Firecrest 100mm Holder Kit

Even though I shoot an APS-C Fuji system at the moment, I still purchased the larger 100mm version of this holder.The included polarizing filter is pretty good and the holder itself is rugged aluminum in a black matte finish. The stacked filter slots appear to be made of plastic with the front retainer in aluminum. The slots are more than a little tight, perhaps they will ease up over time.The holder is mounted with an 82mm adapter that the polarizer threads into. The holder can be used with or without the polarizing filter. Attaching the holder to your lens: I attach the appropriate stepping ring to my lens, then thread on the 82MM adapter / polarizer pair. The filter holder attaches to the adapter with two tabs, one of which is spring loaded. The tabs aren't quite as easy to use as the pull-pin on the Lee system, but after I got used to it I didn't find the tabs to be too much of a bother. Attaching and removing with gloves on will probably be a different story!I use Haida ND filters and ICE graduated NDs, both brands fit into the holder reliably and firmly. The holder itself has a gasket at the first slot so I don't add the optional gaskets to my 10-stop and 6-stop NDs. I also keep the holder at two slots rather than adding the included guides for a third filter. I only use the holder with the polarizer and one or two NDs, so far no need for a third filter.The over-designed part of the system are the included light-blocking caps that snap together around the holder frame. I find them fiddly and not quick to reattach after changing filters. With the tight sealing gasket in the primary slot I don't see the need for further light blocking between the square ND and the second slot graduated ND.Two sets of caps are included: one set with a slot for longer rectangular filters such as graduated NDs and another without the slot for times when you aren't using the longer grads. After trying the caps around the house I have never taken them into the field.I like the holder system overall and I recommend it as an alternative to more costly holders on the market.

The star rating is because I clearly received a used version when I thought I was buying new. There is no instruction book or manual. The box was taped together and I can’t tell if all pieces were included. I should have realized the price was too good to be true.

Great enhancement from previous version by putting the polarizer closer to the lense. Only one complaint is that the filter kit rotates freely while on the lens and can't be locked in a position like the previous version. Great system anyway.

I believe I was sold a defective unit - the packaging was not sealed or tapped, the cardboard spacers shown in the video were missing, and the polarizer filter was not installed, also per the manufacture website, and the whole thing pops off with the slightest touch. Thankfully I test fitted this before putting an expensive filter in it only to have a breeze blow it off breaking everything. VERY disappointing.

This is the first filter holder that I have purchased so I cannot really compare it to anything else, but so far I really love it.

Item as described, as from factory.

I find this filter holder works quite well. In particular, it does an excellent job of blocking light leaks, and the included CP is of very high quality. It is a little fidgety to change ND filters, but those little bits you have to pry off are what get that great light blockage. So I'm fine with it.Now, there is another review that criticizes this system because it's difficult to separate the 82mm CP from the geared holder. While that is true, I'm not sure why you would need to do that in the field. I'm using mine with lenses that have 72mm and 77mm filter threads, and I simply use step-down rings to mount the holder (or just the CP when I don't want ND filters) to the lenses. I've never had the need to separate the CP from the geared adapter after I initially assembled the system. I suppose if you wanted to avoid step down rings and just buy a geared adapter ring for every lens you'd have to go through the pain of separating the CP from the geared ring every time you changed lenses, but the step down rings are cheaper and easier to use, so I don't see a reason to have multiple geared rings.One thing to be aware of - and it's the reason I docked one star - is that if you happen to loose the CP, chances are you will lose it with the geared adapter ring attached. This happened to me in the field - I was using the CP stand-alone, and took it off as the sun set, and lost track of it in the dark and left it behind. OK, my fault, but the prices for the 82mm CP + the geared adapter ring is more than the whole kit. So you end up ordering a new kit if you loose the CP. Also, it's hard to get the 82mm "ultraslim non-rotating" CP. As far as I can tell, you have to order it direct from FH. So, FH, if you are listening, it would be nice if you could offer the CP+geared ring combo as a single replacement item through the major on-line retailers for at least a few bucks less than the full kit. If such an item were available at a reasonable price, I probably would have ordered it as a second CP so that I always had one with a 72mm step-down ring, and the other with a 77, to avoid the hassle of swapping step-down rings in the field.