filters to-die-for

A

alumna

Active member
How about defining a 3-category listing for filters? Ranging from the most basic and functional filters to the truly beautiful and exotic. It would also be nice to know the makers of these filters and what effects they create.

I'm hoping to enlarge my knowledge of these filters and then buy some/many/most of these filters without having to declare personal bankruptcy.

Here are the categories:

- "Must-Have"
- "Nice-to_Have"
- "To-Die-For"

Thanks!
 
Re: filters to-die-for

Filter use, like everything else, differ for every shooter. Here's what I like to use:

Must have (All Tiffen in my case):
UV/Haze filter (to protoect the lense if nothing else always stays on)
Polarizer
Black Pro-Mist (varying degrees)
White Pro-Mist (varying degrees)
ND 3 (plus other degrees, although the DVX ND works fine)
812B Warming filter

Nice to Have:

Gradients

To die for:

I would never die for any filter....I'd do it in post!! ;)

I have others that I don't use as much, if ever, so these are on the top of my mind.
Everyone will have different needs/wants in their arsenal.
 
Re: filters to-die-for

Hey,
Well like cgrosso74 said, Never die for a filter. But always have a:

*** 85 *** Shoot outside with an 85 and a lot of the noise in the blue channel is gone. Set to the 3200k preset & 85 it. CCD's are 3200k balanced.
1) Pol. (doubles as a N6 2 stop)
2) Grads: ND .3,.6,.9 & colors
3) ND's .3, .6, .9, .12
4) Softies / Diffusion
5) Corals, warms, cools, nose grease


I have never cared for a "protective" filter. If it doesn't effect the image why use it. Just be careful.

A note on diffusion, colors & softies.
If you have an Uncompressed card do the diffusion in post! It smooths out the DV 5:1 comperssion in the diffusion. Smooth & nice. Mmmm... 10 bit.

If you cut in DV only, do the diffusion/color in camera. Nothing worse than blooming highlights that clip & block up 'becuse of the 5:1 DV compression. Look in the deep shadows & near clip highlights. Poo.

Filters are like spices, use gracefully & at the right time. Or you'll have to go out for dinner.

Steve
 
Re: filters to-die-for

I have never cared for a "protective" filter. If it doesn't effect the image why use it. Just be careful.
Click to expand...

You cannot control everything and everyone all the time. So keeping an expensive lens clean and safe with a with a UV or plain glass filter is perfectly logical IMO.
 
Re: filters to-die-for

Yea, no disrespect, but it's a lot cheaper to replace a UV filter than it is to replace a cracked lens.
 
Re: filters to-die-for

i had to shoot a graphitti scene once. it was crucial to the film and we had one take (the city gave us a wall on a construction site). The sun was going down, it was a highly emotional scene. The thought hit me as all the overspray was clouding around that this would be bad for my lense, but luckily i had protective glass on so i didn't have to worry too much. And i can't tell you how many UV's i've scratched - as careful as I may be. I shot on a set where an actor had to fall off a porch and land on a constructed platform. The camera was shooting up through plexigass. Between takes i had to clean the lens because dust would fly in the air. After a couple takes of trying to clean sawdust off my cam without moving the cam from its locked position I totally scratched the clear filter up. they are relatively cheap - sure when you are starting out 70 bucks can be huge. but seriously, you don't want to replace the lens.

we used an 812 on a film heavily last year. beautiful with the 5200 setting and a black promist. Helped skin tones a ton.
 
Re: filters to-die-for

[quote author=MrBirdBoy link=board=Events;num=1107954274;start=0#2 date=02/09/05 at 08:07:48]I have never cared for a "protective" filter.  If it doesn't effect the image why use it. Just be careful.[/quote]

I think a $30 UV filter is the cheapest lens insurance you can get -- it was my first accessory
 
Re: filters to-die-for

Thanks for your views. Hope we can have more dialogue on these.

cgross74 - thanks for the range of basic filters.
MrBirdBoy - loved your "fliters and spices" analogy.
Soliton - great safety point.
stationhouse - safety and 812 -- got it!
Gabe - when it's your first, it's got to be important.
 
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