Probably a stupid question, but if you can't get the bezel off, how do you attach the filter? I use dc-fix on some lights but it has adhesive and it's no problem to attach and keep it there and be able to remove it. Does these filters have a similar type of adhesive?
there is no adhesive on Lee Filters
So how do you attach it to the outside of the lens, say to a Zebralight that you can’t open up?
I just press the plastic against the glass, and try to get it to jam in place. It is not ideal.
I have also used double sided tape, also not ideal.
I put a low priority on Lee Filters, they are a novelty to me, but not a serious solution for a poor LED. I tend to change the LEDs in my lights.
I do not own any zebras… you pretty much have to accept them the way they are, since they cannot be opened non destructively.
Also, I cannot clean a Lee filter with alcohol, because to my suprise, the filter dye comes off easily, leaving me with a piece of clear plastic.
Lee filters are a toy, not a serious tool.
Uh ... ok.
I’ve only used Lee filters on optics lights, since I’m able to sandwich the filter between the lens and optic. I wish I could put one on my beloved SC600 HI.
However, my ROT66 with SST20s is my favorite hiking light thanks to a lee 804 filter.
On my H600fc I put a tiny amount of glue from a glue stick around the edge between the glass and filter. It works ok but a water resistant glue might be better.
A tiny amount of contact cement around the edge of the lens. Water resistant and easy to remove with rubbing alcohol later.
On lights where the bezel is removeable I put it between the lens and bezel (or optics and lens on TIR lights).
Highly suggest the –1/4 for anyone buying filters. If a light has a high enough duv that you’ll want to lower it the 1/8 doesn’t really do enough, and the difference in total output loss between the two filter strengths is very minimal basically imperceptible.
in the Zircon filters, what # would be -1/4?
The 802 Zircon Minus Green reduces lumens by 25%,
that would be closest to the 1/2 minus Green, that reduces by 28%
Zircon 803 reduces lumens by 20%
that would be closest to Lee 249 Quarter minus green, that reduces lumens 18%
Discussed here
Examples of with and without Lee
Thanks everybody for the help. I’ll see if any of these things work for me. Otherwise I will have to live with some lights as they are or learn to swap LED’s.
this forum has a number of super helpful people that can help guide you into modding
I find it extremely rewarding, but before I invested about $300 in the tools, I used to mail my lights to other people for modding…
each light model has its own challenges, if you want help with a particular light, look for, or ask for, information about its personality quirks, and how moddable it may be
good luck fine tuning your LED options
any single light source can work, our brain adapts and adjusts to any particular source
its only when you start comparing that differences become obvious… for a example, a nichia will usually make any other LED look greener in a side by side comparison…
I’d recommend against using classic filters, only Zircon, on my H600fc the 1/4 minus green was clear after one runtime.
Edit : Actually even with the Zircon 804 it seems to have shifted ~+0.0010 duv since I put it on, I think I must have gone through around 10 cells since then. Maybe a durability test would be in order to confirm that.
agree,
I dont recommend non zircon Lee filters for more than 200 lumen output, they are not very heat resistant and can deform. Did not realize you could cook the dye off them too… but I dont have experience using 1000+ lumens…