WOW, why have I never heard of this?! - Tiffen #3 contrast Color Viewing Filter

[Daniel Reed]

Anyone use contrast filters before for aiding the bare eye while working on setups (or designs in advance of setups)?
I've basically done this before for lowlight w/ sunglasses and have a gaffers glass ring I only use to check clouds/bulbs.
Apparently you can change out the #3 glass for different situations (Low ISO #2, B&W #1).


http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=filters&itemnum=3CVF

The Tiffen #3 Viewing filter is for faster film and video. Balancing lighting by eye is a matter of experience. Decisions can be aided through the use of contrast viewing filters. These are designed to handicap the eye, with its much greater range of apparent densities, to resemble the range of the various types of film.
Use contrast viewers to judge relative highlight and shadow densities There are viewers for black-and-white film, as well as various viewer densities for color film A darker viewer is used for slower film speeds, where you would tend to use brighter lighting; faster film, which can be used in dimmer settings would require a lighter viewerTiffen Viewing Filters

The #1 is for black-and-white imagingThe #2 viewer is for film speeds to 100#3 is for faster film; They can be used for video, as well, with the #3 being better suited for lower light levels The green #4 viewer is for process photography The blue #5 is for blue screen work, as well as for setting up color video monitors

$47 at B&H, throw in something extra to your order for a few bucks more and get free expedited shipping and no tax
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...yGRSr-yoP5odv11zdQRY2gX-SD8Aq3gOR7BoCKcrw_wcB

 

[Mikael Lubtchansky]

Must have tool for judging light. It kinda forces your eye into the lower (less dynamic range capable) area of your vision to 'emulate' film / sensor response ;-)

Also very useful to adjust lightning looking straight into the beam or for watching the sun moving thru clouds.

Kodak used to offer them as small gift when you ordered a bit of film stock back in the days

Stock at least two of those guys.

 

[Fabio Lanzone]

I used to have one back in the days with film, because you didn't have any other method to "see" what film see and what doesn't. CCD video assist were used to judge framing, not DR.

I remember Kodak giving them for free when I was a student. The DIY version consisted in slide frames filled with a few layers of ND gels emulating the same filtering level.

Each contrast filter is for one particular emulsion. Older, lower DR emulsions, used to have darker contrast filter. And it works only for the first 2/3 seconds you put it on, then your eye slowly adjusts and you loose the effect. Put it off, wait and use it again.

I don't use it anymore, since looking directly into the monitor allows to see exactly what sensor sees.

 

[Satsuki Murashige]

Not much point in owning one anymore if you're not shooting black and white film. Even then, I prefer using a spot meter. Once you get to know a particular stock, you'll know how many stops above and below middle grey you need to place values anyway. In the digital world, obviously you can see the final image instantly and judge exposure with a waveform, histogram, or false color.

 

[Peter Lyons Collister ASC]

They are still very useful for aiming lights and looking up at the sun for cloud movement. Be careful of the sun of course.... You can even get a version with welding glass so the sun cannot burn your retina. But I have been using them since the film days for contrast and also aiming lights and looking at the sun and my retinas are okay... A bit tired, but OK

 

[jordan levy]

i still break mine out some times, but mostly collects dust since the film days.
if you never were shooting back when it was all film, makes sense you might of never heard of it, but look at any old picture of a dp in action and they usually have one around their neck.