p.1 #1 · Any samples of digital filters vs. regular UV?
Hello,
Some brands like Heliopan are marketing digital filters that cut not only UV but also IR rays which they claim improves the color separation and quality of DSLR images. Does anyone use these digital filters and could we see any comparisons that show the difference in colors?
p.1 #2 · Any samples of digital filters vs. regular UV?
it depends on how IR sensitive your camera is. older cameras will definitely see an improvement. newer ones, not so much. however, i tested a Hoya Super HMC Skylight 1A filter on my IS-Pro, a camera that is designed to shoot into UV, under conditions when there should have been lots of UV and found no difference with and without the filter that couldn't be accounted for by the 1/4 stop light reduction. IOW, on a modern zoom, there's no UV getting through to the sensor.
p.1 #3 · Any samples of digital filters vs. regular UV?
Thanks for your reply Herb. The advantage with the digital filter is rather with the added IR reduction. I'm not sure how effective is this because the sensor has an IR filter so the benefits of an added filter are debatable. That's why I'm asking to see samples if anyone here can provide us with.
They bias their ranking toward a wider bandpass being better, so "protection" type filters are rated higher than traditional UV scrubbing types. But they do have access to a spectrophotometer so it's good to see some hard numbers.
For general use, I tend to agree with their bias. The cut filters installed in nearly all digital cameras these days are extremely effective at removing unwanted light. In most cases I'd actually want a wider pass (particularly to include H-alpha) rather than a narrower one.
They bias their ranking toward a wider bandpass being better, so "protection" type filters are rated higher than traditional UV scrubbing types. But they do have access to a spectrophotometer so it's good to see some hard numbers.
For general use, I tend to agree with their bias. The cut filters installed in nearly all digital cameras these days are extremely effective at removing unwanted light. In most cases I'd actually want a wider pass (particularly to include H-alpha) rather than a narrower one.
p.1 #6 · Any samples of digital filters vs. regular UV?
edwardkaraa wrote:
But it doesn't say much about the IR issue and whether it really helps to get better color separation or not.
IR is almost a non issue with current generation SLRs and most other camera types. Their internal cut frequency is already deep into visible red; I don't see how going further would improve colour fidelity.
There are filters that employ all manner of different technologies to intensify particular frequencies or attenuate others, but these have to be employed on a case by case basis.
p.1 #7 · Any samples of digital filters vs. regular UV?
edwardkaraa wrote:
Hello,
Some brands like Heliopan are marketing digital filters that cut not only UV but also IR rays which they claim improves the color separation and quality of DSLR images. Does anyone use these digital filters and could we see any comparisons that show the difference in colors?
Thanks in advance.
Edward
I use a Baader visible pass filter, which has very sharp transmission cutoff in both the UV and IR, but only when doing multispectral photography with a full spectrum camera that has good UV and IR sensitivity. In this application the filter is extremely useful, but for ordinary photography with current DSLRs I don't think there would be much use for this type of filter.
p.1 #9 · Any samples of digital filters vs. regular UV?
newer cameras like your 1DsMk2 are essentially blind to IR. IR-only illumination might as well not be there.
Herb...
edwardkaraa wrote:
Thanks for your reply Herb. The advantage with the digital filter is rather with the added IR reduction. I'm not sure how effective is this because the sensor has an IR filter so the benefits of an added filter are debatable. That's why I'm asking to see samples if anyone here can provide us with.
p.1 #11 · Any samples of digital filters vs. regular UV?
for most current cameras, yes. go back to ones from a couple of years ago and it makes much more of a difference. get a Leica M8 and you need one most of the time.
Herb...
edwardkaraa wrote:
So basically it's all marketing hype. Thanks for your advice
