What filters do you consider essential?

[PatrickFaith]

When should I buy 4x4 vs 4x5.65 - I normally buy 4x4. When would I ever need a wider one ( does the 6k sensor maybe need the wider one, or anamorphic lenses)?

When googling ... found the answer in reduser : http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...4x4-vs-4x-5-65

[Jon Chema]

The more expensive streak filters embed a cylindrical glass rod or something like that, very thin, and that can be dyed a color. The higher the number, 1mm thru 4mm, the lighter the effect, though it is less about how often or dramatic the streak appears but how large it appears, the 1mm produces a bigger softer blue smear, the 4mm produces a fainter, sharper blue line (most people buy the 2mm apparently). Stan Wallace at the Filter Gallery makes some special-order ones where the blue streak only happens in one area of the filter for those people that only want the effect near the bottom third, let's say, for car headlamps, etc. I'm sure those cost even more.

Interesting. On another note I watched an episode of "SMASH" tonight. Great work! I really liked what I did with the overall look.

J

[Jon Chema]

When should I buy 4x4 vs 4x5.65 - I normally buy 4x4. When would I ever need a wider one ( does the 6k sensor maybe need the wider one, or anamorphic lenses)?

When googling ... found the answer in reduser : http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...4x4-vs-4x-5-65

I think David will agree with this but 4x5.65 or Panavision sized are the industry standard. They fit the aspect ratio and are just overall bigger and more useful filters. You can use them on lenses with larger front elements.

[Danai Chutinaton]

Thank you Phil and Blair for yout advice on CTB filters!

[Gavin Greenwalt]

That will be dependent on you. After speaking with Evin about his experiences for a bit and testing out all the Schneider CTBs I find I use the 1/2 CTB the most. I use this primarily when shooting VFX elements on blue or green screen, but also interiors. Personally I like nice, clean, pristine material. It's not a necessity, but for the work I do I somewhat feel that it is.

Same thoughts about Formatt HMND (Hot Mirror/ND combo filters). You can use Schneider or Tiffen and grade the difference, but Formatt appears to give me a better image. Here's my post comparing the Schneider IRND and the Formatt HMND.





I have done more tests since then and feel particularly towards deeper ND filtration (past 0.9) it becomes more and more important. I recommend and use the Formatts, but the Schnieder IRNDs are again within color correction range for me.

Man. Formatt should send me a full set of 4x5.65s at this point :)

Hmmm, now I'm up in the air. I was looking at this test (http://gettingelemental.blogspot.com...tion-epic.html) and the Schneiders seemed like the clear winner. Is it easier to black balance or white balance for best results?

[Pasha Patriki]

We recently tested filters from Tiffen and Schneider in various combinations, IRND vs. Hot MIrror, Vs. T1, stacked with ND's and not stacking... I will prepare a nice table and post it on Reduser and CML soon.. One interesting thing I noticed - in pretty much every series the IRND 1.8 was very different from the rest of the IRND's in the same series. While IRND 1.5 andf 2.1 were usually pretty close, the 1.8 has very different IR contamination, as with Tiffen IRND and Scneider Platinum...
It's like as if the 1.8 ND and IR combination is the most challenging for the manufacturers?
So I think I am going to skip that filter from now on... I would carry IRND 1.5 and 2.1 and then stack a regular ND .3 on top of IRND 1.5 if I need to get the exact stop.

[Joshua Reis]

I have added an 80C filter to my collection sand find I use it on nearly every tungsten green screen shoot. It balances 3200k to 4400k. It helps reducing noise in the blue channel on a 5600k sensor camera when an 80A filter is unnecessary or consumes too much light.

[Pasha Patriki]

Can anyone comment on stacking the filters?
Tiffen's paper says that you shouldn't stack IRND with regular ND's and I remember seeing someone post the opposite here...
My tests showed no problems stacking the regular ND's with IRND's, but why would Tiffen state otherwise?
According to Tiffen, you should always have a Hot Mirror if you are stacking...
Then again, that paper is based on Red One... Does Epic have different IR filter in front of the sensor than Red One?

Cheers!

[Stivan Widick]

Formatt has a hot mirror / IR 680nm filter combo. Is there any reason to get or not get this filter over the regular hot mirror? Thanks.

[Robert Cook]

If I want to use a graduated neutral density filter do I I need to use a Hot Mirror or a True-Cut 750 IR with it?



I guess my question is, will I ever have a need for just a Hot Mirror or a True-Cut 750 IR in my package? , I plan on getting the Platinum IRND Filters as my main everyday set.