte black card and copious amounts of velcro. I am not averse to mounting filters behind the lens, which eliminates the problem completely. A lot of current work is dependent on Lee filters and they don't make and sell compendium lens-shades for nothing - and - they are very nice people to deal with. Methinks your problem is being compounded by flare.

BTW, I have lurked on this forum for awhile and am seriously impressed with the collective pool of knowledge here. If anyone wants to check me out, then do please visit my website at www.william.ws and feel free to make comment. I am involved with large-format for the duration, and more than happy to share with likeminded souls

[Andre Noble]

Happy Ending:

Lee filters just contacted me directly via email in regard to the return package of filters I sent to them. They were cool and willing to swap out the polyesters with an equal value exchange for a few of their resin filters, which are highly regarded.

They were very candid of the birefringence issue a few photographers have noted, and hoped to be able to nail the cause down with new tests currently under way. I wish them the best. I imagine it must be very diificult to manufactures these polyester type filters without internal stress patterns.

I am happy with the solution they offered me personally.