Tiffen Black Pro Mist Filter Comparison 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 2

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Quick simple setup to look at the differences in BPM filter densities. I used a wider angle lens and a longer focal length to look at any possible differences in contrast and characteristics. I kept the camera at roughly the same distance but moved it back a bit for the 85mm. Lenses are the tokina cinema vista primes, at a constant T2.8 for this test. Lighting is a 300d II with fresnel and 1/2 cts through 6x6 unbleached muslin for the key. I set up an Intellytech LiteCloth 1 x 3' with a soft box in the background to better see the halation and blooming effects of the filters. For the same reason I left on the chandelier type unit on over the table in the background.
Filters: BPM 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 2
Specs:
Canon C200b
RAW 12 bit
4300k
ISO 800
Tokina Cinema Vista 25mm, 85mm
T2.8
Color was done in Davinci Resolve. I did not use a 709 lut because I never use those for real shoots and I wanted to get a sense of what each filter would look like on any given shoot, so I graded how I normally would with color wheels and curves and all that. The same grade is applied to each shot with no additional adjustments.
Big thank you to Chelsea Summers for helping out and letting me use her mom's living room.

[@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.

[@ichizoebikawa1676]

i hope i read it before im buying one 😭😭😭😭

[@maximilianopalacios6320]

Are those focal full frame?

[@cezar_visual_artist]

What if I want to.use it on a 24 to 70.

[@totallypixelated]

Good info thanks. Thinking about it, I used a stronger Softar on the 50mm lens with a Hasselblad, without really thinking about why back in the day. The formula makes good sense.

[@Sup90210]

@@maximilianopalacios6320 it doesn’t matter as focal lengths don’t change depending on the format. A 50mm lens is always a 50mm, it’s a set measurement. Only your field of view changes when you put it on a different format.

[@ms.saiyan]

Thank you so much for these comparisons. The consistency with each shot plus the information on the left is INCREDIBLY helpful!

[@ScyllaWyrm]

This video is very useful due to all the relevant specs mentioned on the side, as the intensity of the mist effect increases with greater focal lenghts. Thanks.

[@scottedwards5191]

Nuff said! Just perfect. Thank you!

[@VelvetWhispererASMR]

Love this! I’ve never seen the filter at level 2 before. Dreamy 🤩. Nice comparisons! 👍🏽

[@LawtonMeyer]

Thanks man, glad you got something out of it!

[@bernhardtsen74]

just got my 1/4 K and F!its very nice but I cant wait till my 1/2 Tiffen arrives!using 7artisans 35mm f0.95 and its nice!also never heard of the level 2 version before!going to check it out!

[@AndyAdventuring]

I hereby declare the BPM2 "the Galadriel effect"

[@sm4931]

The brighter the source, the greater the effect, keep this in mind. For example: with a weak source, a stronger effect is needed (bpm 1.4, 1.2, ...). When bright - weaker (bpm 1.8)

[@95Ldunc]

Thank you. Great Video. I was deciding between the 1/4 and 1.8 and you were a tremendous help. 1/8 is just right 1/4 is overkill for what I do.

[@LawtonMeyer]

Awesome, exactly what this video is for!

[@TheBrothersCompound]

Thanks for this, super clutch.

[@DesoloZantas]

I like 1/4

[@elchemyst]

fantastico

[@efreutel]

Very good however would have appreciated a much slower frame rate to see the side by side comparisons.

[@LawtonMeyer]

@@efreutel slower frame rate? What do you mean?

[@murasaki1177]

1/8 is perfect

[@LawtonMeyer]

All depends on context/situation.

[@yo4695]

Gracias, buen tutorial.

[@a2roland]

Thank You!

[@andikadimasprasetyo5758]

1/4 is sweet spot IMO

[@LawtonMeyer]

@@andikadimasprasetyo5758 definitely a popular option. As with everything it depends on context, setting, focal length, objective, etc

[@RotterStudios]

I want the 1/8 but can't find it anywhere. Great video!

[@LawtonMeyer]

Yeah I got all my filters off ebay except the 1/8. It's very sought after so it's hard to find. I eventually just bought a new one off b&h.

[@tobiasbergese]

Gracias, necesitaba esto

[@LawtonMeyer]

De nada

[@Themanintheredcoat]

I would only use 2 for a dream sequence or something extremely stylized

[@revokdaryl1]

How about an entire stylized movie? Something for Halloween, perhaps. That's what I'm doing.

[@kenneth_mirez]

1/4

[@flymojo001]

Great comparison. Just a quick question, in order to keep consistency of the look throughout wide and close up, it looks to me that I should go a step down as the focal length increases (e.g. 1/4 on the wide and 1/8 on the close, etc..). Is that your experience with these or do you suggest another combination (or none) to keep a consistent look?

