Ultracontrast Filter Test (images)

Really interesting thread, and thanks for doing the test Dustin. I will say that, while I can see how some may prefer the DFX version, I really love the effect of the 1/4 ultracontrast. And there's no way the look can be duplicated that in post. Simulated, sure, but duplicated, no. While the DFX version reigns in and brightens the shadows, it doesn't really create a low-contrast look. But I guess it's really all about the look your going for, and if that look happens to be low-contrast, it looks like a filter in front of your lens is the best way to get it.
 
cowpunk52 said:
Really interesting thread, and thanks for doing the test Dustin. I will say that, while I can see how some may prefer the DFX version, I really love the effect of the 1/4 ultracontrast. And there's no way the look can be duplicated that in post. Simulated, sure, but duplicated, no. While the DFX version reigns in and brightens the shadows, it doesn't really create a low-contrast look. But I guess it's really all about the look your going for, and if that look happens to be low-contrast, it looks like a filter in front of your lens is the best way to get it.
Click to expand...

I'm no expert on the DFX plug-in yet (haven't had time to delve into it this week), but the sample I posted was its default setting. I have no idea if it can match it; a lot of reviews say it does. There are a handful of settings to play with on that filter alone.
 
hunter richards said:
DaVinchi is the color workhorse of the commercial and feature world- up until recently it was extremely expensive to buy a license but black magic designs recently acquired Davinchi and realized a mac version of it instead of just linux- and its only $999 now for the software (it was $$,$$$ before).
So yeah, get Resolve and a small panel like a tangent wave, and with some practice you can practically do anything you want color-wise. Including mimicking filters.
Click to expand...



To be clear with the Resolve, you will need a whole host of things to be up to spec and have the horsepower for working with it. Don't plan on using it with your imac and a simple external firewire drive. This means a serious graphic card, processing power and a RAID array, not to mention serious multi-core Mac Pro. Further, you better be thinking about a good grading monitor like an FSI (minimum) otherwise it is all somewhat pointless as well. All of this means $.
 
Thanks Hunter.
The Ultracon 1/4 is quite strong. Seeing that you used it on a Nikon 35mm, a thought occurs to me: the Panasonic lenses seem sharper and contrastier than the old Nikon and Canon FD glass I've used. I'll bet the kit lens or say the 20mm pancake might have rendered a contrastier image than your 35mm. Perhaps a good use of the Ultracon1/4 would be to help balance the look between the modern lenses and older glass that is lower in contrast.
In any case, looks like 1/4 would be the only one I'd get.

Thanks for the test. And next time, wear shoes!
 
can anyone link me to a US shop that has 72mm ultra contrast 1/4 ?
it seems B&H or Adorama don't really have it :(
 
dvbrother said:
Thanks Hunter.
The Ultracon 1/4 is quite strong. Seeing that you used it on a Nikon 35mm, a thought occurs to me: the Panasonic lenses seem sharper and contrastier than the old Nikon and Canon FD glass I've used. I'll bet the kit lens or say the 20mm pancake might have rendered a contrastier image than your 35mm. Perhaps a good use of the Ultracon1/4 would be to help balance the look between the modern lenses and older glass that is lower in contrast.
In any case, looks like 1/4 would be the only one I'd get.

Thanks for the test. And next time, wear shoes!
Click to expand...

There's also a 1/8 if I'm not mistaken.
 
...Just out of curiosity, I tried duplicating the 1/4 Ultra Contrast filter using the gamma and levels controls in Sony Vegas Pro. Here's what I got after 2 minutes of monkeying around. Click on the GoogleDocs pic to see them at full resolution:

No Filter

1/4 Ultra Contrast Filter

No Filter with Vegas Pro Gamma/Levels Adjustment

...The result is not the same as the actual Ultra Contrast filter, but it looks like I am in the ball park. The Sony Vegas Pro levels control is kind of crude, otherwise I think I could almost match the 1/4 Ultra Contrast filter if I also did a little bit of color correction.
 
OK, bought the DFX plugin for After Effects as an early birthday present to myself. Watch this space for more test images.
 
Post

Post

The problem with doing it in post is, the changes you make, you may not be able to recover from, or go in another direction.

With the filter, you can still make adjustments from the lower contrast image.
 
Just hit this thread and realised it's almost a year old. The images in the first post don't seem to be there anymore and there is really no good comparisons out there on the ultra contrast filter strengths, any chance I could get a working link to those images?
 
Same here just finished doing a quick test comparing the r3d epic footage and gh2 footage and it made it very clear how contrasty the gh2 is in camera. coincidentally we noticed that when we took the matte box off the camera and light flooded the corners of the lens it definitely boosted details in the darks and reduced contrast in a way matte boxes are designed to eliminate. so if anyone had samples of gh2 with and without the ultra cons that would be great.
cheers,
Jayson
youtube.com/AWDEfilms
 
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