Lee 250HT

Overview

A product designated "Lee 250HT" does not exist. The term combines two real, but unrelated, categories from Lee Filters into a phantom item. Anyone encountering "250HT" is most likely referring to one of the following two distinct items:

• the Lee 250 – Half White Diffusion, a standard, medium-strength diffusion filter from Lee's White Diffusion range;
• or a filter from Lee's separate HT range ("High Temperature"), which, however, comprises *exclusively* heat-resistant color and correction filters.

A heat-resistant "HT version" of the 250 diffusion is not available in the Lee catalog – neither as a product nor as a designation.

Why "250HT" is Incorrect

Two points make the designation recognizably constructed:

• Incorrect Naming Convention: Lee's HT items follow the prefix format HTxxx (e.g., HT009 Pale Amber Gold, HT024 Scarlet, HT115, HT121, HT141) or, for sheets, the form xxxSHT (e.g., 024SHT). A "Number + HT" notation like "250HT" does not appear in the catalog.
• Incorrect Product Category: The HT program consists only of color/correction filters. Diffusion filters like the 250 (Half White), 251, 216, or 129 are not available in an HT version.

Functionally, HT diffusion is unnecessary anyway: The standard 250 is already manufactured on a polyester base that, according to the manufacturer, is heat-resistant up to approximately 180 °C (356 °F). A dedicated high-temperature diffusion filter was therefore never part of the Lee program.

The Real Lee 250 (Half White Diffusion)

The following values refer to the actually existing Lee 250 diffusion filter (Source: Lee Filters):

The Real HT Range (High Temperature)

Lee's HT filters are color or correction filters designed for use near hot, high-output incandescent light sources. They utilize a different base material that withstands higher temperatures; the manufacturer's stated maximum operating temperature is approximately 220 °C. Examples from the range include HT009 (Pale Amber Gold), HT024 (Scarlet), HT115 (Peacock Blue), HT121 (Lee Green), and HT141 (Bright Blue). The HT program has since been reduced or partly discontinued; availability of individual HT items should be checked before purchase.

On-Set Application

For diffusion, one would use the regular 250: the Half White is a common "medium" diffusion grade – stronger than 251/252 (Quarter/Eighth White), weaker than 216 (White Diffusion) or 129 (Heavy Frost). Typical applications:

• Softening hard sources (e.g., Fresnels, open-face lights) to create softer light on faces and sets.
• Spanning frames, floppies, or attaching directly to the light's barndoors.
• Reducing double shadows and specular highlights with moderate light loss.

Conversely, if a *color* is to be placed near a very hot source, a genuine HT color filter (HTxxx) would be used – not a non-existent "250HT".