Do didymium enhancing filters really work?

<P>Some filter companies (<I>e.g.,</I> Tiffen) made an

enhancing filter made of special didymium glass for

increasing the intensity and saturation of red objects.

 

<P>Do these filters noticeably work? They're kind of expensive

of pricey (B&H lists the 58mm Tiffen Enhancing filter at

US$75). I live out in here in seasonless California (not

entirely true, but I won't argue that the season changes out

here are "subtle"), so I'm wonder how much benefit one would

receive using such a filter.

 

<P>I guess my real question is if they're worth it.

They "work" in that they punch up (saturate) reds. If that's

what you want, that's what they give. They can also

have subtle effects on other colors, so they are a filter

to be very careful with. They seem to work well on fall

foliage (in the east), where most of the scene is reds

and yellows. I'm not so sure they are generally useful

for "punching up" reds in more normal work unless you

are after unusal effects.

 

<p>

 

I have one, but must admit to never having used it!

For a number of non-photographic reasons, I was out

of commission this fall and didn't get a chance to try

it out. Just looking through it, it certainly <i>seems</i>

to work.

 

<p>

 

Are they worth it? Depends on what you want to do I

guess. If you are making a living at fall foliage

photography in New England, I'd guess you wouldn't

want to be without one.

 

<p>

 

If I ever get a cahnce to try mine out, I'll post the

results.

I used one for the first time this past autumn and found it to be very effective in bringing out the amber and reddish tones of the foliage, also has a slight effect on cloudy overcast days, adding an interesting magenta tone to the clouds, creating a sometimes very dramatic feel.

Indeed expensive, $150 Canadian, but well worth the investment if shooting for stock or other types

of sales where your shot will possibly stand out from others.

Had some good results with one on alpenglow in Taos Mtns., but saw little effect on late fall colors here in Vermont the one day I got to try it out. (Spent most of the fall buried in the office or out of state.)

Yes these filters work. I bought a $5 closeout Tiffen Enhancing filter (49mm) from out local photo store and liked the effect so much -deepening reddish bricks, brown-red soils- I paid full freight to get other filter sizes. But I have lessened my initial enthusiasm because of the magenta cast that has started to show up on some whites, overcast clouds, etc. on my 55mm filter. Now that I have compared the two filters I have become aware that they come in various color casts ( my 49mm has a brown cast) and have sent my larger filter to Tiffen to see if the magenta cast is a sign of deterioration.

Yes, these filters work. I have use them for over 10 years in formats from 35mm to 8x10 with good success.

Some brands are stronger than others and you will have to test to see what works best for you.

Film tests are really important as the different films react differently. With some, the whites go off color and others will still keep a nice white while the reds, oranges, etc., are enhanced.

I have used them in the High Sierra, Owens Valley of CA., Nevada ranges and Utah, basically all over the Western US.

Shoot a scene with one and w/o, and you will get the feel for how they do in varying light. For those times when the color seems to fall just a bit short on the sunsets, they can be a real lifesaver. Driving for two days to get somewhere is expensive, especially if you don't get results. Try the filters and your success rate will go up a bit. And yes, with Velvia the colors at times will jump right off the film at you

I too live in "seasonless" California and lust after those New England fall foilage shots. I shoot Velvia and the Tiffen enhancing filter adds even more punch to the colors, unless there is a patch of sky, then it becomes annoying to see the magenta hue. I find that I also use it in the spring for wildflower trips, again, as long as there is no sky. I recently did a series of summer farm field shots, and I also liked the tones it added to the fruits, veggies, etc and the soil (that dry, dusty beige California dirt).

I use an enhancing filter that works with all colors very well.I believe it was made by Omega Opticle in Vermont(?) It works by transmiting only wavelengths of light that the human eye is sensitive to, and blocking ALL others. Makes GA100 look similar to Agfa Ultra, and makes Ultra look surealistic.

A filter which blocked all UV and IR, but didn't affect the

visible spectrum wouldn't be an enhancing filter, at least not

in the sense that the term is normally used. I suppose

you might get some sort of subtle contrast improvement if there

was a lot of long wavelength UV and short wavelength IR around,

enough to register on film without a filter (though most film

is pretty dead to IR).

 

<p>

 

The main feature of enhancing filters is that they have very

steep stop and pass bands in the visible region of the spectrum.

If anyone has info on the Omega Optical filter (not a company

I know anything about), perhaps they could post it here.

An addendum to my earlier comment. I use these filters when called for but that isn't too often. One thing I did with them bears repeating if you want to use one. TEST THEM WITH DIFFERENT FILMS!!!

If you don't you are asking for some nasty & disappointing surprises when you get your film back.

With certain films they will not produce a clean white. With others the whites stay white. Not all films react the same so before trusting your great fall foliage or sunsets or red rock country images to the filters alteration or enhancement, be sure how your film reacts.

Just out of curiousity, wouldn't a 81C and a polarizer work just as well as an enhancing filter? I mean, other than vignetting problems with wide angles.

 

<p>

 

Sincerely,

Yeo

Short answer: No

 

<p>

 

81C filters and polarizers have a very different spectral selectivity from enhancing filters. Not the same at all.

They do enhance the reds, but also alter the other colors.

The Tiffen is somewhat reputed to be too magenta. I think it works best when there are no large light surfaces in the picture, like

a photograph of a red maple against a dark background of evergreens.

Fall foliage photographers i've talked to mentionned that Singh-Ray

makes an enhancing which is supposedly more neutral. There is also

the products of Howard Ross, the guy who claims to be the inventor of

the enhancing filter, which are claimed to be more neutral.

i love my enhance filter i used it for the fall color or flower anything that needs a lot of colour the unly thing is it was expensive

Just saw some results with my filter(loaned out) on the Big Rez in SoUtah & the colors with Ektachrome VS were amazing. It went through the roof on the reds with this film, turning mildly warm sandstone to an approximation of Kodachrome Basin at sunrise-truly sickening.

Use the filters with caution.

If you want to see a spectrum of my didymium filter you can look

at one near the bottom of my UV nature photography page at

 

http://flzhgn.home.mindspring.com/uv.htm

 

You can use them both on a camera or on a projector or slide dupe

setup. My understanding is that some videographers swear by them

to punch up the reds even beyond electronic enhancement.

<p>I bought a Sing Ray didymium color enhancing filter years ago, and used it with my Bronica SQ system. On Velvia, in Eastern Sierras, I thought it gave too much of magenta cast. I have not tried it on digital camera, but this thread has spurred my interest, so I will.</p>