Lee Filters LEE85 Big Stopper

Lee Filters LEE85 Big Stopper

Part of the ‘The Dark Treble’ of high density neutral density filters. The Lee Filters Big Stopper is arguably the most famous filter in the world. When introduced in 2010, it was a revelation. A high density 10 Stop filter that was also neutral. Many photographers who experimented with neutral density filter had found that when combining several, the resultant image was often affected by colour casts. Impossible to cope with on film and difficult to remove easily on digital. Lee Filters developed the Big Stopper by using a specially formulated dye directly into the molten glass, instead of coating the glass.

Careful attention to the glass manufacturing also meant that there was no loss of sharpness. Original introduced for the Lee 100 System, it was a 100 x 100mm square filter that fitted the Lee Foundation Holder and could be used on other brands of holders and even a matte box. It quickly became the filter to have for landscape photographers.

Alongside the Lee Little Stopper (6 Stops) and the Lee Super Stopper (15 Stops). It’s an equally high quality filter for those photographers who love to shoot images using long exposures for creative effect.

Use of Neutral Density filters has increased greatly in photography. Shooting in bright light is easy but sometimes the compromise of a ultra fast shutter speed and very slow aperture aren’t ideal. Shooting in bright light with a fast aperture to throw the background out of focus is only possible with a ND Filter. An ability to capture images of absolute stillness and ‘freeze action’ may suit many types of photography but it’s not the only interpretation.

In landscape photography, an image of flowing water stilled and frozen often looks unnatural and odd. Using a slower shutter speed allows the flow of the water to be to natural and a sense of movement is created. Extend this further to using high density ND filter and the mood of the scene can be changed completely. Scenes can take on a more ethereal and mysterious look.

Traditionally a 3 stop ND filter was the highest value available. However it wasn’t  enough, higher density filters like the Lee Stopper range came into their own, offering choice and flexibility.

With it’s high density 10 stop value, the Big Stopper allows photographers to dramatically reduce the light level even under bright shooting conditions. When used for moving water, seascapes, clouds for example, it creates images that are dreamlike and ethereal.

All of the Lee Stopper Filters, whether for the Seven5, 85, 100 or SW150 are system filters meaning that they fit into a holder. What make this very useful compared to a screw in filter is in actual use in the field.

When setting up the shot, you would have to focus and compose with the filter removed.   Screwing on and off again a screw in filter can be tedious if having to check on focus or re-composing. AF is out of the question as the camera cannot focus with such low light levels. Setting up the camera on MF, the photographer would focus and ensure they are happy with the composition. Attempting this several times with a ND filter on and then off is far easier if using a slot-in filter.

The Lee 85 Big Stopper is a tempered glass filter. It is 85 x 90mm in size and is 2mm thick. Lee 85 Series filters have a useful thumb guides to easily position the Stopper square within the holder. It’s supplied with a metal storage tin and has a useful crib sheet for exposure calculation. Also available is a Lee Filters App for smartphones.

https://apps.apple.com/app/id1105022698

Curious about the Lee Big Stopper? Look at the helpful video created by Lee Filters.

https://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera/camera-resources