Our Guide to Comparing Lens Diffusion Filters | Cinematography 101

[@valentinavee]

Thanks for watching! If you have any questions or requests for further episodes, drop them in the comments!

[@DiyEcoProjects]

This was a wonderful video, thank you. So much to consider and learn lol. Can i ask something please? im just wondering how they achieved the romantic blurry effect for Casablanca (1942) and Notorious (1946). Any help would be most appreciated. All the best, and have a great summer, Kieron

[@sivapriyan5706]

Hi sister work iruntga sollunga sister

[@moritzpeterfoerster]

Hi, thanks for the very informative video! @valentinavee Which filter did you end up using for the "final look"? Black Satin?

[@valentinavee]

yes @@moritzpeterfoerster

[@Sup90210]

For anyone who is interested; when Tiffen created Pro Mist filters they created the different strengths in order to provide a consistent level of filtration across the range of focal lengths because the filtration effect increases as the focal length of the lens becomes more telephoto. A 1/4 pro mist (black or white) will be much stronger on an 85mm lens than it will be on a 25mm lens. A common formula for using Pro Mist filters is 1/2 for 18mm and wider, the 1/4 for 25-35mm and 1/8 for 50mm and above. This principle applies to all diffusion filters. I hope this information is useful.

[@johnnyweissmuller5838]

On what sensor size?

[@adrienpayet]

@@johnnyweissmuller5838 The key here is consistency, no matter the sensor size. If the effect is too strong to your liking, go down the ladder a notch for every focal length, and vice versa.

[@Sup90210]

@@johnnyweissmuller5838sensor size has no effect. A 25mm is a 25mm no matter what size sensor it’s on. Sensor size only changes your field of view.

[@johnnyweissmuller5838]

@@Sup90210 yeah but on a super 35, the image is cropped in the middle and ”zoomed in” vs full frame. It must be some difference.

[@Sup90210]

@@johnnyweissmuller5838 that’s a common misunderstanding. You’re only changing the field of view. Its impossible to change a 25mm lens to a 38mm just by putting it on Super 35. A lenses focal length is a set measurement as is the compression effect of it which is what makes things more magnified with filter strengths.

[@umbramann1139]

As always I'm a big fan of the educational side of this channel, great work.

[@aputurelighting]

Thank you!!

[@helle_larsen]

I am still a student, but my teacher started talking about how us aspiring cinematographers have to find our own style soon, so now I have been collecting styles I like in moodboards, and started to look up how to achieve those styles

[@sivapriyan5706]

Hi sister

[@scott37040]

You never told us what you ended up using for the final look (12:08). You left us hanging!

[@thejanbalster]

Thank you for going through the effort of creating this test. It's really helpful to have a comprehensive side-by-side comparison of these filters. Thank you!!!

[@Taz_Olson]

100% preferred no filter, I love that gritty and grungy look that you can get with harsh lights and no filters

[@FlyEnri]

This was too good ! I had no knowledge at all about filters, hahahaha This was amazing :D

[@drmatthewhorkey]

GREAT video and good to see V back on the channel!

[@codylander]

Such a valuable video! Thank you for the organized breakdown. Go A-Team!

[@anthonypc-248]

8:42 I think the biggest advantage to real atmosphere is the fall-off of contrast with depth of background. So your foreground subject will stand out more from your hazy background. Also the beams of light illuminated in the thick air. BTW I thought you were going to say the FOG filter is most similar to the real haze, because of the halation.

[@redumbrella4218]

Wow! Congrats! Fantastic work!!! I would love to see different kinds of polarized filters! Keep it up! You’re the Bomb 💣!

[@adrienpayet]

Thank you so much for this complete Tiffen lens filter test !

[@jalexanderevans]

I love Valentina Vee

[@illustratedWORD]

Thank you for the detailed comparison. 👍 I would be interested in a side-by-side comparison between filter bloom/halation vrs creating the bloom at the edit stage (ex.- FCPX's Luma key + Gaussian). I realize that creating it in-camera is ideal but I'm often in a situation where I'm asked to not have it "baked in" but to have the option to add/remove later. For example, I'm receiving more iPhone (ProRes) footage to work with that is over-sharpened. I'd be curious to see how significant of a difference there is -- filter diffusion vs added in post prod. Thanks.

