Hot Mirror + ND combo filter - Tiffen vs Formatt

[Jack Lam]

I have been reading up on the merits and differences between various brands of hot mirror ND filters.

I was first tempted to go for the Pancro, but the ghosting issue with still lenses rules out this option. Now I'm shopping for the hot mirror type.

I'm most concerned about the color shift created by the hot mirror. I want color consistency from shot to shot, with and without hot mirror. And I don't want to rely on white balancing for color shift compensation.


I've narrowed down my choices to Tiffen and Formatt.

>> The Tiffen:
The filter matrix test shows rather minimal color shift from the Tiffen. On the other hand, Art Adams at provideocoalition.com finds the Tiffen to have a strong greenish tint. He claims the Tiffen has a greenish dye in the glass, in addition to the hot mirror coating, to cut the far infrared light. How come the huge difference between the two tests? Are they testing two different versions of filters? What is your personal experience with the Tiffen in terms of color shift?


>> The Formatt:
Many people claim to have good experience with this one. Is the color shift noticeable in real world use? How does it compare with the Tiffen?

thx

Jack

 

[Tyler Black]

Jack,

This doesn't really answer your question, but I'll tell you my experience.

I own a Formatt ND1.2 hot mirror. I've never tried to shoot outside without it because it's generally too bright and I have no ND 1.2 to test against it. So I don't have anything to actually compare against without the Formatt filter. That being said, I am very happy with the Formatt and haven't noticed a color shift. But as I said, I've done no side-by-side comparison. I'm sure many in here have.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I've only used a Tiffen hot mirror once (no ND combo) and it was OK, but I think my Formatt hot mirror and IR+ND filters perform better. I'm having great luck with the Formatt and Pancro IR filters.

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

I've only used a Tiffen hot mirror once (no ND combo) and it was OK, but I think my Formatt hot mirror and IR+ND filters perform better. I'm having great luck with the Formatt and Pancro IR filters.

Jeff you also forgot to post your exhaustive testing thread... one which makes me curse your name as I sold my Tiffens and kept my Scheniders

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Jeff you also forgot to post your exhaustive testing thread... one which makes me curse your name as I sold my Tiffens and kept my Scheniders

Testing thread? Oh yeah, there is an IR filter testing thread, but it's not mine. It's Evin Grant's creation and is located here: http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13265

I haven't read through it in a while, I'm not sure if it's completely up to date.

The Tiffen hot mirror does work pretty good, I have used it once as I said above. I went with a set of Pancros and then later a set of Formatts as well and I haven't looked back.

 

[Jack Lam]

I've only used a Tiffen hot mirror once (no ND combo) and it was OK, but I think my Formatt hot mirror and IR+ND filters perform better. I'm having great luck with the Formatt and Pancro IR filters.

Hi Jeff: Can you elaborate on why the Formatt performs better?

 

[Tommaso Alvisi]

yeah Jeff please...i'm really interested too!

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Nothing really to elaborate on... I didn't feel as if the Tiffen blocked as much IR pollution as the Formatt filters do. But it was hard to judge as I have only used their hot mirror for one shoot. Just comparing with my own experiences with my Formatt filters.

 

[Curran Giddens]

You can't go wrong with the Formatt filter package from Abel.

 

[PatC]

I use the formats a lot. Work great. Do it! Abel cine definitely.

 

[Philip Allister Anderson]

I have ac'd features using both brands of hot mirror. My experience with Formatt in general leads me in the direction of Tiffen. I've had Formatt ND filters turn magenta and I've clearly seen the green tint others have commented on in both brands. During one shoot I shot a color chart with no Formatt hot mirror and then with and the DIT said there was a green shift with the Formatt on. I still hold that with digital systems it's a great idea to shoot a grey card on each new setup. It seems like a great way to create uniformly colored footage and then time them all to where you want.