Group Buy - Formatt-Hitech Firecrest ND Filters

[Phil Holland]

This Group Buy has now concluded!

Hello all,

Here's a rather good Group Buy for what I feel are the best quality ND filters on the market that I've wanted to put together for along time. This is a direct result of people asking for Neutral Density advice and is something I can get behind.

I've done some fairly extensive testing that can be seen here:
Close Look - Formatt-Hitech Firecrest ND Filters

More than that test I've been using these on nearly every shoot I've had in the last 2+ years. They are indeed the most neutral and color matched filters on the market. The 4mm filters they make for Matte Box use have the rare earth metal coating applied to one of surface and then is sandwiched together, which means the coating won't scratch off when you clean and/or ding your filters. That's a good thing.


REDUSER Formatt Firecrest Group Buy Details

What's being offered from Formatt-Hitech directly:
- Any Formatt Firecrest Neutral Density Filter Size
- 5 Orders = 20% Off
- 10 Orders = 25% Off
- 15 Orders = 30% Off
* If you order 5 or more filters you get an additional 5% off your total order.


We have Firecrest NDs both for Matte Box use and Screw-In available in this group buy as well as a few common kit filters like Linear and Circular Polarizers, Optical Flat/Clear, Black Supermist Diffisuion, Low Contrast, and the Firecrest ND Horizontal Grads.


Firecrest ND for Matte Box:
- Available Densities: .3, .6, .9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0, 3.9, 4.8
- 4x4" - $370.82 ea ($424 for ND 4.8)
- 4x5.65" - $477 ea
- 6.6x6.6" - $636 ea

Linear Polarizer: (before GB discount)
- 4x4" - $138 ea
- 4x5.65" - $267 ea
- 6.6x6.6" - $310 ea
- 95mm Screw-In - $195.50
- 105mm Screw-In - $287
- 127mm Screw-In - $431

Circular Polarizer: (before GB discount)
- 4x4" - $210 ea
- 4x5.65" - $287 ea
- 6.6x6.6" - $430 ea
- 95mm Screw-In - $229.50
- 105mm Screw-In - $306
- 127mm Screw-In - $459

Optical Flat/Clear: (before GB discount)
- 4x4" - $77 ea
- 4x5.65" - $110 ea
- 6.6x6.6" - $240 ea
- 95mm Screw-In - $84
- 105mm Screw-In - $114
- 138mm Screw-In - $188

Black Supermist: (before GB discount)
- Only available in 4x5.65" size with strengths of 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, and 2
- $286 ea

Low Contrast Filter: (before GB discount)
- Available in strengths of 1, 2, and 3.
- 4x5.65" - $287 ea
- 6.6x6.6" - $430 ea


Firecrest ND HORIZONTAL GRAD: (before GB discount)
- Only available in 4x5.65" size with strengths of .3, .6, .9, 1.2, and 1.5
- $530 ea

If you are using lighter weight glass and desire crew-in filters (useful for gimbal for instance), here you go:

Firecrest ND SuperSlim Screw-In: (before GB discount, prices for each filter)
- Available Densities: .3, .6, .9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0
- 52mm - $95 for ND 0.3-1.5, $106 for ND 1.5-3.0
- 58mm - $100 for ND 0.3-1.2, $111 for ND 1.5-3.0
- 62mm - $111 for ND 0.3-1.5, $126 for ND 1.8-3.0
- 67mm - $111 for ND 0.3-1.5, $126 for ND 1.8-3.0
- 72mm - $115 for ND 0.3-1.5, $132 for ND 1.8-3.0
- 77mm - $126 for ND 0.3-1.2, $147 for ND 1.5-3.0
- 82mm - $159 for ND 0.3-1.2, $185 for ND 1.5-3.0
- 95mm - $212.50 for ND .3-2.4
- 105mm - $238 for ND .3-2.4
- 127mm - $382.50 for ND .3-2.4

Shipping Details, Payment, and Tax Details
- Available to all countries
- Shipping Cost Domestic = $15
- Shipping from UK for International and UK/EU = $40
- California Sales Tax (if you ship to CA), Import and VAT from US if you're an international buyer.
- Filters are in stock and will ship once payment is received at the end of the Group Buy
- Payment will be done to Formatt-Hitech via Paypal or approved Credit Card

Group Buy Close Date: June 1st 2016

Just list what you'd like in something coherent like:
1X of .3, .6, .9 in 4x5.65" size for example.


My Tips
If you are just gearing up for the first time I'd recommend 0.3-0.9 and maybe adding the 1.2 in there. Those 3 or 4 NDs will make up 90% of your shooting typically and is pretty much an expected basic set of ND on set.

If you are looking to get the most out of this Group Buy, I'd likely recommend .3, .6, .9, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 as a 6 filter set and you'd save a hunk of cash. ND 1.8 is pretty common for daylight shooting between T1.3-2.8. Or grab two sets of basics or grab a set of basics for matte box and screw-in use. Lot's of ways to look at this.

If you're curious what my personal set consists of I use 4x5.6" 0.3-3.0 and also 77mm screw-ins of the same density for lightweight rigging. And I'll likely be picking up a few of those 13 and 16 stop NDs for my kit via this GB.


Formatt-Hitech Firecrest Group Buy Participants: - List updated 05.02.16 (we reached our tier goal in 48 hours!)
- Full list found in this post

 

[roryhinds]

Hi Phil does this GB apply to the 95mm threaded round filters?

