4X4 vs 4X5.650 Filters

Luke

Luke

Well-known member
I have a formatt matt box and not a one filter as of yet. I read that my formatt can take a 4X4 and a 4X5.650 filter. Is there any advantage one has over the other? Also, i've heard that when using a polarizer, you should use a screw on one rather than one that goes in a matt box. Is this true?
Thanks

Luke
 
>a 4X4 and a 4X5.650 filter. Is there any advantage one has over the other?

4x5 filters are good for grads filters to adjust the line, other than that, no...

>Also, i've heard that when using a polarizer, you should use a screw on one >rather than one that goes in a matt box. Is this true?

The advantage of a screw-on filter is that it's cheaper and that it leaves open the two formatt slots.

The dis advantage is that the Formatt screws on to the front of the filter, so the mattebox now rotates - D'oh! There is also the increased chance for vignetting on wide shots.

I have a formatt and a screw-in 72mm linear polo. While you can certainly get by, I do look forward to the day I get a "real" 4x4 polo...

This is true only for a linear polo, a circular polo does not rotate, or need to be rotated, but they are less effective than a linear.

-J
 
All the circular polarizers I've ever had for 35mm cameras rotated. You'd see a big difference as they rotated.

I also bought a 4X4 circular polarizer for my mattebox and rotating it made a big difference in the amount of polarization as well.
 
j said:
This is true only for a linear polo, a circular polo does not rotate, or need to be rotated
Click to expand...

This is not true. Both linear and circular polarizers need to be rotated to achieve the maximum polarization effect at a given angle from the sun. This is why a full featured mattebox contains at least one filter slot that can be rotated independently of the mattebox.

The difference between a linear and a circular polarizer is that the circular has an extra piece of glass, a "quarter wave retarder"--whatever that means. This is needed when used on cameras that use a beam-splitter for the auto focus and/or metering, such as modern SLR's.
 
To be safe I would just get a circular polarizer for your DVX. Tiffen is a good brand. Schneider is better but more expensive. Personally I would not get a color grad. Special effects like color grads can always be done in post. If you do it in camera and don't like it later you're screwed. My advice is to shoot footage that is as clean and as neutral as possible in camera and then add effects later in post.

The only filters I use are polarizers, ND and ND grads. The ND grads have soft transitions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top