[@baej107]

moving the camera is so smart thank you

[@worldofwiz]

I will look into the soft fx since I will be shooting models. Thanks that was helpful

[@Laurencemardon]

Really nice vid (as always). If I cld chip in a w couple of comments ... 1. you might want to try a water-based lubricant instead of Vaseline ... it tends to be more translucent than Vas, so you can fine-tune the thickness (& hence the level of diffusion). Since it's water-based, too, it's easier to clean from your B-glass, or partially clean it so you can get kind of a 'split-field diopter' effect diffusing only part of the frame. A fun thing to do for a stylized, old-school look, too, is to add some (i.e.) tempura paint to the Vas: a couple of dabs here & there can be funky (or if you're on a long-lens stick some small pieces of coloured gel on the Vas to get a higher chromatic density of the colour). 2. some of the filter makers (B&W, Tiffen, Schneider) have (or used to have) illustrations of all these filters on their websites. One of them (Schneider?) also has interesting shots where these filters are stacked ... i.e. 1/8 BPM + 1/2 Glimmer ... the snaps are good for hours of head-scratching fun late at nite after smoking a marijuana cigarette (Canada calling here, so pls don't break the law down there in the States), but just be advised that once you start shooting a flick the first thing that will happen is that you'll waste 10 minutes off the hop watching the camera assistants vainly attempt to get rid of the arfs from light bouncing around thru all the filters, & the 2nd thing that'll happen is that the second filter gets put back in the bag. Cheers & keep up w the fun vids!

[@paulhenry7]

Another way is to paint small dots of clear nail varnish onto plain glass.

[@clynshotimages]

Very intuitive cinematpgraphy Video. How can you DIY a set a set in your room for product commercial like a beer commercial?

[@aputurelighting]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZvZXqFteMp1hLs We did one a long time ago! Here it is

[@helle_larsen]

Was just reading about this yesterday! Great video!

[@ClarkeLSmith]

Question: Have you ever done a tutorial on how to light something with soft lighting for a scene that would also require a wide shot and tight shot - shot at the same time with two cameras (so no re-light and repo). If you already did something like that, could you please share the episode, and thanks so much for these great lighting breakdowns - very very informative.

[@charliemcgrain]

Excellent work. Many thanks.

[@daviddejuannavarro9423]

the best filter is a really nice lens with lots of character :)

[@DJILLEE]

I havent been a fan of pro mist for awhile. Too heavy handed and the halation has too much of a steep fall off. I'm in love with a hollywood black magic and black satin. One thing this episode didn't talk about is what can happen in bokeh balls in the background. Many of these filters can create speckles and/or textures in the bokeh balls and it can absolutely affect your decision on which to use. I see it happen a ton in christmas movies lol.

[@marcvanhoorn4965]

thank you so much! I absolutely agree with your point

[@jacoporodolfi4806]

Great, Great content here! I'm confused by a thing in the tiffen diffusion triangle: shouldn't Black glimmerglass have less halataion than normal Glimmer glass having the black element in it?? Hope to see Black glimmerglass in your tests, it'one of my favorites along with the black satin, looking forward to you new content!

[@moritzpeterfoerster]

I think this is correct and also matches the diffusion triangle. The Black Glimmerglass is further away from the halation corner than the normal Glimmerglass and therefore has less halation (at least that's how I understand it).

[@LeonUnity]

I think this convinced me to get some Black Satin and Glimmer Glass. I've been having some personal issues with Black Pro Mist where I feel it cuts down the sharpness a little too much.

[@FlyingJackalope]

I am curious if low con is something worth using when you are shooting log. Or do you maybe use it when you have two cameras that handle shadows different due to their dynamic range so you can bring their exposures closer together.

[@BODYBYSTRUGGLE]

Always great content. Especially when delivered by the gorgeous Valentina.

[@CriticasDeCineEn2Minutos]

That refraction… Hated! Low Con! :) WoW ! Very nice filter.

[@swritupriya]

Could we get some more tutorial on cinematic filters ,mix and match and how to use them in different genre commercials and movies?

[@aputurelighting]

Love this idea! Check out this video with more DIY filter ideas kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXulaqmXopiYsLM

[@libraproducciones]

Great video as allways. Just out of curiosity, which combination you ended up using for the final sequence?

