Not long ago, we mentioned Mount July’s filters. These filters are color splashed and stackable. When used together, they mimic the look of various color gradients or expired instant film–but they’re being pushed as having an Instagram type of look to them. Their Kickstarter has now officially launched and they need $32,000 to get it going. Plus according to their Facebook, they’ll be demoing the products in NYC soon.
They’re currently launching three different looks: Stinson (which overall warms an image), Sedona (which gives it a pinkish vingette) and Sayulita (which changes the color gradient completely.) They look a little bit like the Alien Skim Exposure 5 program that we showed, but you’re able to do this in camera.
The filters have threaded ends allow attachment to any 58 mm camera lens, and the ability to stack multiple filters at once. They’re also made from an aluminum housing and have multi-coated precision optical glass with a rotating inner groove-bearing facilitates smooth spinning of the filter. We’ll try to get some in for testing soon.
Via Petapixel
We’re not sure how we missed this one back at CES, but Hoya’s new HD2 filters are really quite jaw dropping. In the video after the jump, a company rep smacks the filter repeatedly with a pipe–and it doesn’t shatter. The process starts with chemically hardened L37 optical glass has almost four times the strength of normal optical glass–or so they claim. Hoya then uses a 16-layer (8 layer each side) nano-coating process that yields a multi-coated filter with an extremely high transmission curve. The top layer is made into a hardened anti-scratch layer that is also stain and water resistant. The filters also can come in the circular polarizer type, which uses a special High-Trans circular polarizing film that has 41% greater light transmission than standard circular polarizing film, the company once again claims.
They’re available for purchase right now.
Nuff’ talking now–more smash!
Via Pop Photo
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A lot of people have caught on the trend of shooting your smartphone through polarized sunglasses for the benefits that they offer our eyes. Starting today you can leave those glasses on your head and pick up a new clip on polarizer for your phone from Photojojo. The advantages that you get out of a filter like this is that it cuts down glare and makes things around you just a bit more saturated.
Although the demo images feature an iPhone this clip on filter will actually work with all mobile electronics with a camera, including all iOS and Android devices. The clip will sell for $20 and will be available from the Photojojo store starting today!
Panasonic just published a press release in which the company states that it has patented a new sensor technology that effectively gains a stop of light sensitivity by doing away with the color filter. The idea is not new–in the past, people had their cameras modified to be monochrome only by taking away the color filter array. The same has been done with the Leica M Monochrom, which effectively boosted its base ISO from 160 to 320. However, Panasonic’s new technology doesn’t leave the camera ‘color blind’. Quite on the contrary.
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It’s rare for me that a product shot of an item will make me want it. Even though I am a huge filter naysayer, there are definitely benefits to using a high quality filter. So here comes Cokin with a brand new set of filters that claim to be the thinnest and lightest filters in the world. Although I don’t think I have ever cared before now about the size and weight of a filter, Cokin sure has made me reconsider after seeing the Pure Harmonie set. There are three new filters under the new branding and they are the Anti-UV Multi-Coated (UV MC), Circular Polarizer (C PL), and the Variable Density Neutral Gray (ND X).
The UV MC filter (above) is only 3.3mm thick and Cokin says that it’s nearly invisible when on your lens and I believe them. The C PL is 4.5mm thin and was made with no compromise. It has a rotating ring to adjust polarization. From ND2 to ND400, the Variable Neutral Density filter will give you a range of eight f stops without affecting the color rendition.
At the least you should mozy over to their website to check out the details. If you do and you find yourself wanting one you can check them out on Amazon: Anti-UV Multi Coated, Circular Polarizer and Variable Neutral Density Gray Filter. They range from $50 all the way up to $200 for the largest variable ND filter.
People love their GoPro cameras. They are unique little cameras that have the ability to adapt to almost any shooting condition and make sure that you get the shot. Great for action sports coverage and numerous other situations, one thing that almost always is needed is a good filter to make sure it makes the mountain scene really pops or that the underwater clip looks less blue and more like real life.
Polar Pro Filters has an excellent solution for just these kind of shooting problems, and right now you can dive in with them and get their new Hero 3 Cube Filter kickstarted into the market. Choosing from one of their many pledge options starting at $20 USD will get you the Hero 3 Cube Filter of your choice, but you can pledge yourself all the way into an exclusive ski or dive trip with the staff of Polar Pro Filters (providing you feel like coughing up $5000. for the opportunity)
While their product pitch video won’t be winning any awards anytime soon, it does show a decent view on what a difference the filters can make in your next Hero 3 video. Go check out their Kickstarter page and show them some love if it seems like a product you’d like to get a hold of!
