good filter read
 

This "read" is from a still camera site, but it will inform about filters.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/filters.htm

Here's another good filter read but from a video cam point of view:

http://videoexpert.home.att.net/artic1/244filtr.htm

Sorry Frank . .aint getting it! - Web page niether! G


. .this one . .
http://www.videoexpert.home.att.net/artic1/244filtr.htm

Okay, I fixed it. Same article, different location.

This link has about the best information on filters I have seen. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom and read the interesting comments.

Thanks, Guy. However, there are a lot of mistakes on that site. For example:This is not true. Some filters have a different pitch in their threads which only work on certain lenses. Leica filters only screw on their cams.

Another example concerns Cokin. That site mentions Cokins are square. Well, how is that 4 years ago I bought a Cokin UV and a polarizer in the 37mm thread size here at Leo's Photo? And since then I ordered several specialty Cokins in the 43mm thread size? See here:

http://www.cokin.fr

And this is somewhat misleading:There are 4 companies that make filters using Schott Glass that I know of, not just B+W. Heiliopan, Zeiss, B+W and Schneider.

Yeah Frank, there may have been some over generalization there but the info is still pretty good, IMO. The tables are especially useful.

I agree, it's good general info. Ken Rockwell's site is like gold, though, but I do disagree with him on a couple of his lens choices, by just a bit. :-))


--------------------------
We all have our opinions. :-))

There's a lot of good information on his site but you have to be careful cause he sometimes makes rather outrageous statements and leaps of faith. For example, on the filter page he says, "The selection of the proper filter is actually far more important than any choice of lens or camera. "

More goofy quotes:

Artificial processes and image manipulation are needed to make a photograph look natural.

I'm not trying to reproduce nature.

Then he says:

... the best images come when nature is at her best, and at those times she needs no enhancement.

The good images I show on this website are mostly made without filters.

... When the light is bad I try to salvage things with filters.

So he starts by saying everything needs filters to saying you don't need them unless the light is bad.

It's gibberish like this that makes you very wary of what he says.

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : Ken Rockwell's site is like gold, though, but I do disagree with him on a couple of his lens choices, by just a bit. :-))
-->>>

One thing I liked is that he also considers a graduated ND as part of a basic list. Let's hope you do not disagree on that...


Carlos

The Filter connection site is extremely diverse . There are several other interesting sections as well. the site is poorly organized but you can click across the various sections using the navigation links on the bottom. They're also very nice people to do business with.

Hoya, and Formatt also use water white glass. When Tiffen started to falter and not be able to supply the market Formatt made some inroads. Formatt also make HiTech, a quality 2mm optical resin alternative similar to Cokin.

http://www.formatt.co.uk/home/default.asp

<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Beasleigh : Formatt also make HiTech, a quality 2mm optical resin alternative similar to Cokin.
-->>>

Just a weird question that is related to anti-reflection. Is there a product you can buy anywhere to make a glass surface anti-reflective?

I mean something like what they use on modern computer monitors.

It would be great to have something like that to apply on my 32" TV. It can also be a film of some sort or even anti-reflection treated glass.

Of course this product has to be transparent. In film/video production we use a spray to apply on reflective surfaces so they do not shine, but the appearance is dull, not transparent.


Carlos

You mean for filters? I never heard about anything like that.

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : You mean for filters? I never heard about anything like that. -->>>

No, I mean something to apply on the glass of a 32" TV, like a varnish or something.

Neither did I hear of anything like that, that's why I am asking. There might be and I don't know about it.


Carlos

You can get a special plastic for this. I know you can buy them from some computer stores and some TV stores. Varnish? Geez, that's almost like spray painting your cam black to look professional. :-))

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : You can get a special plastic for this. I know you can buy them from some computer stores and some TV stores.-->>>

Any idea of how they name it? They come with strange descriptions for that, and people may not be aware of how practical that can be.

<<<-- Varnish? Geez, that's almost like spray painting your cam black to look professional. :-)) -->>>

Not necessarily, but I just named it so as an approximation of something that might be used there.


Carlos

I've seen it as anti-reflective screens in computer/office supply catalogs. I also recall Radio Shack or Future Shop selling it. It's just plastic and it's inexpensive.

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : I've seen it as anti-reflective screens in computer/office supply catalogs. I also recall Radio Shack or Future Shop selling it. It's just plastic and it's inexpensive. -->>>

Do you know if it comes in large sizes, like for a 32" TV?


Carlos

I don't know. Have you considered checking some computer/office supply places? Office Depot? Don't they have a website? I used to get this catalog from a supply place, they have it, but I can't recall their name. It's back east somewhere around Toronto.

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : I don't know. Have you considered checking some computer/office supply places? Office Depot? Don't they have a website? I used to get this catalog from a supply place, they have it, but I can't recall their name. It's back east somewhere around Toronto. -->>>

I may try to find out. Do you remember the name of it?

I just did a Google search for "antireflective film", and some Japanese manufacturers popped up. Even wrote to one to see if there's a commercial name for their product, but I don't think they might answer.

The problem is I can't imagine who will be selling such product: office-store, photography, design?

It's definitely a film, that may be applied in different manners. The problem is that you can find anti-glare screens for computers, up to 21". Not 32".

The search begins. It should make a lot of a difference if applied on a regular TV screen. Flat screens are less problematic but still suffer from reflections.


Carlos

Sorry, I don't remember. But I do recall there's one type that's a hard plastic which you just place in front of the screen, like a 2nd window or front panel.

3M Company makes the Vikuiti brand line of circular polarizing films for this purpose. I use them on my laptop and LCD monitors (up to 18" size) and they do reduce a lot of glare/reflections. These are sold via a number of different office and computer outlets. For a 32" size, check out the brochure from 3M's web site:

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/e...us_vikuiti_3_0

Towards the end of the brochure is a contact # to inquire about larger custom sizes and technical details.

[Note: I'm employed by 3M, but not involved with this product line in any way.]

Sorry Gary, link not working . .. G

Oops. The link should work now. Once you get to the web page, click on the pdf file to get the brochure.

<<<-- Originally posted by Gary Garner : Oops. The link should work now. Once you get to the web page, click on the pdf file to get the brochure. -->>>

Thanks!

But it looks like a dead end, because they only say it should be ordered as special size for what I want.

Writing to Vikuiti just bounced back.


Carlos

Carlos,

I also looked around, here, try this link

http://cms.3m.com/cms/US/en/2-136/cukFcFR/view.jhtml

Hope that helps

Jobz

<<<-- Originally posted by Joby Arandela : Carlos,

I also looked around, here, try this link

http://cms.3m.com/cms/US/en/2-136/cukFcFR/view.jhtml
-->>>

Thanks, Joby!

They are still small, as those screens seem mostly designed primarily to help computer screens, so they come in sizes up to 17".

The size I need should fit a 32" TV.


Carlos