Steve Johnson
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1,009
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- Points
- 36
- Age
- 53
- Location
- Glasgow, UK
- Website
- www.futuristdigital.com
Hey All,
Just thought I'd drop my review of the NiSi ND IR 6k 4x5.65" Filters I've been using over the last few months:
Working on productions in Scotland is challenging, even at the best of times. In this day and age, budgets are becoming tighter and crews are becoming smaller. The reality is that we are having to work longer, therefore we need to think smarter. So looking for any tools that can give a Cinematographer / Director or Photography an advantage is a good thing. But these tools also need to be reliable and trustworthy. This is where NiSi filters come in.
I will admit, when I heard of NiSi Filters, I automatically shrugged them off because I had never heard of them. They weren’t a “brand” I had heard of because they are based in China. After a few months, during a networking event, I was talking with a colleague who had used them and spoke very highly of them, so I decided to do my homework and investigate them some more. I’m glad I did. NiSi ND IR Filters are now my go to filter of choice.
Why I hear you ask? For 3 reasons and anything else they do right is just icing on the cake.
With shooting in Scotland, our weather patterns can somewhat “change” with little warning. One moment, we can be shooting in direct sunlight, then next moment, it can be pouring with rain (or snow). The weather can change that quickly here. This is perhaps a great test of the NiSi ND IR Filters. It can be quite common to use the full range of filters from 0.3 all the way to 2.1 in a single day. Because of this, the colour reliability is vital. Having now used the filters on numerous short films (money is always tight on these types of productions), the NiSi ND IR Filters have performed flawlessly. I do not need to worry about having to “correct” either in camera or with my DIT, they just work the way they should.
Note: It should be noted too that they work great with the Full Spectrum OLPF by KipperTie
When I got the range of filters, each one of them came in its own individually embossed vinyl case. With the magnetic flap that snaps shut, I felt confident that if I pulled the pouch out upside down, then I wouldn’t loose the filter to a millions shards of glass.
What was even more impressive was the seven slot filter case. This is totally practical if you have the full range of seven ND IR filters as it saves space. Again, the case has the magnetic flap which snaps the case shut and each filter slot is nice marketed on each side, so you know exactly which filter your using (providing you put them back in the right slot to begin with!). It is easy to take each filter in and out of the filter case even though they are tightly compacted in there for protection. If you buy the set of filters, then this should definitely be on your shopping list.
For technical purposes, let it be said that all my tests where done using my RED Dragon with footage shot at 6K in R3D RAW. NiSi do a range of ND IR filters specifically for 6K which are the ones I use. My set of ND IR filters are the 4x5.65”.
As I have mentioned, these are just three reasons why I would recommend the NiSi ND IR Filters. But there are other reasons. I haven’t stated the Ultra Low Reflection, the Scratch Resistance technology they apply to these to protect them even further, the Oil Resistance anti Fingerprint coating. In my opinion, these are all things that make these filters even better.
If anyone is going to IBC this year, I'll be around the NiSi stand with my filters and am happy to talk to anyone about them
Just thought I'd drop my review of the NiSi ND IR 6k 4x5.65" Filters I've been using over the last few months:
Working on productions in Scotland is challenging, even at the best of times. In this day and age, budgets are becoming tighter and crews are becoming smaller. The reality is that we are having to work longer, therefore we need to think smarter. So looking for any tools that can give a Cinematographer / Director or Photography an advantage is a good thing. But these tools also need to be reliable and trustworthy. This is where NiSi filters come in.
I will admit, when I heard of NiSi Filters, I automatically shrugged them off because I had never heard of them. They weren’t a “brand” I had heard of because they are based in China. After a few months, during a networking event, I was talking with a colleague who had used them and spoke very highly of them, so I decided to do my homework and investigate them some more. I’m glad I did. NiSi ND IR Filters are now my go to filter of choice.
Why I hear you ask? For 3 reasons and anything else they do right is just icing on the cake.
- Colour Reliability
With shooting in Scotland, our weather patterns can somewhat “change” with little warning. One moment, we can be shooting in direct sunlight, then next moment, it can be pouring with rain (or snow). The weather can change that quickly here. This is perhaps a great test of the NiSi ND IR Filters. It can be quite common to use the full range of filters from 0.3 all the way to 2.1 in a single day. Because of this, the colour reliability is vital. Having now used the filters on numerous short films (money is always tight on these types of productions), the NiSi ND IR Filters have performed flawlessly. I do not need to worry about having to “correct” either in camera or with my DIT, they just work the way they should.
Note: It should be noted too that they work great with the Full Spectrum OLPF by KipperTie
- Packaging
When I got the range of filters, each one of them came in its own individually embossed vinyl case. With the magnetic flap that snaps shut, I felt confident that if I pulled the pouch out upside down, then I wouldn’t loose the filter to a millions shards of glass.
What was even more impressive was the seven slot filter case. This is totally practical if you have the full range of seven ND IR filters as it saves space. Again, the case has the magnetic flap which snaps the case shut and each filter slot is nice marketed on each side, so you know exactly which filter your using (providing you put them back in the right slot to begin with!). It is easy to take each filter in and out of the filter case even though they are tightly compacted in there for protection. If you buy the set of filters, then this should definitely be on your shopping list.
- Price Point
For technical purposes, let it be said that all my tests where done using my RED Dragon with footage shot at 6K in R3D RAW. NiSi do a range of ND IR filters specifically for 6K which are the ones I use. My set of ND IR filters are the 4x5.65”.
As I have mentioned, these are just three reasons why I would recommend the NiSi ND IR Filters. But there are other reasons. I haven’t stated the Ultra Low Reflection, the Scratch Resistance technology they apply to these to protect them even further, the Oil Resistance anti Fingerprint coating. In my opinion, these are all things that make these filters even better.
If anyone is going to IBC this year, I'll be around the NiSi stand with my filters and am happy to talk to anyone about them
