Still not convinced that optical filters are worth your time? Here is another tale of how the simple use of filters can overcome a problem that, at the time seemed insurmountable: First thing one Monday morning I was called by a dealer who had a big problem. They had just installed a new 3 camera HD set-up for a church and the results were not acceptable to the father of the preacher. The initial shots of him on the screen in the overflow room were bad enough, but the dvd of the first service that were imprinted yesterday (Sunday) were to quote "scary." The issue was simple: they did not have the budget or the space to light the pulpit as you would an HD studio and the results were pure HD. It showed every pore and every line, the depth of field was off and the three camera's skin tones were not in sync. Lighting changes and in-camera adjustments helped with some of the issues but could not create an acceptable image. Long story made short: a diffusion filter with a slight warming effect on all three cameras allowed the church to keep its pulpit looking like one; not looking like a TV studio, allowed real time dvd printing with pleasing skin tones and facial images AND saved time in post production for more intensive production of compilation DVDs.

Now that you are convinced that it is worthwhile for you to learn about and use optical filters, what's next?

Learn a bit about filters through sources such as the American Society of Cinematographer's (ASC) website and books, the many books on filters and digital cameras, on-line user groups, organizations like MCAI and other Videographer's Associations and best of all: experiment on your own. As you start to experiment and use filters here a few pointers: The brightness range of today's digital cameras is less than that of film. The color response is different. Older generation filters may not be suitable for use with today's DV, HD, and HDV cameras. Try not to use those made of soda lime glass, as it tends to impart a subtle green tint. This was not such an issue for film and even for some SD cameras, but can be an issue for the new digital cameras due to possible inaccurate color sampling and loss of color saturation. Modern filters designed for HDV and HD applications utilize a water white or Schott B270 Crown Optical Glass that does not contribute to sampling inaccuracies.

Manufacturers are beginning to understand the need for filters used in HD to have a higher standard of flatness then those of the past. Older filters that are not as flat may produce distortions in today's cameras that become especially evident during slow pan and tilt movements. Laminated filters, especially color graduated filters should also be avoided as they can produce small focus shifts and can also create a banding pattern that may lead to pixilation.

No matter what filters you choose be selective and use them tastefully. Use glass filters, as plastic can distort the image especially on long focal lengths. Choose low densities to begin with 1/8, ¼, ½ or at most a 1. Many companies are now deciding to scrap the 1/8 to 5 density valuations for simple 1, 2, 3 density values for filters made specifically for HD.

Buy a sunshade or matte box. This will help to keep flares off your lens, as well as, hold your filters. As an added benefit, it makes you look more professional. Whether you choose to buy a matte box or decide to use simple screw-on filters start with a polarizer and neutral density (ND) filters. To obtain the required reduction in file size, today's cameras have targeted what is considered irrelevant details to be cut from the sampling. In almost all cameras they have tended to look into the shadows for information that can be "lost", the result being a potentially significant loss of shadow detail. Polarizing filters increase contrast and improves your shadow detail by reducing light scattering.

Another use of the polarizing filter is (in) controlling the reflection that light creates in windows, water, and glass lenses. Since light bounces around in all directions along its axis these surfaces often create an increased scattering of light. The object is not to eliminate all of the reflection but to reduce it to a point where the camera can achieve the effect without overwhelming the scene with scattered light. Polarizing filters are also be used for reducing the effect of haze and can be used as an ND filter.

Shooting with a wide aperture is always a good idea. ND filters and ND graduated filters are used to control the quantity of light that enters your camera. A good ND filter should not have any effect on the quality of the light. It should absorb the light of all colors in equal amounts. In this way, ND filters reduce the low light sensitivity of the camcorder. This allows the camera to better approach the light handling characteristics of a film camera. With proper lighting you will be able to create a more filmic look. This technique is also very helpful with depth of field issues, especially outdoors.

Diffusion filters are becoming very popular in trying to obtain that filmic look. The best way to find a good diffusion filter that you like most for your story is to try one. If results are less than desirable you can try something else. One word of caution is to be aware that the "one size fits all" diffusion filter is a myth. Depending on a cameras chipset, processor, menu settings and the user's abilities, a filter that works well on one model may work poorly on another. You have to select the right diffusion filter for your particular camera and setup. Most manufacturers have come out with new types of diffusion and warming filters for HD. I suggest you experiment with them or talk to people at the various companies to ascertain whether a particular filter works best for your camera. Here is one last story about issues caused by HD that reach beyond the working professional all the way to the amateur:

I got a call from a dealer who had sold one of the "prosumer" HD cameras to a doctor/lawyer type. It seemed that he shot a few hours of his family vacation to the beach and when he came home and plugged the camera into his 52 inch LCD TV his wife and younger daughter would not watch the results. Even he had to admit that the images were too perfect in that they showed every imperfection and blemish. Obviously the days of a prosumer setting an HD camera on auto and shooting are at an end. I told the dealer to show the guy how to use the manual setting and to use a warm diffusion filter that I knew worked very well with that particular camera. We do not know how the resultant video came out but the guy has not been back to return the camera.

Working with filters can solve many problems that the new cameras and formats create. But more than that; working with optical filters bring you closer to your craft at the moment the image is being recorded. It gives you the best possible chance to create the image you want to create, to tell the story you want to tell in the most pleasing and dramatic way possible.
So………….get some filters and have some fun!! <end>