4x4 filters at DVinfo.net

Brent Kaplan · January 9th, 2014, 01:29 AM

What should I be looking for in terms of quality brands ?
What filters should I get first ?

Thanks

Bill Ward · January 9th, 2014, 10:50 AM

I'm a big fan of the Schneider B+W series. In no particular order:

1. Polarizer
2. ND (couple of levels, but don't go too dark)
3. Half grad (couple of levels)
4. Clear
5. Skylight or some other half grad to add extra color to sunsets and sunrises.
6. Maybe a black pro mist

Bob Hart · January 9th, 2014, 11:44 AM

Depending upon how much ND you intend to use, you might also examine either IRND filters or the IR-750 if you are using any of the RED camera family or SI2K with ND.6 or stronger on front. Your might also find a ND6 soft grad filter handy.

Garrett Low · January 9th, 2014, 12:27 PM

My list is very similar to Bill's. This is in the order that I use most to least.

1. ND (0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2)
2. Polarizer (circular true-polarizing)
3. Graduated ND (same as ND set in hard and soft)

Those are the bare essentials for me. Then I also have various other filters but one I use quite a lot is a Black Frost 1/2.

For the Graduated ND I would recommend getting 4x5.6 vertical orientation if your matte box has trays that will work with them.

I like Schneider or Tiffen but have also used Formatt filters which are good too. You'll spend a lot on your filters but it's worth it to get quality glass. I was AC on a low budget Bollywood shoot where they were using some pretty cheap filters. super thin and you could tell by just looking through them with that they were degrading the IQ. I have been able to pick up some pretty good deals at auctions when production houses go out of business or from others who were selling theirs.

Jim Andrada · January 11th, 2014, 02:56 PM

Similar to others -

1) The basic 0.3, 0.6, 0.9

2) A 1.8 (6 stop) and a 3.0 (10 stop - which is overkill in general, but I do a lot of large format still photography and a lot of older lenses don't have shutters so you need it to get exposure times in the few second range when using the equivalent of a hat over the lens as a shutter.)

Will add a polarizer one of these days. I use the 6 stop Formatt a lot outdoors in Arizona = probably my most used

January 9th, 2014, 01:29 AM	#1
Brent Kaplan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles,CA Posts: 166	4x4 filters What should I be looking for in terms of quality brands ? What filters should I get first ? Thanks

January 9th, 2014, 10:50 AM	#2
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	Re: 4x4 filters I'm a big fan of the Schneider B+W series. In no particular order: 1. Polarizer 2. ND (couple of levels, but don't go too dark) 3. Half grad (couple of levels) 4. Clear 5. Skylight or some other half grad to add extra color to sunsets and sunrises. 6. Maybe a black pro mist

January 9th, 2014, 11:44 AM	#3
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,476	Re: 4x4 filters Depending upon how much ND you intend to use, you might also examine either IRND filters or the IR-750 if you are using any of the RED camera family or SI2K with ND.6 or stronger on front. Your might also find a ND6 soft grad filter handy.

January 9th, 2014, 12:27 PM	#4
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	Re: 4x4 filters My list is very similar to Bill's. This is in the order that I use most to least. 1. ND (0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2) 2. Polarizer (circular true-polarizing) 3. Graduated ND (same as ND set in hard and soft) Those are the bare essentials for me. Then I also have various other filters but one I use quite a lot is a Black Frost 1/2. For the Graduated ND I would recommend getting 4x5.6 vertical orientation if your matte box has trays that will work with them. I like Schneider or Tiffen but have also used Formatt filters which are good too. You'll spend a lot on your filters but it's worth it to get quality glass. I was AC on a low budget Bollywood shoot where they were using some pretty cheap filters. super thin and you could tell by just looking through them with that they were degrading the IQ. I have been able to pick up some pretty good deals at auctions when production houses go out of business or from others who were selling theirs. __________________ Garrett Low www.GLowMediaProductions.com

January 11th, 2014, 02:56 PM	#5
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Re: 4x4 filters Similar to others - 1) The basic 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 2) A 1.8 (6 stop) and a 3.0 (10 stop - which is overkill in general, but I do a lot of large format still photography and a lot of older lenses don't have shutters so you need it to get exposure times in the few second range when using the equivalent of a hat over the lens as a shutter.) Will add a polarizer one of these days. I use the 6 stop Formatt a lot outdoors in Arizona = probably my most used