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I would like to share my first hand experience and mini review on my newly discovered filter company.
On my quest to add a wide angle lens for my landscape shots, my first choice was the Nikkor 14-24 f2.8. The front element of the lens is exposed and needs a special filter holder to use landscape filters on it. Companies like Lee, Lucroit and Fotodiox Wonderpana have this special filter holder dedicated for this lens and they are quite expensive.
Considering the cost and availability of filters, I went with my second choice lens, the Nikkor 16-35 f4 and some filters from Lee.
After weeks of shooting with the Nikkor 16-35, the urge of getting the Nikkor 14-24 didn't subside. So I did some research again for good alternatives to Lee filters and stumbled on this company: Progreyusa http://www.progreyusa.com/ . They are based in the US and specialize in landscape filters and holders. They also have the kit and filters dedicated for ultra wide angle lenses, like the Nikkor 14-24 f2.8 and Canon 14mm L lens.
I asked the ever helpful Google to get more information and reviews for Progreyusa and found some articles, but they weren’t comprehensively detailed, so I decided to send a message to the company itself. All of my questions and queries were patiently answered by Lynn Radeka of http://www.radekaphotography.com, the USA distributor of Progrey filters and holders.
After days of brainstorming, and contemplating if I should give up my existing tried and tested landscape set up from Lee to make way for this new filter company, I followed my instinct and bit the bullet. I placed my order on Progreyusa!
My orders were processed and shipped immediately from the US to the UK. After two weeks of waiting and sleepless nights, thinking if I made the right decision, the package arrived at our door step. It included:
Filter holder: Build is very high quality and is well made from lightweight ultra-hard aero-aluminum materials. It comes with its own bag, 2 extra filter clips for filter stacking (max of 3), lens cap, screws and an allen wrench. Holder can be rotated 360 degrees, tension can be adjusted by a small screw.
Filter adaptor: Same high quality build and construction as the Progrey filter holder.
GND filter: Made with Ultra-clear CR39 resin. Each filter comes with a soft fabric pouch to protect it from scratches. There is no color shift from these filters.
I was eager to test my newly acquired landscape filter set up when it arrived, but living in the United Kingdom, we all know that the weather is unpredictable so I had to wait a bit longer.
Here are the factors that made me switch from the Lee system to the Progrey system:
- cost effective both for the filter holder and filters
- you can use a CPL with 82mm thread and smaller with their filter adaptor without using an expensive CPL holder
- proper lens cap
- they will soon release their ND glass in different stops up to 12-stop, filter size of 150mm x 170mm will also be available. I am assured that these new filters will be state-of-the-art and will yield absolutely no color shift.
- more products will soon be available from Progrey
Opportunity came and weather permitted, I drove for almost 3 hours to a location and gave the Progrey filters a test.
Here's how the Progrey Filter System looks like on my Nikkor 14-24 f2.8:
Progey test by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
Progey test by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
And some sample images:
JCS_2840 copyr_wm by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
JCS_2813 copyr_wm by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
JCS_2848 copy 2r_wm by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
Final thoughts:
Looking for a good alternative with the well known and established brand, I'm very happy that I found Progreyusa. In my opinion and based on my experience it is at par or much better with the well know filter system. There is no regret that I switched filter system and I just wish I've know this brand much earlier in time. I started introducing this system to some enthusiast friends of mine, couple of them already switched and like me, they are very happy with the results.
Thank you for spending some time reading this and if you have any questions just post it in this thread and will try my best to help and answer it.
On my quest to add a wide angle lens for my landscape shots, my first choice was the Nikkor 14-24 f2.8. The front element of the lens is exposed and needs a special filter holder to use landscape filters on it. Companies like Lee, Lucroit and Fotodiox Wonderpana have this special filter holder dedicated for this lens and they are quite expensive.
Considering the cost and availability of filters, I went with my second choice lens, the Nikkor 16-35 f4 and some filters from Lee.
After weeks of shooting with the Nikkor 16-35, the urge of getting the Nikkor 14-24 didn't subside. So I did some research again for good alternatives to Lee filters and stumbled on this company: Progreyusa http://www.progreyusa.com/ . They are based in the US and specialize in landscape filters and holders. They also have the kit and filters dedicated for ultra wide angle lenses, like the Nikkor 14-24 f2.8 and Canon 14mm L lens.
I asked the ever helpful Google to get more information and reviews for Progreyusa and found some articles, but they weren’t comprehensively detailed, so I decided to send a message to the company itself. All of my questions and queries were patiently answered by Lynn Radeka of http://www.radekaphotography.com, the USA distributor of Progrey filters and holders.
After days of brainstorming, and contemplating if I should give up my existing tried and tested landscape set up from Lee to make way for this new filter company, I followed my instinct and bit the bullet. I placed my order on Progreyusa!
My orders were processed and shipped immediately from the US to the UK. After two weeks of waiting and sleepless nights, thinking if I made the right decision, the package arrived at our door step. It included:
Filter holder: Build is very high quality and is well made from lightweight ultra-hard aero-aluminum materials. It comes with its own bag, 2 extra filter clips for filter stacking (max of 3), lens cap, screws and an allen wrench. Holder can be rotated 360 degrees, tension can be adjusted by a small screw.
Filter adaptor: Same high quality build and construction as the Progrey filter holder.
GND filter: Made with Ultra-clear CR39 resin. Each filter comes with a soft fabric pouch to protect it from scratches. There is no color shift from these filters.
I was eager to test my newly acquired landscape filter set up when it arrived, but living in the United Kingdom, we all know that the weather is unpredictable so I had to wait a bit longer.
Here are the factors that made me switch from the Lee system to the Progrey system:
- cost effective both for the filter holder and filters
- you can use a CPL with 82mm thread and smaller with their filter adaptor without using an expensive CPL holder
- proper lens cap
- they will soon release their ND glass in different stops up to 12-stop, filter size of 150mm x 170mm will also be available. I am assured that these new filters will be state-of-the-art and will yield absolutely no color shift.
- more products will soon be available from Progrey
Opportunity came and weather permitted, I drove for almost 3 hours to a location and gave the Progrey filters a test.
Here's how the Progrey Filter System looks like on my Nikkor 14-24 f2.8:
Progey test by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
Progey test by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
And some sample images:
JCS_2840 copyr_wm by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
JCS_2813 copyr_wm by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
JCS_2848 copy 2r_wm by PopeyeBX, on Flickr
Final thoughts:
Looking for a good alternative with the well known and established brand, I'm very happy that I found Progreyusa. In my opinion and based on my experience it is at par or much better with the well know filter system. There is no regret that I switched filter system and I just wish I've know this brand much earlier in time. I started introducing this system to some enthusiast friends of mine, couple of them already switched and like me, they are very happy with the results.
Thank you for spending some time reading this and if you have any questions just post it in this thread and will try my best to help and answer it.