[@LawtonMeyer]

It generally depends on context but that is a popular technique people follow, and also why I tested these two focal lengths. Focal length, sensor size and lighting also play a part as well.

[@flymojo001]

@@LawtonMeyer Thanks for the reply. I was asking as I’m trying to buy a couple of strengths that would generally work with the focal length I use on full frame (24 at the wide end and 70-105 at the long end) without having to splash on the entire set. I’ve already bought the 1/4 but debating whether to go 1/8th or 1/2 to complement it or just keep the 1/4 and use it across the board. The main reason I’m looking at these filters is to break the sharpness of my modern lenses especially on gimbal work. I do own a few sets of vintage FD, Nikkor and Russian lenses that I use without diffusion in interview and setup scenarios, etc, but use native zooms in run and gun situations and gimbal shots.

[@LawtonMeyer]

@@flymojo001 You could definitely get away with using one filter for everything. I've done commercials where we use one strength the entire shoot regardless of focal length, it just depends what light is in the scene and angle to the camera, etc. That being said 1/8 and 1/4 are the most universally used. 1/2 is quite strong, I like it quite a bit for music videos and artsy things. In the pro commercial world or interviews or things like that you'll likely never go beyond 1/4. Unless it's for a specific look. Because at 1/2 it's definitely noticeable. Just depends what you do, and context. 1/4 has been my go to for most professional shoots, the times we've dropped to 1/8 is when there's like a big window or something in frame.

[@sigvardbjorkman]

Is there any way to get a Tiffen Black ProMist filter, or a good alternative, on an Irix 15mm 2.4 with a 95mm filter thread? It also has a rear gel filter holder, is it possible to use that slot instead maybe? To somehow cut a small filter to size and have it at the rear? I will use a Speedbooster and is there a possibility to alternatively put a filter in there instead? I wish to keep a small profile to my camera setup with a wide angle lens like this but still have a Tiffen Black ProMist filter on it. Any thoughts?

[@LawtonMeyer]

I'm sure there's 95mm diffusion filters out there. My main recommendation would be to look at clip on matte boxes, bright tangerine's misfit atom is quite small. I think for photography there's filter holders, you could look into those. I definitely wouldn't try cutting a filter at all as they're very expensive.

[@sigvardbjorkman]

@@LawtonMeyer Thanks! I found it on the B&W photo site. I was just so perplexed by it lacking on both the Tiffen website and on Amazon.

[@thomastmic]

How much light lost on the BPM 2?

[@LawtonMeyer]

I don't have any exact photometrics but the T-stop and light output stayed the same throughout and to my eye there is no significant or obvious loss of light, but like I said I didn't measure that. I may do a more precise test in the future if I plan on using the 2 for any dark scenes.

[@thelastdaybreathinginetern1385]

How's it going! Do you remember me? I'm the metalhead guy. 🤘🏽 we spoke a looonng time ago.

[@LawtonMeyer]

I remember, how's it going?

[@thelastdaybreathinginetern1385]

@@LawtonMeyer Hey! Just checking in to see how your doing 😁.

[@LawtonMeyer]

@@thelastdaybreathinginetern1385 Surviving! Crazy times.

[@whooisskenny]

Hey I have a canon rebel t7 58mm but I’m looking for that Kodak gold or Fuji film look which one should I consider?? Anyone

[@LawtonMeyer]

You won't get the look just from filtration alone. So it really depends how much of the characteristics you're looking for. The stronger the filter the more halation and the more lifted your shadows will be. If you want it really noticeable I'd go 1/2 and up. Since the t7 has a smaller sensor you might even want to try a 1 if you want to really notice it. I find anything higher than that contrast gets a little too washed for my taste, but again, depends what you're going for. My personal favorite would be 1/2. But for the look you're going for there will be more involved.

[@phoneboothmobilefilms]

At 85 I see her turning into a ghost with every step. Especially the eyes as they keep turning light. Such a beautiful girl but such a disastrous treatment from a stupid lens. I would say 1/8th is the best of you need that kind of look. Beyond that it's too stylized.

[@LawtonMeyer]

Well that's the point of the test my friend. Not to promote any single filter but just to show what each does combined with each focal length. Same lighting conditions, distance, etc. On a longer lens it'd be rare to use such strong diffusion unless it was for some kind of dream sequence. But if you've never used these filters or don't have the ability to test them, that's what these examples can show you. And of course, there's not necessarily a right or wrong, just context, and what is needed to achieve a desired effect.

[@VELVET462]

thank you!