Lee Filters
Lee Filters is a UK-based manufacturer of precision camera and lighting filters serving film, television, theatre, photography, and architectural lighting professionals. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Panavision Group, it sells through LEE Direct e-commerce, Amazon, and a global dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersBurbank, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lee Filters does
LEE Filters is a UK-headquartered manufacturer of precision optical filters and lighting gels serving professional and enthusiast users in film, television, theatre, photography, and architectural lighting. Founded circa 1970 (firmographic source: 1967) and operating for over 50 years, the company builds polyester-based filter media with proprietary colour-coating technologies and offers two principal product families: lighting gels (colour-effect filters, technical filters such as CTB/CTO/ND, diffusion filters, and LED-specific Zircon filters) and camera filters (LEE Elements screw-in line, the modular LEE100 system, and ProGlass Cine IRND filters for cinematography). The company supports these with digital workflow tools including a System Match configurator, Gel Comparator, Diffusion Comparator, Colour Temperature Calculator, and a Diffusion Index (LDI) standard.
The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Panavision Group, sitting alongside Panavision cameras, Panalux lighting, Direct Digital, and Island Studios. This positioning embeds LEE's products within the dominant professional cinema equipment ecosystem and underpins a portfolio of high-profile production credits (Game of Thrones, The Crown, Downton Abbey, Red Notice, The Father, Fleabag, among others). Production-grade validation and independent third-party testing (e.g., vectorscope evaluation by Ludwig Kameraverleih confirming consistent white-point neutrality across ProGlass Cine IRND densities) reinforce the technical reputation.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of lighting gels (in rolls and sheets), camera filter systems, and aftermarket accessories. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce via LEE Direct storefronts in the UK, US, and Canada, Amazon marketplace listings in UK and US, and a global authorized-dealer network serving enterprise/professional buyers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers are directed to direct storefronts or dealers for quotes. Customer segments span professional film/TV production (primary), professional photography (primary), theatre and live events, architectural lighting, and a long tail of enthusiast consumers acquired through the LEE Elements line.
Lee Filters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lee Filters
- Legal name
- LEE Filters (Panavision Group)
- Website
- https://leefilters.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Lee Filters is a UK-based manufacturer of precision camera and lighting filters serving film, television, theatre, photography, and architectural lighting professionals. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Panavision Group, it sells through LEE Direct e-commerce, Amazon, and a global dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lee Filters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Camera and Lighting Filters
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lenses & Optical Accessories (Lenses, Filters, Adapters, Teleconverters) (CRACAPAF)
Keywords
Where Lee Filters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burbank
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Lee Filters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Lighting Filter Sales: Sale of colour effect lighting gels, diffusion filters, and technical filters to film, TV, theatre, event, and architectural lighting professionals. Filters sold in rolls (various widths and lengths) and sheets.
- Camera Filter Systems: Sale of camera filter systems including LEE Elements (screw-in filters), LEE100 modular system components (filter holders, adaptor rings, ND filters, polarisers, stoppers), and ProGlass Cine IRND filters.
- Aftermarket Accessories: Sale of spare parts, accessories, and filter system components for LEE filter holders and adaptor rings.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lee Filters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lee Filters manufactures precision optical filters for photography and cinematography, including lighting gels, camera filters (neutral density, polarisers, diffusion), and modular filter systems. The company sells professional-grade lighting and lens filter products to film and television production, photographers, theatre and live events, and architectural lighting applications, with distribution via direct online stores and authorized dealers.
Product overview
LEE Filters is a manufacturer of precision optical filters serving photographers, cinematographers, lighting designers, and architects for over 50 years. The company operates as part of the Panavision Group. Their product portfolio spans two main categories: (1) Lighting Filters/Gels including Colour Effect Lighting Filters with over 100+ colour varieties (lavender, blue, green, amber, red, pink, and special effect colours), Zircon LED-specific filters (minus green, warm amber, cool blue correctors, diffusion, density), Technical Filters (CTB, CTO, ND, correction), Diffusion Filters (white diffusion, frost, grid cloth), and specialized filters for Film & TV, Photography, and Theatre & Events; (2) Camera Filters including the LEE Elements line (screw-in VND 2-5/6-9 stops, CPL, Big/Little Stopper in 67-82mm sizes), the professional LEE100 modular filter system (with holder, adaptor rings, ND/stoppers/polarisers/specialist filters), and ProGlass Cine IRND filters for cinematographers. The company also offers supporting tools including a System Match tool, Gel Comparator, Diffusion Comparator, Colour Comparison Tool, and Colour Temperature Calculator. Products are available for purchase directly through LEE Direct in UK, US, and Canada, as well as through authorized dealers globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LEE Elements: Screw-in circular lens filters for photographers including VND filters, CPL filter, and Stoppers
- LEE100
- ProGlass Cine IRND
- Zircon
Products and services
- LEE Elements A line of photography lighting filters aimed at photography enthusiasts and content creators, including the Nocturnal Blue (599) filter launched in 2024 for dark/moody lighting effects.
- LEE100 Filter System A modular 100mm filter system for photographers combining holders, adaptor rings, and a range of glass and resin filters (ND, polarisers, grad NDs) for landscape and travel photographers.
- ProGlass Cine IRND Professional-grade cinema neutral density filters designed for film and television production, offering precise light control with infrared blocking for high-resolution digital cinema cameras.
