Why Not Movie Film Filters?

[Tin Can]

Just got this in email

https://www.polarprofilters.com/products/goldmorphic-filter-quartzline?gclid=CjwKCAjwzaSLBhBJEiwAJSRokrClVRgBKVNbiuMKAtG85J4fJh-w0jT0Bihz_NWKra3ER6s3mEMVGBoCsDsQAvD_BwE

These add 'streaks' but many more

[Drew Wiley]

That link must be so obscene that my computer security won't even allow me to me bring it up. Doesn't surprise me. I can put up with all the traditional Harrison and Harrison filter tweaks to seriously contemplated movie photography; but if it involves silly filters - not my cup of tea. Now there are editing apps for all that foolishness anyway.

[r.e.]

Hi Tin Can,

It sounds like you received a promo e-mail for the screw-in versions of PolarPro's three special effects filters, Mist, BlueMorphic and GoldMorphic.

As you may know, Tiffen ProMist is a series of diffusion filters that are widely used in filmmaking, both analogue and digital. The series comes in many weights and two variations. PolarPro is selling its version of this filter in two weights.

As I'm sure you know, one of the strongest trends in filmmaking is shooting with anamorphic lenses. BlueMorphic and GoldMorphic result in images that have a highly stylised, semi-anamorphic "look". As far as I know, similar "streak" filters have existed for a long time, but without an anamorphic marketing connection.

There are many videos on YouTube that demonstrate ProMist. PolarPro having released its three special effects filters about eight months ago, there are also a good number of YouTube videos about its three filters. Note that most of the people who make YouTube videos about PolarPro products are either paid to make the videos or have received free product. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with this, but it's something that you should be aware of.

I should note that PolarPro first released these filters for its Basecamp Matte Box, which has become quite popular. Basecamp is a proprietary matte box system. Unless something has changed recently, other brands of rectangular filter will not fit a Basecamp Matte Box, and PolarPro's rectangular filters won't fit other matte boxes. Personally, I think that buying into Basecamp is a big mistake. Consequently, I would suggest that you only consider the screw-in versions of these special effects filters.

Personally, I don't own any PolarPro filters. It's a young, aggressive company that started by making filters for cameras on drones and for the GoPro action camera. In the last two or three years, it has expanded its product line significantly. I don't see people questioning the quality of its products.

Cheers

[Tin Can]

Thanks for the detailed reply

I have used ProMist 20 years' ago and only on 35mm or early Digi

I believe there are no rules in photography

Results are all that matter

[r.e.]

Thanks for the detailed reply

I have used ProMist 20 years' ago and only on 35mm or early Digi

I believe there are no rules in photography

Results are all that matter

The reason that many digital cinematographers are using ProMist is that it takes the edge off the digital "look". The filter's effect can be quite pleasing. It's also something that should be addressed, if desired, in camera. This is not something that I would want to tackle in Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve or Apple's Final Cut Pro X, which are the two editing applications that I use.

If you want to revisit Tiffen ProMist, it can be a bit of a maze initially. As you'll see from a B&H search, there are a number of variations and weights. YouTube videos about ProMist can be helpful in narrowing options.

A B&H search will also show that these filters are not inexpensive, at least in the 82mm size that has become more or less standard in cinematography when using a screw-in filter rather than a matte box. I haven't checked how PolarPro's versions compare on price, but as I mentioned above PolarPro filters have a pretty good reputation on quality of glass.

[Pieter]

Thanks for the detailed reply

I have used ProMist 20 years' ago and only on 35mm or early Digi

I believe there are no rules in photography

Results are all that matter

ProMist is so 90's. I can't believe anyone uses them anymore.

[r.e.]

ProMist is so 90's. I can't believe anyone uses them anymore.

Here in 2021, ProMist is being widely used in digital cinematography. What's interesting is that you haven't noticed :)

[Pieter]

Here in 2021, ProMist is being widely used in digital cinematography. What's interesting is that you haven't noticed :)

Yeah. I don't go to the movies anymore, it's mostly crap. So is TV.

[r.e.]

Yeah. I don't go to the movies anymore, it's mostly crap. So is TV.

Cool :)

What's happening in cinematography is that a somewhat hard digital look is being diffused with filtration. Not in every shot, but when desired. Tiffen ProMist is a popular option.

[Michael R]

Schneider too…

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?163201-Schneider-Digicon-filter&highlight=Filter

[Pieter]

I can see from the Schneider examples where one would want to use the weaker filters to soften the digital curse. But the stronger ones just look dated and bad to me.

[r.e.]

Schneider too…

Yes, there are a number of brands, and lines within brands that have different effects. Schneider's Digicon is not the only filter series of this kind that it makes. Note that the Digicon filters, available in five different weights, are made only in rectangular form for matte boxes. These classes of filters are not consumer toys. They're professional tools, and matte box versions especially are very expensive. B&H sells Digicons in a common matte box size of 4" x 5.65" for $416 for each weight. They aren't a relic of the last century.

There are a good number of discussions on the internet about why this filtration is applied in-camera rather than at the post-production stage in video editing software.

[Drew Wiley]

I personally appreciate a more nuanced approach. Lately I've been so absorbed into how some of the BBC whodunnit crime dramas are shot, with even costumes picked for color compatibiity or accent with the landscapes and interiors - all superbly exposed or underexposed or overexposed - that I often lost track of the plot line. Back to the basics, which were never simple, but revolved around real professionalism instead of cheap gimmicks. Of course there are tour de force movies like Barry Lyndon too, which exhibit remarkable photographic as well as acting skill. Oh, but if only Technicolor was still around!

Of course, we still photographers can't just go out and repaint or redecorate the world like a movie set. Some try; but I think they miss the whole point of discovery itself. I'll no doubt offend some studio type for merely stating that. But it's not about right versus wrong photographically, but about two totally different approaches philosophically, which should never be confused with one another. ... Now that I've opened that can of worms ....

[Peter De Smidt]

I have a couple of the Polar Pro filters, a 3 stop ND polarizer and a 6-stop. Both are very high quality. I use one of Tiffen's softFX filters when I make 1080p videos for class, a number 1 if I remember rightly.

[jp]

The goldmorphic streak reminds me of the smear/bloom from old analog camcorders or cheap cell phones at night. Or cheap cell phones with dirty lenses in the rain.
Lots of unique ways to get away from the perfection of digital.. That's one.. LF is another.

[r.e.]

The goldmorphic streak reminds me of the smear/bloom from old analog camcorders or cheap cell phones at night. Or cheap cell phones with dirty lenses in the rain.
Lots of unique ways to get away from the perfection of digital.. That's one.. LF is another.

I just had a look at YouTube videos on these "anamorphic look" filters. PolarPro isn't the only company making them. Nisi is selling what it calls the Nisi Allure Streak.

As far as I can tell, none of the major YouTubers who weigh in on video gear are reviewing these, let alone endorsing them. The videos on these filters have also had fairly small numbers of viewers.

I suspect that if someone wants an anamorphic look, they're much more likely to get an anamorphic lens than to try to fake it with one of these filters, which are not cheap. PolarPro's two streak filters are US$120 each. These filters also won't deliver an anamorphic aspect ratio, which is a good part of what anamorphic fans are after, so people who want a true anamorphic look would have to address that too.