What filters for Helium

[William Long]

Format Firecrest are great.

http://www.formatt-hitech.com/cinema/

 

[Alexander_Klose]

Strength really depends a lot on what lenses you use and in what environments. We use long lenses that are F4 to F8, then we need less strong filters. But if you shot for example f1.4 in bright daylight then you need much stronger filters. 2,4,6 sounds like a nice start.
I would not use a variable ND myself if the image is important, from all my tests the quality is just too low

Thanks Andreas for your response. Yes thats why I go with that big fat mattebox and 4x4s on the Red.
I also shoot youtube vlog stuff and the sony a7riii is the weapon of choice for that. Works like a charm and to keep that light away I use the tiffen Vari ND.
Its totally great for that porpose. I have to be super quick and only work with the 24-35 f2 most of the time.

It clearly has it´s limitations so working with decent NDs on set with the Red makes much better quality indeed.

 

[Alex Stolpakov]

RED Hellium iso 800, 2K prores, 75mm Cooke. Tiffen ND, IRND, HOT MIRROR ND, POL, IR POL

 

[Alex Stolpakov]

RED Hellium iso 800, 2K prores, 75mm Cooke. Tiffen ND, IRND, HOT MIRROR ND, POL, IR POL

Last one is grade.

 

[Alex Stolpakov]

ARRI MINI iso 800, 2K prores, 75mm Cooke. Tiffen ND, IRND, HOT MIRROR ND, POL, IR POL, ND IN CAMERA, ND in camera + ND, ND in camera + IR ND.
Just to see what filters can do on other sensor.

For somebody who don't know you should look at blacks as they change color with ND.

 

[AndreasOberg]

I just tested 4x5.65 filters on CN20x50 and they are too small. I see bright light coming in from above and below them.
What does everyone think of screw in filters? This one has 127mm thread. I rarely see anyone use them, but quite like them myself.
/Andreas

 

[Maximilian Schmige]

I just tested 4x5.65 filters on CN20x50 and they are too small. I see bright light coming in from above and below them.
What does everyone think of screw in filters? This one has 127mm thread. I rarely see anyone use them, but quite like them myself.
/Andreas

Screw-in filters work, too. It's the same glass. Firecrest also makes screw-in ND filters.

 

[AndreasOberg]

Screw-in filters work, too. It's the same glass. Firecrest also makes screw-in ND filters.

I think more from a practical point it interests me what people see as the main benefits with mate boxes. I'm mostly thinking with long lenses for wildlife.
Some benefits with screw in I see:
- doesn't protude in any way so no risk of accidently hitting it.
- low weight
- smaller to package

Benefits with matte box
- probabably better shading for light
- possibly faster to put on. Could also be slower depending on the situation
- probably easier if you have 2 filters at the same time

Just checked the prices. Yikes. 490 pounds for 127mm screw in ND filter Ultra Firecrest. Not sure how much better the "ultra" are. Polarizer is ok at 280 however. Not so fun when you can only use with one lens. On the other hand you probably do not need so many filters.

/Andreas

 

[AndreasOberg]

I think Revolva and a screw in polarizer seems like the best of all worlds.
/Andreas

 

[AndreasOberg]

Has anyone tried the "old" Firecrest ND screw in Filters. They also have a new Ultra Firecrest ND filter that they have grounded more so it is even more even to avoid distortion.

Difference is £290 to £490. We got the revolva but manyfacture time is very long so would be nice to at least have one nd filter in the meantime. Maybe a 2 stop for example. We were filming last weekend and had to use f/22 maybe even f/25, that will not create a very sharp picture. I rather avoid going higher than f/16 myself.

/Andreas

 

[AndreasOberg]

I was thinking of looking into screw in circular polarizers. See how they perform. That could make it matte box free. OLPF with diffusion, Revolva and a screw in Pola for daylight exteriors/reflections...

Hiya Daniel. That is exactly where I'm going. I have the Firecrest polarizer which is 127mm screw in and awaiting the Revolva. I think this will be a setup that is much easier to handle.
/Andreas

 

[AndreasOberg]

Anyone compared the Firecrest ND filters with the Firecrest ULTRA ND filters.

I need a screw in like this one
2 stop is only £180
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Formatt-Hitech-Firecrest-Neutral-Density-Filter/dp/B00OHMSVDA?th=1

The ultra which is the newest is a whopping £480 pounds.
https://www.formatt-hitech.com/filters/firecrest-ultra-circular-kntw8-mz5b2

When I read it almost sounds as if the Ultra is their cine grade while the Firecrest is for photography. On their side they mentioned that the ultra is smoother for example, but I do not remember seeing an nd that was not smooth in my past. We only film for TV not cinema so maybe is not as critical.
/Andreas

 

[ian henry]

IRND gives green cast on Helium, use straight NDs

Revolva just arrived - first shoot this week, let me know if you want any feedback on performance.

Initial issues were:
- Using 5” monitor on front of camera makes loading Revolva cartridge slightly tight squeeze
- can not use WC Top plate
- can not use RED DSMC2 EVF adapter - had to buy the Wooden Camera version

Otherwise, looks good

 

[AndreasOberg]

IRND gives green cast on Helium, use straight NDs

Revolva just arrived - first shoot this week, let me know if you want any feedback on performance.

Initial issues were:
- Using 5” monitor on front of camera makes loading Revolva cartridge slightly tight squeeze
- can not use WC Top plate
- can not use RED DSMC2 EVF adapter - had to buy the Wooden Camera version

Otherwise, looks good

Great info about the Revolva. Any tests please share. I have mine on order, but will take a couple of months it seems.

/Andreas

 

[AndreasOberg]

I got the Ultra 0.6 ND Filter. One thing that worried me is it says ND/IRND on it. I thought that for Helium it was not good if it was an IR filter or am I confused?

Andreas

 

[Andrew R Lewis]

IRND gives green cast on Helium, use straight NDs

Revolva just arrived - first shoot this week, let me know if you want any feedback on performance.

Initial issues were:
- Using 5” monitor on front of camera makes loading Revolva cartridge slightly tight squeeze
- can not use WC Top plate
- can not use RED DSMC2 EVF adapter - had to buy the Wooden Camera version

Otherwise, looks good

I would love to see some pics of it on camera especially with EVF mount.