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Formatt IRND Filters

A. Bastaki

A. Bastaki

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I am almost going to get my redrock mattebox... FINALLY. lols.. after ages of course.

Anyhoo. I was wondering if any tests have been made with the formatt filters cause im interested in the Abel filter set. Ive searched the forums and read some posts here and there... all close but no cigar.

Will someone please test these and let us know. from the looks of it.. its a conspiracy.. i bet abel or formatt were like.. hey buddy.. listen.. we are gonna give you them filters to test so as long as you say something good... if you think otherwise when you do test.. then just send em back and keep your pothole shut.

Please.. someone correct me if I am wrong. Now btw.. i saw this site..
http://filmtools.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/new-formatt-filters-hot-mirror-irnd-and-linear-polarizers/

and the irnd formatt filter seems to .. well.. looks like another schneider to me. I can see some blue tinting...

conspiracy? hmm..

Will someone kindly correct me if I am hallucinating or prove me wrong.
 
Akube, my Redrock mattebox is shipping as we speak, and so is the "Red bundle" of Formatt filters from AbelCine. So next week I might be able to enlighten you...

And the price form Abel was extremely good.

BTW, very much enjoyed your contribution red centre podcast- cheers.
 
Let me add this: I had a set of Pancros. Unfortunately, like several other people I've since heard from personally, I'm using Nikon lenses, and several of us, using Pancros, got nothing but ghosts, ghosts, and more ghosts using those filters. I then crossed my fingers and ordered the Formatt hot mirror IR+ND filters in various strengths (0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, and 2.1). All but the 1.5 arrived yesterday. It was a really bright day, so I took my camera out for a test, hoping for the best.

And guess what?

I wasn't able to identify Casper anywhere in my shots! I was quite happy. I'll try some more shots over the weekend if it is bright enough to confirm that absolute lack of paranormal behavior with these filters.

As to pricing, I didn't feel that Abel's price was unusually attractive at all. Indeed, I felt as if the combination of filters in that package were not terrifically useful in the first place. You'd have to stack filters all over the place with the Abel deal. With the filters I bought, stacking is not required. And, if I ever did just want to use a hot mirror by itself, I have the Rosco hot mirror to do that with or I could always just order a Formatt hot mirror.

As to color shifts (if any), I'm not terribly concerned. I think that's why they invented RAW.

Where did I get my filters? I called BJ at Custom Supply (my usual supplier) and I feel that he gave me at least as good a deal as the one at Abel. . . and on exactly the filters I wanted. . . not what Abel thought might be a good situation for me.

Stephen
 
Hi

I tested formatt's IR filter and it does a great job. All I had to test it against was a custom PV hotmirror from about 5 years ago and it was far superior.

They work on my 16mm (wide angles are often a problem for IR mirrors) and they seem to cut in perfectly.

I very happy with Formatt. Remember some filters they sell as 4mm or 3mm edged. Technically there is an argument for the thinner filter however most people are more comfortable with the 4mm versions.

Michael

PS BJ is a nice guy.
 
Stephen, please attach picture for ghosting problem u mentioned ? I have full set of Pancros and been shooting on broad day light as well. I dont suffer from ghosting at all.

It almost sounds like your Pancros are unusable. On what circumstances it happened ? Do you stack filters ? Need more details
 
Are you using Nikon lenses? The ghosts happen with the Nikons. And, yes, they ARE unusable with Nikons. And, no, we never stacked the filters. I am not the only person who has had this problem using Pancro filters with Nikons. Several other folks have written to me about their experiences, as well.

I had two sets of Pancros and sold 'em both. . . and I'm sure they are happy with them since I doubt if they were using Nikons.

Stephen
 
No, i dont use Nikon Lens. Ultra Prime Lens & high speed lens.

I'm curious tho, why using nikon lens will cause ghosting ?
 
Hey, Stacey. . . if you are planning on using Nikon lenses with the Pancros, give it up NOW. They ghost horrifically.

I don't exactly know why the Pancros don't mate well with the Nikons, but they don't. . . MAJOR problems. I suspect it has to do with the front geometry of the lens or something about the Nikon coatings. . . but I honestly don't know.

What I DO know is that Pancros ghost with Nikons and that I'm not the only person who has experienced this problem.

Stephen
 
Thanks Jim, Thanks Stephen.

Though Color shifting really worries me, because some filters have a vingette of a color shift... if the shift is all over the image.. yeah i can easily tint it out in raw post... but a vingette of blue or some other color... is something I wouldnt like to mess with.. adjusting a portion adds noise to that area.. hence making the image slightly noisy. Not to mention the extra work.
 
I think I'm going to go ahead and order a rosco hot mirror. Though... could someone tell me how It would be like if a rosco hot mirror was used with a formatt 1.2irnd together.? will there be noticeable reflections?
 
I got the Rosco hot mirror and the normal (non IR) Formatts. They are cheaper and you don't have to use the hot mirror unless you need it.

Email BJ from Custom Supply. He fixed me up with a great deal and great advice.

bj@customsupply.com
 
Abel sells Formatt as well as Rosco. We have a preset package of Formatt filters but you can order anything you wish -- it's just that by arranging the preset kit which we purchased in quantity from Formatt we were able to get a really low price. But we're always happy to sell you exactly what you wish at the best price we can.

You never want to stack hot mirrors no matter the brand. This can cause reflections and color shift. In fact you never want to put any other filter in front of a hot mirror. You should just use one and it should be the first piece of glass light hits as it enters your mattebox.
 
I get ghosting on Pancro's as well, but with the RED 18-50mm and Zeiss Super speeds. Not all the time but occasionally, but when i do it's a killer.

Stephen Pruitt said:
Hey, Stacey. . . if you are planning on using Nikon lenses with the Pancros, give it up NOW. They ghost horrifically.

I don't exactly know why the Pancros don't mate well with the Nikons, but they don't. . . MAJOR problems. I suspect it has to do with the front geometry of the lens or something about the Nikon coatings. . . but I honestly don't know.

What I DO know is that Pancros ghost with Nikons and that I'm not the only person who has experienced this problem.

Stephen
Click to expand...
 
I'm also planning on using regular ND0.9 to ND 1.5 filters with the Rosco IR filter in front of them. I've tested the Rosco and it works fine.
 
get ghosting on Pancro's as well, but with the RED 18-50mm and Zeiss Super speeds. Not all the time but occasionally, but when i do it's a killer.
Click to expand...

My Pancro's have finally shipped. When you encounter ghosting, can you see it in the viewfinder or not until you pull into the computer?

I will probably by a set of Formatt's as backup and to cover the ranges that Pancro does not.
 
Hey Guys! I posted a project as an example of someone who has used our IR+ND filter with great results! (No ghosting) These are outdoor shots in bright sunlight shot with our IR+ND 1.2 Hope this is helpful info
See it at WWW.PANCRO.com
 
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