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Filter advice

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Brian Shephard

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Can anyone give me some advice on ND filters (or filters in general) for the Epic? I have the Red Mattebox, so I'm looking for 4x5.65. I'd like to have a starting kit of .3, .6, and .9.

I see this kit on B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/764280-REG/Tiffen_W4565PROKT_The_Pro_HV_Filter.html
but it says "Tiffen has manufactured this kit to work with the DSLRs that can shoot HD video and have a small 8-Bit color space."
What's the best route/brand to go for filters for the Epic? Tiffen, Schneider, Formatt? White water glass?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
I LOVE TIFFEN BUT TO EACH HIS OWN. I would get a hot mirror as well, which is a infared filter, and also depending on what your into some specialty filters, depends on the look you are going for, I really don't shoot anything cinematic without a black promist on my camera. I would by a .25 .50 ... Just some thoughts. Reason is it make the image a little softer but more importantly makes the blacks slightly richer as well.
 
Thanks guys. This is helpful. Is the IR necessary? The Tiffen filters with IR+ND are $530 each on B&H! That's going to add up fast, but of course I want to have the best image possible out of the camera....

Mike, unfortunately I can't find any 4x.56 filters made by B+W, but is B+W made by Schneider (google seems to think so)? If so, then I'm looking at Schneider vs. Tiffen. Any thoughts there?

From B&H:
Tiffen IR+ND = $530/each
Tiffen ND (white water glass) = $250/each
Shneider ND (white water glass) = $225/each

Is there that much of a difference?
 
Anything below .9 you won't need IR. If you want more use out of your set I'd go .3 .6 and then .9 + IR combo so you can stack them without pollution. I use Tiffen.
 
The secret when using ND's is don't stack them... then you start loosing greens and saturation... A problem the 3d guys are having as well.

Purchase n3, 6, 9, 1.2, 1.6, 1.9 (if you can find them) but only stick one in at a time if you want to retain the best image.

Also more filters create more filter reflection bounce...

In other words, Less is more. :))))
 
Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

Jake Bastian said:
Anything below .9 you won't need IR. If you want more use out of your set I'd go .3 .6 and then .9 + IR combo so you can stack them without pollution. I use Tiffen.
Click to expand...

I don't know a lot about the IR filters. Just curious, why would you not need them on .3 or .6, and only .9 and above?
 
Because the proportion between IR and visible light is neglectable and will not affect the image. As you cut more visible light without cutting IR the amount of IR relative to visable becomes greater to the point of tinting the image.
Brian Shephard said:
Thanks guys. Much appreciated.



I don't know a lot about the IR filters. Just curious, why would you not need them on .3 or .6, and only .9 and above?
Click to expand...
 
I have a set of Panchros and love them. Highly recommend them. I agonized over this question for a long time and couldn't be happier with the decision. The only problem with them is they have the best mirror I have ever seen on them so your actors will contantly be checking their hair towards the camera.
 
The new Schneider Platinum Series are going to be the new gold standard for EPIC.... not out for another 2 months... but worth every penny at $400 each
 
Brian Shephard said:
Can anyone give me some advice on ND filters (or filters in general) for the Epic? I have the Red Mattebox, so I'm looking for 4x5.65. I'd like to have a starting kit of .3, .6, and .9.

I see this kit on B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/764280-REG/Tiffen_W4565PROKT_The_Pro_HV_Filter.html
but it says "Tiffen has manufactured this kit to work with the DSLRs that can shoot HD video and have a small 8-Bit color space."
What's the best route/brand to go for filters for the Epic? Tiffen, Schneider, Formatt? White water glass?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

We use Formatt, no issues. Very good filters. Id get 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, get a seperate Hot Mirror.

Formatt Hot mirror is good, Pancro hot mirror is also good but hot mirror's vary hugely between manufaturers, theres a thread about all of them here some where if you search for it.

Schnieder Tru Pol's are said to be best, as they are much more effective, best read some reports about them. http://www.schneideroptics.com/pdfs/whitepapers/true-pol.pdf

Water white glass I believe is a name for schott glass which all filters should be made, the filter AR coating is also important. The actual filter is mostly CR39 material sandwiched between the glass. CR39 filters are fine opticaly but pick up dust very easily and scratch easily.

Also depending on your lenses consider buying grads in 5.65 x 5.65 so you can use them both ways round rather than carrying a set of Vertical and Horisontal grads. Most of the more recent PV matt boxes should have frames for them.
 
Mark Toia said:
The secret when using ND's is don't stack them... then you start loosing greens and saturation... A problem the 3d guys are having as well.

Purchase n3, 6, 9, 1.2, 1.6, 1.9 (if you can find them) but only stick one in at a time if you want to retain the best image.

Also more filters create more filter reflection bounce...

In other words, Less is more. :))))
Click to expand...

This is why I like going with the hot mirror/ND combo filters. Another thing you can do in a pinch to minimize reflection (if you don't have IR/ND combos for everything above .9) is use a bit of gaffer tape to lock your filters back to back. You still get the softening associated with more glass in front of the lens, but lose the reflections.
 
Tim Whitcomb said:
The new Schneider Platinum Series are going to be the new gold standard for EPIC.... not out for another 2 months... but worth every penny at $400 each
Click to expand...

This is perfect. Just what I'm looking for. I'll wait.

Thanks everyone, for all of the info. I've learned a lot here. Much appreciated.
 
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