Harrison & Harrison Filters – Diffusion filter set

[ScottPhotoCo]

I picked up a full set of Harrison & Harrison diffusion filters (D1-D5) on ebay for less than $50 to experiment with. They came with a Lindahl Specialties shade/holder and measure approximately 2 5/8 x 2 5/8 of usable filter surface. I believe that these were most often used in motion picture work. Since I picked them up so cheap I figured I had nothing to lose to try them out. There are times when I want to try a little more pictorial ideas or just to soften the sharpness of a lens every once in a while without breaking out the huge 16" Kodak Portrait lens so I thought that this might be interesting. The holder actually fits perfectly in front of my 12" Dagor.

Have any of you shot with these? What was your experience with them?

[Mark Woods]

What type of diffusion are they? Are they foggy, textured glass, some other configuration?

[ScottPhotoCo]

Hi Mark! I'm honestly not 100% sure. I believe (guessing) that it's some kind of textured diffusion of varying levels. Number one is quite subtle and number 5 is like London on a foggy night. I'll need to experiment a bit to see. Have you ever shot with anything like this?

Tim
www.ScottPhoto.co

[Steven Tribe]

I have seen these on offer a few times and did some research. They seemed like a well thought out professional set.

By the way, reference to "London" fog is a bit passé these days! Perhaps China or Paris instead. Now, the 1950's London Smog was unbelievable - caused by domestic open coal fires - you could get lost 10 yards from the front door.

[brucetaylor]

I picked up a set of these a few years ago, 138mm round. I bought them more for the beautiful box they came in to use with other filters. Mine look like they're from the 60's. I've never used them as even the lightest of them looks like pretty heavy diffusion by today's standards. Maybe I'll pull them out this weekend and experiment!

[Mark Woods]

I own a set. They were very popular in the '60s in commercials. They lift the black level and depending on the filters, they may have a bit of texture on the glass. What you see is laminated between 2 pieces of glass. If they delaminate, you can put them in hot water and the coating will become gel & will become one again. They don't give you the same effect as a portrait lens. What the cameramen did in early films was to put a net over the front of the lens (in the matte box) and burn a hold through it (with their cigarette) where the actors face was located. I used to have a set of those, but donated them to the American Society of Cinematographers.

[brucetaylor]

What the cameramen did in early films was to put a net over the front of the lens (in the matte box) and burn a hold through it (with their cigarette) where the actors face was located.

I love those old DP "secrets." A stocking net over the rear of the lens was another one I have yet to try. I think the overall diffusion/fog thing went over the top in the '70s and thankfully went out of style!

[Mark Woods]

I used Fogal stockings on all the commercials I shot for about 2 years. You have to be careful and know the limitations. Wide lenses can see the net in front of the lens, long lenses can see the net BTL (with a deep stop). Pretty cool. I've done both and am familiar with the results.

[ScottPhotoCo]

Mark,

Any suggestions as to the best way to use the H&H filters with LF?

Tim

[Mark Woods]

Hello Tim, I'd put them on the lens and shoot some shots. They probably will be most noticeable when there is a source in the shot, or a bright highlight. They tend to flare the bright highlights and slightly degrade the blacks. If you want to keep your blacks, increase your EI by 1/3 stop.

I hope this helps.