 

[PatrickFaith]

I'm in, thanks Phil for putting this together:

1X firecrest ND of .3, .6, .9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1 in 4x5.65"


[I btw just had to do some hacky color grading tonight because another manufacturers ND filter shifted things green]

 

[Alvise Tedesco]

Last year I paid 406€ (573€ minus a 172€ voucher discount that I'm pretty sure came from here) for a set of circular 77.
Today price would be 697€.
The higher 30% discount would get me at 488€..

Happy I bought already those great NDs..

 

[Stacey Spears]

I would like:

95mm Circular Firecrest ND (Screw-In) http://www.formatt-hitech.com/filters/circular-firecrest-nd-filters2
1 x 0.3
1 x 0.6
1 x 0.9
1 x 1.2
1 x 1.5
1 x 1.8
1 x 3.0

95mm Circular Firecrest ND Soft Edge Grad (Screw-In) http://www.formatt-hitech.com/filters/firecrest-nd-soft-edge-grad
1 x 0.6
1 x 0.9

95 Firecrest Circular Polariser (Screw-In) http://www.formatt-hitech.com/filters/firecrest-circular-polarizer
1 x SuperSlim

95mm Firecrest UV 370 (Screw-In) http://www.formatt-hitech.com/filters/firecrest-uv-370-ultraslim-non-stackable-52mm-82mm
1 x UltraSlim

2 x 95mm optical flat (Screw-In) if they make one.

 

[Phil Holland]

On it guys. Investigating to see if they can swing the 95mm filters and in what densities. I'll ask about the Circular Polarizer too as this was purely for the NDs, don't know if will fit in.

 

[Note Suwanchote]

I'm a bit confused. For something like the 77mm size. Is there 2? Superslim and non superslim or is there just one?

 

[Note Suwanchote]

I'm a bit confused. For something like the 77mm size. Is there 2? Superslim and non superslim or is there just one?

Also it seems like for circular ones you need to buy 2 to get savings after the discounts since BH sells them for pretty cheap with free shipping. But other than that, thanks!

 

[Phil Holland]

Hi Phil does this GB apply to the 95mm threaded round filters?

Just got word that YES it does include the 95mm and I've added the price to use.

Same question as Rory, I would like a set of 95mm screw on to fit the Otus lenses.

I want:

1 x .3, .6, .9, 1.2 and circular pola in 95mm screw-on.

Got it and you are officially #1 on the list.

I'm a bit confused. For something like the 77mm size. Is there 2? Superslim and non superslim or is there just one?

Just Superslim for this Group Buy. The good thing about the slimmer ring is that it avoids potential vignetting that you can occasionally get on certain lenses.

 

[Oron Cohen]

Hi Phil,

This sounds very interesting and thanks for putting this together!

It's not clear from the post where is it shipped from? I'm in the UK (at least part of the time) , and Formatt is a UK company so are they shipping from the US or UK? it doesn't make sense to pay $80 shipping for filters that are made in the UK if it's coming from US stock.

Also, will be great to have the price in Pounds if possible?

p.s In the beginning when I read the post I actually thought that by GB you meant Great Britain lol...

 

[Fergus Cahill]

Hi Phil,

Awesome, Just have to choose what to order! - Will this include 'clears' ?

thanks

 

[Phil Holland]

Hi Phil,

Awesome, Just have to choose what to order! - Will this include 'clears' ?

I'll ask Fergus. Don't think that's out of the question for sure.

 

[Phil Holland]

Hi Phil,

This sounds very interesting and thanks for putting this together!

It's not clear from the post where is it shipped from? I'm in the UK (at least part of the time) , and Formatt is a UK company so are they shipping from the US or UK? it doesn't make sense to pay $80 shipping for filters that are made in the UK if it's coming from US stock.

Also, will be great to have the price in Pounds if possible?

p.s In the beginning when I read the post I actually thought that by GB you meant Great Britain lol...

Shipping is indeed from Los Angeles, CA. However, if you're ordering a full set of 4x5.65s you will still be saving a good amount of cash in my opinion to make up for the downsides of the shipping costs.

 

[Oron Cohen]

Shipping is indeed from Los Angeles, CA. However, if you're ordering a full set of 4x5.65s you will still be saving a good amount of cash in my opinion to make up for the downsides of the shipping costs.

Thanks for the update. I was interested in 1-2 4x4 filters, so I guess this is not for me.

US buyers always get the best deals :smile5:

 

[Andrew Wonder]

+1 thanks Phil

 

[Kazu Okuda]

im not decided in how many but im in.

 

[Jack Shanahan]

Does this include horizontal graduated ND in 4x5?

 

[Kemalettin Sert]

best quality ND filters on market? Have you tested against NiSi?

 

[Phil Holland]

best quality ND filters on market? Have you tested against NiSi?

Yep. I've literally tested everything at this point.

The biggest differnece between the two is Nisi's coatings are on the outside of the glass. It's good tech, but durability is a concern for me.

Formatt's tech in terms of coatings is similar but lives between two pieces of optical glass. Your coating will never get damaged or rub off after numerous cleanings.

 

[Nathan Grubbs]

Wow, great deal. Phil, how do you feel about getting a larger set and using step down rings on various lenses? Any downside, besides it being kind of a pain?