[@valentinavee]

Black Satin 1/2

[@libraproducciones]

@@valentinavee thanks!

[@filterboy8750]

Was pretty surprised when I saw footage from my Black Pro Mist review being used at 1:41 I mean I guess I should feel honoured but you could've at least wrote my name on top or something like that just like you did with most of the other footage being used in the beginning. Just seems kind of a weird move from such a big company like yours. Anyway good video regardless..

[@Ranger7Studios]

At the end of the day it really depends on the tone and the feeling, the emotion, that you are going for. Everything is a tool to help tell your story. That's why there is no one perfect camera. There is no perfect lens or filter. It's how you tell your story through imagery that matters.

[@swolgi]

the lens test has me thinking of the eye doctor. "1 or 2? 1... or 2? 1 or 2?" :P

[@mrshaheedmalik]

What case do you use for the filters?

[@novainvicta]

If you had used Lee Soft/fx polyester filters you would not have got the reflections the glass filters give. They are numbered 1-5.

[@directed_by_steve]

That’s the problem with these so called filmmakers in KZbin. Filmmaker get thrown around and they never actually filmed an actual film (full feature) or on set. Great to see real production and test with the filters.

[@RuhkcusTV]

@Valentina Vee do you recommend the pro mist filter in front of or behind an ND filter? and why? thank you!

[@libraproducciones]

Tiffen itself recommend it to be before, specially if it’s a vnd, something that they don’t recommend by the way

[@THEwrexFILES]

Any of those lens artifacts (flaring) can be reduced or eliminated by changing the angle of the matte box. Angle it down and you'll find the flaring disappears.

[@workingwiththelight3119]

Great 👍 video

[@CodakChris]

KIPPER TIE OLPF DIFFUSION FILTERS THEY reign SUPREME !! BETTER THAN SCREW ON OR IN FRONT NO DIFRACTIONS AT ALL

[@firpofutbol]

Eye opening. I prefer the black satin or soft filter. Don't need all that halation.

[@elieh.studio]

Can you convince me that only the B7C was the key light on this?

[@anthonypc1]

8:50 yes there is... see the ghosty lens flare right there ?

[@PhillipSkraba]

This is madness, there is no filter other than Pro Mist, Valentina has lost the plot. Okay, Glimmer Glass 1/2 got me looking at Amazon, but at least every good cinematographer has a 1kg tub of Vaseline in his gear bag.

[@aputurelighting]

😂

[@MylesAwayAgain]

seriously not going to tell us what you used in the final look?

[@wawanalgezet6524]

Kesini mau jawab pertanyaan, eh pertanyaan nya bingung 🤣, kesini gara gara bang sipit

[@Lu-sj6ni]

Hollywood Black Magic 1/4

[@sivapriyan5706]

Hi mam work iruntha sollunga mam

[@likemilfes]

Super-knowledagble, but getting distracted by these school-girl look blue highlights. Those must go!!! Our instructor prettier without them! Get a nose ring, a gold tooth, whatever it takes, but these blue strands don’t do it. Am I too picky??

[@tom_nuyts]

Do you only present and "discuss" the overpriced and non-coated Tiffen filters? Disappointing.... (even because otherwise is well known ;-) for making the worst filters in the world (compared to other manufacturers in Germany and Asia, meanwhile) .. this should be declared as adverting...😖

[@harpenfluit]

The No Filter is the best. All others had many artefacts and that typical overused 'KZbin' look. Absolutely not cinematic at all. Go to the movies and you will see zero movies with these filters. I can see these filters can provide a quick solution for people who don't grade their footage.

[@kenallen2gmailcom]

I echo V, I love all of those filters!

[@MarkAfterDark]

I saw a video where someone just called Glimmer Glass objectively better than Black Pro Mist. And I can't agree with that. It depends on your taste. Also I've found when to use the different strengths of filter, in what settings 1/8 exterior night 1/4 interiors 1/2 exterior daylight

[@christopherjolly]

A 1/16th Glimmer Glass is my go-to for most of my work filming events. I like that Glimmer Glass has a more neutral colour cast compared to Pro Mist. And at 1/16th it just ads that little extra something without being a specific look. I just wish that Tiffen would make their 1/16th strength filters available as screw-on filters instead of exclusively 4x5.65

[@aputurelighting]

Thanks for sharing! Subtlety is so important when it comes to using lens diffusion filters

[@WhySteve]

My "no filter" looks like your bts shots.

