Integrated ND filtering

[Steven-Marc C.]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but it would great if EPIC could have some kind of integrated ND filtering system. With RED One we are very often using ND filters when shooting outside and it would be a huge time-saver and would also allow for lighter setups if there was an integrated ND filtering.

[Martin Weiss]

Would it even be possible to make an ND filter that small that would not degrade a 5k image?

[David Groundwater]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but it would great if EPIC could have some kind of integrated ND filtering system. With RED One we are very often using ND filters when shooting outside and it would be a huge time-saver and would also allow for lighter setups if there was an integrated ND filtering.

yeah i think this is a great idea - a variable nd filter (like that in the pro35 adapter) would be awesome. i've no idea how it works, but it seems to do a great job.

[Birns and Sawyer]

yeah i think this is a great idea - a variable nd filter (like that in the pro35 adapter) would be awesome. i've no idea how it works, but it seems to do a great job.

The thing in the Pro35 is an iris, not variable ND. I think he's thinking more like the Filter wheel on a 2/3" Video camera. And that sounds much more like a video camera than a film camera to me, I'd wrather have my ND's in front of the lens.

[Steven-Marc C.]

Then again, who said Epic was going to be a film camera?
You could always add your ND filters the "traditional film" way if you so choose. :)

[Pawel Achtel]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but it would great if EPIC could have some kind of integrated ND filtering system. With RED One we are very often using ND filters when shooting outside and it would be a huge time-saver and would also allow for lighter setups if there was an integrated ND filtering.

It has been discussed before. It would be an inferior solution for a number of reasons:

1. Need for very precise (flat, refractive index and accurate thickness) ND filters, even when not used (clear glass) to maintain back focus.

2. Inability to filter out IR (can't use mirrors) contamination

3. Compromised optical path

4. Dust proofing and size considerations

5. Cost

[zak forrest]

is it possible that with the newer better sensors we won't need worry about filtering IR anymore?

[zak forrest]

even if it "compromised the 5k image" i would still be way into some kind of easy/compact ND in the camera somehow. it would be a cool option, but if its not possible i can understand

[Dan Hudgins]

It has been discussed before. It would be an inferior solution for a number of reasons:

1. Need for very precise (flat, refractive index and accurate thickness) ND filters, even when not used (clear glass) to maintain back focus.

2. Inability to filter out IR (can't use mirrors) contamination

3. Compromised optical path

4. Dust proofing and size considerations

5. Cost


All those are good points, but I would add that there is already too much glass thickness with the coverglass and OLPF for fast lenses to be used and get their full sharpness, if you add more glass thickness behind the lens without compensating for the negative spherical aberration you end up with even more fuzz.

If RED could make special lenses just for that camera that are adjusted for a thick plate behind the lens like the Bolex RX series of lenses, then you could put a filter wheel close to the rear element to avoid some of the dust issue or have the wheel in a sealed chamber with a cover glass window on top and turn the filter wheel with a small motor inside the chamber.

But making special lenses would limit the camera to those lenses only, not something that would help sell the cameras...

You could always make your own gel filter holder for lower value ND filters, but gel filters pass IR so you are limited as to how high you can go without an IR filter in front of the lens.

[zak forrest]

maybe in the future we can actually get an iso 50 or 100? that would be sweet. is this a possibility?

[Brook Willard]

Please no... no internal filters...