Why I switched from Lee to Kase filters

Kase polariser and Kase Wolverine 4 stop nd

If you are looking for a technical review with lots of product info and images then this is not for you. You can find all you need to know here: Kase filters UK

If you like looking at pictures then read on and enjoy.

Blog 2.jpg — Impressions of a waterfall

Kase polariser

Over the years I have used Lee filters for my landscape photography and have come to rely on them almost every time I’m out with the camera. The filters with the exception of the big and little stopper produced next to no colour cast and generally gave me the results I was looking for. That being said they were not without their problems. The Lee filters were made of resin and were prone to getting small scratches on them through use and cleaning and having only ever dropped one it resulted in a big scratch right down the middle of that filter rendering it unusable. They were incredibly difficult to keep clean when shooting by the coast on a windy day resulting in a smeared salty residue on the filters which affected the clarity and contrast. The polariser was large and could be a bit of a pain to screw onto the front of the holder, particularly on cold days and finally the well known colour cast produced by my big and little stoppers. (These opinions were made using the original foundation kit and not the newer updated holder or pro glass filters which I have not used.)

Blog 3.jpg — Details on the river

Kase polariser

Come spring 2020 I had read a lot about other filter brands and how they were more robust, produced less colour casts and were easier to clean etc. I took the plunge and ordered a Kase K9 holder and polariser whilst it was on sale with the plan of testing it against the Lee system to see what all the hype was about and if it actually translated into real world improvements. If I wasn’t impressed I’d send it back.

Blog 4.jpg — Triple falls

Kase polariser

On it’s arrival I must admit I was a little underwhelmed at the quality of the product. I think partly due to smaller size and weight, it felt cheaper than the Lee equivalent and the little red wheel for adjusting the polariser is a little wobbly for my liking. I was also not very keen on the feel of the adapter rings and the stepping down adapters to use with them for lenses with smaller diameter front elements. That aside and not to be put off I was keen to test it out in the real world to see if I could get used to the new system.

Due to Covid-19 restriction my initial tests to check for colour cast etc were done in the garden and I was completely shocked at the results when viewing the images in Lightroom. Whilst there was a small difference of approximately 200 - 400 Kelvin regarding the white balance difference (Lee being warmer) the biggest shock for me was the clarity and sharpness. Now, I had never at any point over the years felt that my Lee filters were having a detrimental effect on my photography until I compared the Lee landscape polariser with the Kase polariser. The Kase filter produced a sharper image with more fine detail and better contrast, particularly in the shadow areas. Intrigued and wondering if It was due to user error I conducted the same test over a couple of days and in varying conditions and light levels and found the results to be the same every time. I also found the images with the Lee polariser required a +0.3 increase in post to match the Kase polariser. I even showed the images to my mum and every image she picked as the sharper one was the Kase version. If someone with an ‘untrained’ eye could notice almost instantly then it was clear to see the difference was there and very real.

Following on from that I ordered a 0.9nd medium grad as it was one of my most used filters and conducted the same tests against the Lee version and lo and behold the results were the same, with better clarity and fine detail going to the Kase filter, although the Lee filter produced slightly warmer tones again which I preferred initially.

At this point my decision was made based on the sharpness results that I was making the switch to Kase filters and along with the better neutrality it could only be of benefit moving forward.

Fast forward a few months and very little landscape photography due to covid-19 restriction I had sold my Lee kit and replaced it with:

Kase K9 holder and polariser

Kase Wolverine 4 stop nd filter (nd1.2)

Kase Wolverine 6 stop nd filter (nd1.8)

Kase Wolverine 3 stop medium grad (0.9nd)

Kase Wolverine 3 stop reverse grad (0.9-0.6nd)

Kase Wolverine 4 stop reverse grad (1.2-0.9nd)

Kase soft filter bag

There are still a few filters I’d like to add to my kit but I will do so in time.

With the arrival of Autumn imminent and a trip to Harris and Lewis on the horizon I was keen to get out with my new filters and really test them.

Blog 6.jpg — Autumn flow

Kase polariser

First up was a trip to Alva Glen in Clackmannanshire on a rather dreich (wet, dreary) day then a morning at the Birks of Aberfeldy in Perthshire. This was my first test to see how easy it was to clean the filters as the weather wasn’t great to begin with and the water levels were lively after a few wet days previously. I’m happy to report that splashes and rain drops wipe away with ease and leave no residual marks behind. The colours remained true to the scene albeit still a bit too green (at Alva) at this point and the polariser did a fantastic job of removing glare and producing nice dark shadows. I was beginning to feel more comfortable with my new Kase kit as it was a bit of a change from the much larger Lee system I was so acclimatised to before. My worries on the cheaper feel have all but gone and I’m generally very happy with the results that the filters are producing.

They are neutral, provide great clarity and sharpness and so far appear to be robust.

Blog 7.jpg — Like a stone carried on the river

Kase polariser

Blog 8.jpg — Waterfall treasures

Kase polariser

Blog 9.jpg — Falls of Moness

Kase polariser

Blog 10.jpg — Birks of Aberfeldy

Kase Wolverine 3 stop reverse and Kase polariser

By this point I was happy I had made the correct decision to switch and my trip to the Outer Hebrides was looming on the horizon and I knew the autumnal weather would be a good challenge for the filters, particularly in dealing with lots of sea spray. I’m also pleased to report that whilst not perfect as with heavy spray they need a bit of elbow grease to clean up enough they are incredibly easy to clean salty sea spray from whilst out in the field and even easier to clean perfectly when back indoors, something that was certainly not the case with the Lee filters. I’m not much of a review writer so I’ll let the images do the talking.