Some old effects lens filters - film/digital differences for colour and black and white

[@timadams940]

Keith, over the years I have amassed a healthy collection of filters, "art" and otherwise....You have managed to find and demonstrate some of the most obscure and useless that I've ever seen, but still a fun video, and an encouragement for experimentation is appreciated. I do feel that many filters still have a great degree of usefulness, even those in the Cokin range. Graduated, spot, magnifying, neutral density, UV, polarizing, and diffuser filters all still have usefulness. I especially love my front mount wide angle and fisheye lenses, many of which were made for video and can be had on the very cheap.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks! - I guessed they were a bit out of the ordinary when I spotted them in a charity shop - the same one I'd previously found quite a few old lenses at. I think more people spot this stuff these days since pickings are not what they were a few years ago :-(

[@foodiesaustin]

I loved this episode because as a photography teacher, we need inspiration for fun ideas like using these filters. I have a whole section called “craft” photography where 1 shot idea utilizes large pans of H20 and cooking oil. The students add drops of food coloring, stir and VOILÀ their photos come out looking like abstract art. I have a Zeiss 35mm ZM that’s 49mm and the original Leica Monochrom w CCD and have played around w the colored filters but never these “trick” filters. You think these might be fun using that particular cam? The students are fascinated with this camera. If so, I am def interested in the filters. Thank you again from Austin TEJAS!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - As ever, you'd need to experiment and see ;-) I may work as a photographer, but I still like just experimenting, and you never know when it might come useful for my industrial photography or some other area.

[@barteklipski6270]

I have seen a few videos on youtube where photographers praise the FL-W color correcting filter on digital, mostly for its effect on sunset shots. I don't think it's something super difficult to replicate in photoshop, but if this filter saves some time in post production and costs next to nothing, then why not.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, I agree with you. I sometimes see filters praised and think it says more about a lack of Photoshop skill ;-) For 'big' prints and the like I prefer not having the filter effect 'baked in' to my RAW file. I do sometimes use ND filters to blur people slightly - but even then you can easily get too many 'detached feet' in the shot

[@williamcurwen7428]

I use ‘over the lens filters’ a lot for my in-camera photography. My criteria:- “is only do it if it can’t be done in post production, otherwise there is no point in doing it”. I must say that every one of the filters shown here have no place in my kit bag!

[@KeithCooper]

Indeed - probably why I paid very little for them ;-) The yellow one with the hole in it is the oddest one - not sure at all what that would have done.

[@williamcurwen7428]

@@KeithCooper the photographic equivalent of trepanning …….

[@Pozi_Drive]

These filters would be called 'special effect filters'. They were for fun, not for mqking money. The holed filter could have been a kind of softfocus filter. Softfocus was 'hot' in those days. David Hamilton was the best... People would buy UV filters and a jar of vaseline to smear on the filter.

[@KeithCooper]

Ah - definitions of 'fun' may vary ;-) If I'm honest, I thought many of them were pretty naff then as well :...A friend of mine was really into the cokin range - never could figure why :-)

[@mikesam347]

Hi Keith, back in the days of film, especially BW, many photographers hand quite a few of these colored filters in their kitbag. I gave all mine away, and now only use a polarising filter. By the way Keith, did you get my email d.d Sat, 29 Jan, 01:56 ? I sent it to bw@.

[@KeithCooper]

I suspect these were quite old BTW Just checked spam filter and found message - will reply asap. Can't remotely see why it should have been dumped

[@mikesam347]

@@KeithCooper Re: previous answer. I have seen versions of this DATACOLOR SPYDER 5 PRO SCREEN and MONITOR CALIBRATION TOOL, Ver 3 and 4 also. Would this help ?

[@KeithCooper]

You need to check the Datacolor website for software/OS compatibility - see also my Datacolor reviews on the Northlight Images site