Are diffusion filters dead?

[Ignacio Aguilar]

BTW not that long ago I learned about ultra-cons, which sort of do the opposite of low-cons, in that they suppress highlights but don't lift shadows.

As David already said, UltraCon is an advanced design of Low-Cons that don't soften the image as much and don't halate at all... Soft Contrast filters are the ones designed to darken or control highlights while producing no effect on shadows.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

Filters lock your image, I tend to do most of those things in post instead. I know real filters creates a better quality effect, but the result you get from doing quality post work for the same effect is so close I'd rather have clean footage and choices later on than locking everything into place. I've been editing too much to know that sometimes you rearrange scenes and use material from completely other things and if that material has a locked look, that becomes a problem.

If I want to get more detail in my footage I just shoot HDRx. I've done enough tests to cancel out all the negative effects of it at 3 stops.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Filters lock your image, I tend to do most of those things in post instead. I know real filters creates a better quality effect, but the result you get from doing quality post work for the same effect is so close I'd rather have clean footage and choices later on than locking everything into place.

I think it's an interesting debate. The best advice I give DPs who ask is: shoot tests with and without, come in to color-correction, and let's see what can be matched and what can't. The good thing about using a filter in production is that nobody can remove it later. But... that can also be a bad thing if it turns out to be too much, or it becomes inconsistent. We can definitely come close to imitating a ProMist look, a glimmerglass look, a low-con look, a smoque look, or a grad filter look in post, and I also think the look from a tint (tobacco, coral, etc.) can be much more consistent in post. But it is a different look, and the problem with doing it later is it may prove more difficult to get in dailies and for editorial. It's not a problem for the final.

 

[Bérenger Brillante]

I don't personnaly rely too much on post, it costs more to the production, can lead to arguments with post houses, it also doesn't create your "own thing" to the Director/Client who chose/hired you and that's pretty important.
It can also sometime be a part of the narrative language to the director, so it's mendatory on set.
Softening filter can be done in post the same, but diffusion filters change the mood for everyone.

Yes, it's important to have them, but not necessarily too strong. I mostly use 1/8 and 1/4 BPM for instance (and any filter btw). If I want more, I would do it in post indeed.
Color filters are a thing of the past too me now that we have computer grading.
FX filters like streaks is a good thing to have on production too.

It's important to set the basic mood for any shot, and then emphasize more in post if needed.

Nowadays I really like and use the Kippertie Gold 1 and Carbon 1.
With them you can shoot a TVC about washing machine, crisp, sharp no filters with modern lenses, but still have some kind of creative choice with the OLPF and a look that create doubt on the camera used. Is it Red, is it Alexa ?

 

[Daniel Stilling]

Filters lock your image, I tend to do most of those things in post instead.

If you're the one doing the post, absolutely.
In my case, I almost never do my own post, so I like to deliver the material as close as possible to what I intended.

 

[Brendan H. Banks]

If you're the one doing the post, absolutely.
In my case, I almost never do my own post, so I like to deliver the material as close as possible to what I intended.

This is the same for me.

I almost NEVER shoot without some sort of filtration in (unless I'm opping and in that case it's the DP's call). For quick running around stuff I love the Kippertie Carbon series. I leave C2 in almost always and has been my preferred filtration for a lot of cases. Others are more project based but also equally great.

 

[Dan Kanes]

Filters are an essential part of life.

More important and relevant than ever before.

 

[Bill Totolo]

ProMists and Classic Softs.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

Thanks to David et al for setting me straight on Ultra-cons vs Soft-cons. Also thanks to everyone for the educational chat. And thanks to Linda for bringing this up in the first place!