Sony Ex3 Do I need a filter ? If yes Which one? at DVinfo.net

Brent Kaplan · January 17th, 2011, 04:53 PM

I have read about needing a filter and have seen some say get ones like the tiffen or the BW but I'm confused and dont want to spend a fortune on a filter. Please advise.

Thank you

BK

Brent Hallman · January 17th, 2011, 05:06 PM

What filters are you talking about?

UV/ND/polarizer?

I always have a UV filter attached to my lens, unless I need another kind of filter for a particular shot.

The UV filter blocks out haze and is a nice way to protect your lens from getting scratched.

I have B+W filters and have no complaints with them.

Vincent Oliver · January 17th, 2011, 05:26 PM

I assume you are thinking about the dreaded infra red problem. The answer is yes, it will turn blacks black rather than muddy brown. A lot has been written about this on these forums. I use the Tiffen IR filter and it has saved the day on several shoots.

Brent Hallman · January 17th, 2011, 07:03 PM

Yes, the IR filter is definitely a good thing to have in the bag.

I use the B+W IR filter...no complaints on this filter either.

I don't use this filter much, but it is a great filter to have in the bag when blacks are looking brown.

Alister Chapman · January 18th, 2011, 02:08 AM

I'd use the Tiffen T1. It's purpose designed for the job of removing IR on an EX1 or EX3 with as little impact on everything else as possible.

Garrett Low · January 18th, 2011, 02:19 AM

I use the B+W 486. Stays on all the time.

-Garrett

Anthony McErlean · January 18th, 2011, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Low

I use the B+W 486. Stays on all the time.

-Garrett

Same here and I keep it on all of the time.

Alister Chapman · January 18th, 2011, 07:24 AM

The 486 is an interference filter and like all interference filters this causes problems at wide angles with a distinct tint appearing in the corners of the image, appearing as a slight cyan vignette. It's much harder to cleanly remove a corner tint than the slight overall colour shift that the T1 introduces.

Brent Hallman · January 18th, 2011, 11:11 AM

Yes Alister, that is exactly why I don't keep it on all of the time... only when I need it. I like my wide angles to be as clean as possible!

Anthony McErlean · January 18th, 2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent Hallman

Yes Alister, that is exactly why I don't keep it on all of the time... only when I need it. I like my wide angles to be as clean as possible!

I suppose it does depend on what your recording but I record weddings and I have to keep it on all the time.
What would happen if say for instance, the bridesmaids dresses were black and I hadn't the filter attached.

That's just one example.

Alister Chapman · January 18th, 2011, 02:53 PM

If you white balance through the T1 the very slight colour tint disappears.

Dave Morrison · January 18th, 2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony McErlean

I suppose it does depend on what your recording but I record weddings and I have to keep it on all the time.
What would happen if say for instance, the bridesmaids dresses were black and I hadn't the filter attached.

That's just one example.

Well, it will depend on what fabric those dresses are made of, but I take your point.

Brent Hallman · January 19th, 2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony McErlean

I suppose it does depend on what your recording but I record weddings and I have to keep it on all the time.
What would happen if say for instance, the bridesmaids dresses were black and I hadn't the filter attached.

That's just one example.

That is the whole point... in that case you have determined that you need the filter attached. I don't do a tonne of live events so my shots are mostly controlled and I can use the filter when I need to.

Excellent filter to have at your disposal though.

Vincent Oliver · January 19th, 2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony McErlean

What would happen if say for instance, the bridesmaids dresses were black and I hadn't the filter attached.

That's just one example.

What kind of weddings do you shoot?

Never heard of a bridesmaid wearing a black dress, maybe if they are then it would be better to leave the filter off :-)

Anthony McErlean · January 19th, 2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Oliver

What kind of weddings do you shoot?

Never heard of a bridesmaid wearing a black dress, maybe if they are then it would be better to leave the filter off :-)

Hi, Vincent, I shoot whatever the wedding turns out to be, I too would have thought, not black for a bridesmaid dress, but I can tell you this the dresses and the bridesmaids were beautiful.

I've recorded two weddings (as far as I can remember) when the bridesmaids wore black dresses.

January 17th, 2011, 04:53 PM	#1
Brent Kaplan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles,CA Posts: 166	Sony Ex3 Do I need a filter ? If yes Which one? I have read about needing a filter and have seen some say get ones like the tiffen or the BW but I'm confused and dont want to spend a fortune on a filter. Please advise. Thank you BK

January 17th, 2011, 05:26 PM	#3
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	I assume you are thinking about the dreaded infra red problem. The answer is yes, it will turn blacks black rather than muddy brown. A lot has been written about this on these forums. I use the Tiffen IR filter and it has saved the day on several shoots. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

January 18th, 2011, 02:08 AM	#5
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	I'd use the Tiffen T1. It's purpose designed for the job of removing IR on an EX1 or EX3 with as little impact on everything else as possible. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

January 18th, 2011, 02:19 AM	#6
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	I use the B+W 486. Stays on all the time. -Garrett __________________ Garrett Low www.GLowMediaProductions.com

January 18th, 2011, 07:24 AM	#8
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	The 486 is an interference filter and like all interference filters this causes problems at wide angles with a distinct tint appearing in the corners of the image, appearing as a slight cyan vignette. It's much harder to cleanly remove a corner tint than the slight overall colour shift that the T1 introduces. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

January 17th, 2011, 05:06 PM	#2
Brent Hallman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 89	What filters are you talking about? UV/ND/polarizer? I always have a UV filter attached to my lens, unless I need another kind of filter for a particular shot. The UV filter blocks out haze and is a nice way to protect your lens from getting scratched. I have B+W filters and have no complaints with them.

January 17th, 2011, 07:03 PM	#4
Brent Hallman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 89	Yes, the IR filter is definitely a good thing to have in the bag. I use the B+W IR filter...no complaints on this filter either. I don't use this filter much, but it is a great filter to have in the bag when blacks are looking brown.

January 18th, 2011, 11:11 AM	#9
Brent Hallman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 89	Yes Alister, that is exactly why I don't keep it on all of the time... only when I need it. I like my wide angles to be as clean as possible!

January 18th, 2011, 02:53 PM	#11
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	If you white balance through the T1 the very slight colour tint disappears. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com