I just learned my lesson with square filters

[PaulWog]

I didn't break anything luckily, but I scuffed up the foam light sealing sticker (light sealing gasket). This doesn't sound like a big deal, but it's a $200 filter and a $150 filter holder...

The Haida filter holder comes with a sealing material built onto it. The Lee filters also come with a sealing material built onto them. This sealing material is a foam-like material that is designed to form a light seal (so light can only get in through the front of the filter). They are not designed to be pressed together (two different brands, two different builds).

Anyways, with the Lee system, you have to put the filter in with the foam facing toward the camera. on the Haida system, you have to put the filter in with the foam facing away from the camera. Lesson learned.

I had to spend a good 30 minutes cleaning off adhesive material from my filter after that, and the sealing material on my filter is scuffed up. I also got a tiny tiny scratch on my filter, but it's incredibly small and doesn't come through in pictures (on UWA lenses these things come through a lot more easily, so I was worried).

So anyways. To anyone who buys a 150x150 filter, or even a 100x100 filter, pay attention to which way you insert the filter. If the system already has foam built onto it, flip the filter around if the filter also has foam...

 

[EIngerson]

Ouch! That sucks.