ND filters and Colour Casts at DVinfo.net

Chris Harding · February 11th, 2013, 01:02 AM

Hi Guys

OK , today is just as hot as Saturday but it is a little cloudy and I did a few test shots with ND filters..Now these are "supposedly" top of the range (3 filters cost me $120) so they are no $2.99 eBay cheapies.

I did 3 clips with No ND filter, then an ND4 and then an ND8 .... the footage gets progressively "redder" as you go up and especially with a scene with greenery the green content just starts to disappear.

Judge for yourself with the pics below....the BIG question is : Do you have to go to manual WB every time you use an ND filter ...pretty much the answer would be yes...now based on the fact that the WB gets "redder" as you increase the ND ..what now would happen with a variable ND??? The way I see it is every time you dial a new setting on a variable ND it seems you would also have to re-balance colour which is a pain in the butt surely!!

I'd be interested to know if a variable ND would be any different??

Chris

Chris Harding · February 11th, 2013, 05:27 AM

Hi Guys

Problem is sorted !!

Advice (1) : NEVER EVER trust a camera salesman who sells you "the best ND filter on the market"

Advice (2) : Don't buy Green L filters ...that is the issue ..just read a review and on stillcameras too they cause a red cast ..the higher the ND the worst the red cast.

Reading and looking at tests on still cameras the Hoya filters seem to give flawless results so I think I will grab just an ND4 for now and see how that works ...reviews don't show any colour cast at all and the reviewer's test of my filters showed the red cast...they double stacked filters too ND4 + ND8 and the red cast was terrible but the Hoya was still clean and didn't seem to show any image degradation

Chris

Mike Beckett · February 11th, 2013, 05:34 AM

Chris, I've always used B+W filters. They're not cheap, but they are the best I've experienced, with no noticeable colour cast. I try to always use their slim mount MRC filters.

One B+W filter for my AC130 (72mm lens) is £50 ( approx $80)!

I've had other filters (cheaper ones) totally ruin footage. The worst was Polaroid variable ND (a mere £30) which gave everything a nice yellowy-brown cast and ruined all the footage!

Chris Harding · February 11th, 2013, 07:25 AM

Thanks Mike

Much appreciated!! I can see the sense in buying the best filters possible..no point in putting crappy glass in front of a good lens!!

I'll see if B+W are stocked here at all..I'm sure someone will have them....!! Now to put the other filters on eBay and see if someone wants them? (I won't mention where I would REALLY like to put them)

BTW : Did you register your cam on PASS yet?? I gave a comment on the Panasonic Forum here for you?

Chris

February 11th, 2013, 01:02 AM	#1
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	ND filters and Colour Casts Hi Guys OK , today is just as hot as Saturday but it is a little cloudy and I did a few test shots with ND filters..Now these are "supposedly" top of the range (3 filters cost me $120) so they are no $2.99 eBay cheapies. I did 3 clips with No ND filter, then an ND4 and then an ND8 .... the footage gets progressively "redder" as you go up and especially with a scene with greenery the green content just starts to disappear. Judge for yourself with the pics below....the BIG question is : Do you have to go to manual WB every time you use an ND filter ...pretty much the answer would be yes...now based on the fact that the WB gets "redder" as you increase the ND ..what now would happen with a variable ND??? The way I see it is every time you dial a new setting on a variable ND it seems you would also have to re-balance colour which is a pain in the butt surely!! I'd be interested to know if a variable ND would be any different?? Chris Attached Thumbnails

February 11th, 2013, 05:27 AM	#2
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: ND filters and Colour Casts Hi Guys Problem is sorted !! Advice (1) : NEVER EVER trust a camera salesman who sells you "the best ND filter on the market" Advice (2) : Don't buy Green L filters ...that is the issue ..just read a review and on stillcameras too they cause a red cast ..the higher the ND the worst the red cast. Reading and looking at tests on still cameras the Hoya filters seem to give flawless results so I think I will grab just an ND4 for now and see how that works ...reviews don't show any colour cast at all and the reviewer's test of my filters showed the red cast...they double stacked filters too ND4 + ND8 and the red cast was terrible but the Hoya was still clean and didn't seem to show any image degradation Chris

February 11th, 2013, 05:34 AM	#3
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Re: ND filters and Colour Casts Chris, I've always used B+W filters. They're not cheap, but they are the best I've experienced, with no noticeable colour cast. I try to always use their slim mount MRC filters. One B+W filter for my AC130 (72mm lens) is £50 ( approx $80)! I've had other filters (cheaper ones) totally ruin footage. The worst was Polaroid variable ND (a mere £30) which gave everything a nice yellowy-brown cast and ruined all the footage!

February 11th, 2013, 07:25 AM	#4
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: ND filters and Colour Casts Thanks Mike Much appreciated!! I can see the sense in buying the best filters possible..no point in putting crappy glass in front of a good lens!! I'll see if B+W are stocked here at all..I'm sure someone will have them....!! Now to put the other filters on eBay and see if someone wants them? (I won't mention where I would REALLY like to put them) BTW : Did you register your cam on PASS yet?? I gave a comment on the Panasonic Forum here for you? Chris