- Zircon LED Lighting Filters A range of lighting gels specifically engineered for LED light sources, addressing the colour-rendering issues of LED fixtures used in film, TV, photography, and live events.
- Colour Effect Lighting Filters Standard polyester lighting gels offering a broad spectrum of colours for dramatic and corrective lighting in film, TV, photography, theatre, and architectural applications.
- Technical Lighting Filters Functional lighting filters including diffusion, colour-correction (CTB/CTO), and minus-green filters used by lighting professionals to modify and balance light output.
- Diffusion Lighting Filters Lighting filters that soften, scatter, or shape light from studio and production fixtures, used by cinematographers, gaffers, and lighting designers across film, photography, and live events.
- Lighting Filter Packs Curated assortments of lighting filters pre-selected for film & TV production, photography, or theatre & events applications, sold as bundled sets for working professionals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Independent vectorscope testing confirms ProGlass Cine IRND maintains consistent 70% Y (white point) across all ND densities from Clear to ND 2.1
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Lee Filters
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lee Filters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
Lee Filters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PanavisionflagshipLEE Filters is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panavision, the market-leading cinema camera and lighting equipment company. This parent-subsidiary relationship provides strategic integration with Panavision's cinema equipment ecosystem and validates LEE Filters' products through use by Panavision's professional cinematography clientele.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lee Filters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rosco: Rosco is LEE Filters' primary direct competitor across both lighting gels and cinema/photography filters, with comparable depth of colour gel ranges, diffusion products and on-set adoption. LEE even publishes a Gel Comparator that maps to Rosco equivalents, underscoring their direct rivalry for film/TV/theatrical lighting designers.
- Formatt Hitech (Firecrest): Formatt Hitech manufactures professional ND, IRND and cinema filter systems (notably the Firecrest line) that directly compete with LEE's ProGlass Cine IRND and LEE100 ND range. They serve the same cinematographer and professional photographer customer base with comparable technical positioning.
- Schneider-Kreuznach (B+W Filters): Schneider-Kreuznach, through its B+W filter brand, is a long-established manufacturer of screw-in camera filters (ND, polarisers, UV) competing directly with LEE Elements. The two compete for the professional and enthusiast still-photography market on optical quality, coatings and durability.
- Tiffen: Tiffen manufactures camera filters, lens accessories and lighting gels, competing with LEE across both the still-photography filter range and professional cinema/photography markets. Tiffen and LEE are both fixtures on US-set production and photography accessory lists.
- Cokin: Cokin pioneered the modular filter holder system for photographers (the Cokin P, X, Z series), which is the conceptual predecessor to LEE's LEE100 modular system. Cokin still competes with LEE in the modular square-filter category at typically lower price points.
- Hoya Filters: Hoya is a major global manufacturer of screw-in camera filters (UV, CPL, ND) competing with LEE Elements, particularly in the consumer and enthusiast photography market. Hoya is a meaningful competitor in the high-volume circular filter segment where LEE Elements competes.
Emerging players
- NiSi Filters: NiSi is an emerging global player in professional and prosumer camera filter systems (screw-in, square/holder ND, IRND, polarisers) competing directly with LEE Elements and LEE100. NiSi has gained meaningful share on price-performance in the enthusiast segment that LEE targets with LEE Elements.
- Haida: Haida is a fast-growing Chinese filter manufacturer offering ND, IRND, polarisers and modular filter systems at aggressive price points, competing directly with LEE Elements and LEE100 in the still-photography and emerging-content-creator segments.
- Aputure: Aputure is a leading manufacturer of professional LED lighting fixtures for film/TV production (Nova, LS, MT series) and an emerging ecosystem partner/competitor: its lights compete for fixture share against LED fixtures that LEE's Zircon range is designed to colour-correct, making Aputure both an indirect customer and a substitute threat.
Broad incumbents
- ARRI: ARRI is the dominant manufacturer of cinema cameras (Alexa) and professional LED lighting fixtures (SkyPanel, Orbiter), and is both a customer-adjacent ecosystem partner and an indirect threat: ARRI's own LED fixture colour science competes with LEE's Zircon correction filters, and ARRI's rental ecosystem can substitute or complement LEE products on set.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lee Filters social profiles
Digital presenceLee Filters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lee Filters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Lee Filters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lee Filters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lee Filters
What does Lee Filters do?
Lee Filters manufactures precision optical filters for photography and cinematography, including lighting gels, camera filters (neutral density, polarisers, diffusion), and modular filter systems. The company sells professional-grade lighting and lens filter products to film and television production, photographers, theatre and live events, and architectural lighting applications, with distribution via direct online stores and authorized dealers.
Is Lee Filters a public or private company?
Lee Filters is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Lee Filters founded?
Lee Filters was founded in 1970. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lee Filters based?
Lee Filters is headquartered in Burbank, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lee Filters make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Lighting Filter Sales are the primary driver. The others are camera Filter Systems and aftermarket Accessories.
Who are Lee Filters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rosco, Formatt Hitech (Firecrest), Schneider-Kreuznach (B+W Filters), Tiffen, Cokin and Hoya Filters. Emerging players are NiSi Filters, Haida and Aputure. ARRI is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Lee Filters have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lee Filters.
What industry is Lee Filters in?
Lee Filters's product category is Camera and Lighting Filters. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAPAF, Lenses & Optical Accessories (Lenses, Filters, Adapters, Teleconverters). Its NAICS code is 33431 and its SIC code is 3827.