[@OneTakeJakeTV]

Would love to see another video with star filters, prisms, kaleidoscope just more effect style filters. Great video tho

[@chagew8966]

"I only have so much budget" I felt that

[@aputurelighting]

😂

[@LarsWaltherFilm]

"Let's hollywood it real quick." I'm gonna borrow that one. Great episode as always. Thank you!

[@aputurelighting]

Of course! Thanks for watching :)

[@zaymax_7]

It's also important to note that the strengths between different fikters will be different. Glimmerglass in this video is much much more subtle than everything, because Glimmerglass 1 is just between black pro mist 1/8 and 1/4. So black promist 1/2 is very very strong whereas glimmerglass 1/2 is pretty weak, maybe even weaker than black promist 1/8

[@Holtenstein]

Great work as always guys! Thanks. I've started using Low Contrast or Ultra Contrast and Hollywood blackmagic filters together and I'm really digging the look. Plus, the Ultra Con filters take off some of the overly saturated flares when using moddern anamorphics wich I also like. I believe an ARF matte box would fix the refraction issue too.

[@ScottClintonPhotography]

+1 on Hollywood Blackmagic with Ultra Con.

[@anthonypc-248]

Moonlight should cast crisp hard shadows since it's such a tiny bright source in the sky

[@davidbrytus2089]

I like to use Scatter…that way I can add any diffusion in post and it’s not baked in if I change my mind.

[@wexwuthor1776]

No filter was best. All that glowing is disracting.

[@KohiOcha]

I still prefer the look of the ProMist

[@joenicklo]

LOL that is so cool to see myself in an Aputure video! I've actually been experimenting a lot more with different diffusion filters including Tokina's lineup. There are plenty of options out there like you said! :)

[@elianmusic7452]

It. looks. Horrible. I hate pro mist so much. Glimmer glass seems to be the only one i can stand. In Egypt we have a word for something so overused in substitute for expensive gear and know how, that its become the quintessential qualifier for "amateur, cheap, shortcut, and nowhere near the real thing": BI2A. the black pro mist is bi2a as hell. it couldnt be screaming "youtube 2014 bros" louder. No filter is best here. Then glimmer glass is kind of ok if the subject matter calls for dreaminess.

[@Studio23creation]

"Horrible" that is quite an harsh assomption. And that is your view.

[@CodakChris]

BLACK SATIN ALMOST DEAD CENTER PERFECT ALL AROUND

[@valentinavee8814]

I agree, it was the most balanced.

[@SimeonKolev]

8:30 that green flare is caused by the glass of the filter, not the particles. It is just that Tiffen still can't make good multi coatings and their filters suffer from flare. Most cheap UV filters make the same effect, the most expensive ones - do not have this. I was experimenting a lot with DIY mist filters and what I saw was that even some cheap UV filters from Hoya has better coatings than my GlimmerGlass and also as I see from you samples the square filters are a little bit better than the screw ones (the circular shape) that I have, but both are worse than a decent MC filter from other brand. For example I also have K&F BPM 1/2 and it has almost no flare at all - much better coatings than Tiffen.

[@SimeonKolev]

PS my favorite DIY solution is hair spray :)

[@SimeonKolev]

11:40 PS2 the flashlight works great if the lens is a vintage one with lots of dust inside ;) it will make all the particles glow and the effect will be more dreamy than just lowering the contrast. Also depending on the lens you can get weird shapes and colors of flare.

[@felipesoto2010]

is the kf BPM the same as the KFblack mist-- I think the black pro refers to when you buy the kiT1/4+1/8? I can not find a black pro mist by it self let say 1/8.

[@Arch.a.s]

i love V , and I always wanted to ask her to create a video for us showcasing the "Spotlight modifier" and all the cool things we can do with it but most importantly which angle should we get vs distance say in a small room (YT studio ) or a bigger space, I'm holding off on buying one because I'm still not sure !!

[@DJILLEE]

I would try the midrange one first. If it doesnt do what you want just return it and buy one of the others. I have the 26 degree and it works in most situations. One time I used a mirror to extend the distance in a small room to allow more spread.

