I am having problems with the Lee polyester filters. I am getting weird rainbow/banding/interference type patterns across my images when using them with wide angle lenses.
I was able to isolate this problem to the polyester type filters themselves. For example, I get banding in both the 4x5 Polaroid and 4x5 traditional negatives when using the Lee 23A Red and Lee 21 Orange, but not in an identical scene taken with corresponding B&W glass filters shot at the same moment. Furthermore, the polyester filters where used singly - not in conjunction with a polarizer or any other filter.
The problem appears limited to use with wide angle lenses. (Unfortunately, much of my own photography involves these parameters). At time of use, there was no direct sunlight striking either the filter or the filter holder which my have caused unwanted reflections. Furthermore, the problem seems to relate to the angle in relation to the sun at which the image is taken. The camera was pointed appx. 180° away from the sun in the 35mm slides using a 20mm lens, and approximately 90° away from the sun in the large format images using a 90mm Nikkor f/8 lens and front rise. Finally, rotating only the filter caused the “interference pattern” to rotate around inside the viewfinder in kind.
I also visualized the same problem with other Lee Polyester filters such as the Colour Temperature set.
After a couple phone calls to Lee Filters in England, they deny having ever experienced such problems before despite possible evidence such as this thread on Photonet:
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005bh7
Anyone else have a similar experience with these (or their Calumet equivalents)? Note: I am specifically referring to the thin Lee Polyester filters. I do not mean the thicker Lee resin filters, nor am I referring to the thin Kodak gel filters, which are both manufactured using a different technology than the polyester type filters.
Thanks in advance for any input you can share.
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