Hitech Filters - Very useful information

Hi Everyone

Do any of you out there have a set of Hitech Filters? I do, the ND Grad 3 filter set, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 ND soft grads and very useful they are too. However, being made of resin, they are easily scratched / dulled, so you have to be careful with them and I have made the mistake of not being very careful with mine, e.g. storing them back-to-back in a pouch, with nothing between them, so they rub together and any minute dust particles effectively act like sandpaper on them.

I've found out tonight something very useful. You can polish them with 'T-Cut' car paint restorer, the type specially formulated for metallic paint, used on a damp microfibre cloth. As long as the cloth is clean, this doesn't leave scratches and restores the filters to a mirror like finish. It won't remove deep scratches, but it is effective otherwise.

Hope this is useful information for anyone with Hitech or other resin filters. BTW, it's important that the filters are coloured all the way through and not just surface coated, otherwise what I'm describing will most likely remove the coating.

Regards
David

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Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs

Thanks for the tip David,

I have the same set as you and I am concerned about scatches, so i will bear this tip in mind for when I do inevitably scratch mine.

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'The RAW is the score and the print is the performance' - Apologies to Ansel Adams

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Top tip David, thanks for that - I also have Hitech filters.

Paul

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K3ii, DA16-85, DA35mm Limited, FA77mm Limited, 55mm f1.8 K, 135mm f3.5 M, DA300, DA 1.4 HD TC,
DA16-45, Sigma 15mm f2.8. Cosina 100mm f3.5 macro

It also works a treat on dulled car head lights.

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Cheers
Brian.
LBA is good for you, a Lens a day helps you work, rest and play.

Interesting idea. Thanks. Re storage, I carry mine in a case made for CDs, with a sleeve for each -- seems to keep them in good nick, as well as organising them.

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Regards, Christopher

ChristopherWheelerPhotography

Thanks David, great tip.

Unfortunately I seem to have left my set of three 100mm ND Grads on the side of a hill in the peak district somewhere... DOH!

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FF: Pentax K-1, D-FA* 70-200, D-FA 24-70, D-FA 100, D-FA 28-105, FA 77, FA 43
APSC: K3, K5, DA*50-135, DA*300, Sigma 17-50, Sigma 10-20, 18-55mm, DA 55-300mm, DA35, 1.4TC
4/3: Q10, Q, 01, 02, 06
Fuji XT1, XF18-55, XF27

Thanks for the tip from me as well! Having got through a couple of sets over the years 'cos I haven't been careful enough, it can get expensive. So back to the old T-cut that I haven't touched for many years now!

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Andy