[@Arch.a.s]

@@DJILLEE oh brother i wish i had that luxury of trying things and returning it haha , i live in a third-world country ( EGYPT), and for everything i bought from Aputure i had to order it from the US and have a friend carry it all the way from there, its a one and done deal for me :D :D , but i love that mirror idea !! my point exactly would love to see a video on it :)

[@bw8005]

+

[@mrshaheedmalik]

The Warm Black Pro Mist is great on skin.

[@aputurelighting]

Great point!

[@Narsuitus]

Thanks for the video. I own and use the following 77mm diffusion filters on an 85mm small format lens and on a 180mm medium format lens for the purpose of softening wrinkles on portraits. 1.Hoya Duto soft focus 2.Tiffen Black Pro Mist #1 soft focus 3.Tiffen Black Pro Mist #3 soft focus 4.Hoya #B Diffuser 5.Cokin type soft diffuser Your examples of how diffusion filters alter contrast, resolution, and halation were great.

[@eduardusarma]

tiffen blackmist 1/8 my fav!

[@aputurelighting]

Sometimes, you can't go wrong with the classics

[@TheBBQGamer]

Great video. Thank you for this information

[@ozzmanzz]

I don't get it with filters! There is one simple rule I was taught... Don't put s*#t in front of the lens that's not needed. If you want, you can always play with the image in post. By using a filter while shooting you've locked in the image and you can't take it back. The vast majority of Mr and Mrs Joe Average from suburbia (who most videos are made for) will always pick the non filter version as the better image so why do people insist on using them? Maybe, I should just drink the Kool-aid and shut up because I know the majority of filmmakers don't agree with me.

[@eduardusarma]

imagine u drink black coffee without sugar. that’s filter look a like 😅

[@deenwithkhan]

It was amazing....👌🤗... Love the idea of vesline 😜😜...!!

[@SimplestUsername]

What lens was used? I've just found myself staring at that one rogue lens flare element and it's driving me mad.

[@paulhenry7]

I found this extremely useful, it helped me decide to buy some Black Satin filters.

[@KaidoLP]

In the thumbnail, the filter all the way to the right, which is it? It's a bit strong but I like the radial texture in the halation.

[@RuiManuel]

Great video. Thanks!

[@artobzor]

Thanks .usefull tables and tests

[@calebr]

Great video. Just what I was looking for. Haze it is!

[@ethanHat]

This was so helpful! Thanks!

[@CriticasDeCineEn2Minutos]

Great video! Tanks! :)

[@bmefilms6879]

Haze is the real winner here!

[@PakshiMedia]

Thank You!!!

[@anthonypc1]

8:28 The FOG filter looks more like the real haze to me.

[@abchappell01]

This is a wonderful video. Thank you 😊

[@ohshowproductionsllc]

Yay! Valentina is back! :)

[@directed_by_steve]

Black Satin is my favorite. I use it all the time.

[@aputurelighting]

Ours too!

[@johnjim3741]

Alright Aputure, let's keep the momentum. We disrupted and evolved the lighting in the film industry, now let's keep going. Don't stop here. Next we need you to take over these listed categories: A. Cinema Cameras, combine black magic design, red dragon, and alexa tech into one Camera. But different versions. 12k resolution, alexa dynamic range, red dragon rolling shutter, full frame, no crop if possible. B. Camera lenses: Zeiss otus, zoom versions with modern tech. Cooke versions, etc. C. Lens filters D. Tripods, like Manfrotto E. We need a cheaper robotic arm, 6 axis robot for Camera like the one used in Kendrick Lemar music video There's much more. Just some ideas. If you choose to go this route, give me a shout out. Stephen Taylor

[@chabaryanhotmailcom]

It would be cool to see a difference in the filters but have them set to the same halation. So maybe a 1/8 black pro mist vs 1/4 pearlescent vs 1/2 glimmer glass vs 1/4 black satin. And we can see what else it changes in the image while keeping the halation the same?

[@aputurelighting]

Comparing different strengths would be a great next video!

[@jw112mail]

Thanks for the comparison video. Valentina's a bit snarky though.

[@XpricklycactusX]

As a fellow cinematographer and educator I find this comment a bit snarky, Valentina is a charismatic educator, not sure where your intentions lie though.