80A filter vs post balancing

[David Wyatt]

I think the 80C brings tungsten light up to 4900˚K, which is closest to Red's native 5000˚K (one stop loss isn't too bad in a studio environment too). The 80D sounds like a good option too for going part of the way without losing too much light (only 1/2 a stop).

 

[Tim Sutherland]

We did test frames with the whole 80 series and went with the C because Ted said at an ASC Technology committee meeting that feeding the sensor blue light reduces the noise in the blacks. Using the filter didn't seem to have much effect vs. color correcting in RA or RC, but we were shooting on a stage with lighting control and lots of blacks. The 80D was also a great option but left the image a bit too warm for that particular application.

 

[J. Eric Camp]

In my test I found that I preferred the 80c for what it cost me vs what it gained me. I felt the 80d didn't make enough of a difference to warrant the effort and loss of light.

Results from straight tungsten, straight day light and then each grade of filter (80's and 82's) where compared at -7 stops to + 4 stops and sent though the the post flow to the DI stage. I based my decisions on those results and my personal taste.