What filters do you consider essential?

[Phil Holland]

I dont recommend stacking IRND or HMND filtration. I've tested Schneider, Tiffen, and Formatt. You will notice both color and image quality issues. They are pretty much designed in such a way that you dont have to stack. You can mix regular ND with them however.

[Dominik Muench]

I just bought the Schneider RED Essential Kit and a circular Pola. In addition to that I have a Tiffen 1/2 Soft FX filter for those critical closeups that need a bit of smoothing out ;)

[David Mullen ASC]

Since I rent my camera packages, usually the filters come from the rental house, though sometimes the AC's rent their own sets to the production. So the only filters I own are oddball diffusion filters that I don't use that often but may need now and then -- I have, for example, a #1/4 Fog, a #1/4 White Frost, a #1/4 Hollywood Black Magic, and a 3mm Blue Streak filter. Plus my homemade black net filters. Now if I'm going to diffuse a whole show on multiple cameras, then I'll rent sets of what I need, so my small collection is just for the occasional shot.

Diffusion filters range from the "mist" types that are more designed for a foggy halation around lights, versus ones that soften detail, some of which cause more halation than others.

[Shapour Daneshmand]

+1 Nick,
would you be willing to share those google docs?

[Danai Chutinaton]

I dont recommend stacking IRND or HMND filtration. I've tested Schneider, Tiffen, and Formatt. You will notice both color and image quality issues. They are pretty much designed in such a way that you dont have to stack. You can mix regular ND with them however.

Phil,I have a .9 and 1.8 HMND Formatt filters. So you are saying its OK for me to stack say a .3 regular ND behind the HMND? Because I was jus thinking of picking up one of those. Thanks for the confirmation.

[Phil Holland]

Phil,I have a .9 and 1.8 HMND Formatt filters. So you are saying its OK for me to stack say a .3 regular ND behind the HMND? Because I was jus thinking of picking up one of those. Thanks for the confirmation.

Toughie. Without knowing brands and testing it myself I have no idea. I have had acceptable results stacking IRND/HMND with normal ND filtration. However, and this is likely the biggest deal for me. I almost never have more then 1 or 2 filters in front of my glass. If I can get away with one I do. I use .9 and 1.8 the most myself. 0.6 a close third.

I would say 90% of my shooting is behind 1 HMND Formatt or other ND. If I'm shooting tungsten I'll use a up to a 1/2 CTB to bring things up to 5000k-ish and ND if appropriate. That said if I'm using tungsten I have enough control to not need ND at all.

[Danai Chutinaton]

When u say u use a 1/2 CTB u are using it on the actual light fixtures right? I would essentially get the same result with an 81c filter in front of my lens right?

[KETCH ROSSi]

I unfortunately must disagree, respectfully of course with David, as I have found my self needed even the 1.8 ND in more then one occasion, when wanting Shallow DOF while shooting mid day in the desert, so definitely do keep up to 1.8 ND's in you kit, but I do agree with David, that the .3 is useless and just adds weight and an extra layer of glass without any real benefit.

I also further do agree that the Combo IR/ND are a most for those occasions were is really needed.


Additionally don't be willing to go as low as 200 ISO, I prefer to stay at 800 Native ISO and put a stronger ND.

Soft Graduates are also a must, I have form .6 and up in both Landscape and Vertical for my portrait work.

Schneider are the only ones I use.

PS: If you need a good place to buy them at a discounted price email or PM me, I'll give you the contact.

[David Mullen ASC]

I unfortunately must disagree, respectfully of course with David, as I have found my self needed even the 1.8 ND in more then one occasion, when wanting Shallow DOF while shooting mid day in the desert, so definitely do keep up to 1.8 ND's in you kit, but I do agree with David, that the .3 is useless and just adds weight and an extra layer of glass without any real benefit.

I was talking about ND grads, not regular ND's. I try to carry up to an ND1.8 if possible.

I use the regular ND.30 all the time actually but often indoors when I want to control depth of field, reduce it by a stop.

[PatrickFaith]

*please sticky ;) ... thanks guys, this thread has helped me a lot (and simplifies a recurring question).