Sunglass filter. Is there such a thing?

GreyWolf · Oct 21, 2003

I am sure that you all have noticed that when you put sunglasses on (outside on a bright day) that the fall colors seem so much more vivid. I also know that the human eye has an uncanny ability to adjust to the light spectrum and fool our mind into believing that most outdoor light is "white light".

I am now wondering if it is possible to place a filter on the lens while shooting color film that will increase the saturation of the fall colors. In simple terms "Is there a sunglass filter" that will work properly?

Perhaps if anybody understands this maybe a layman's explanation would be helpful. Thanks.

Kind Regards,

Shesh · Oct 21, 2003

You are looking for a polarizing filter. It removes the glare since it polarizes the light entering the lens. The amount of polarization can be varied by rotating the filter. If you use an autofocus camera, then you will need a "circular polarizing filter".

Silverpixels5 · Oct 21, 2003

If i'm correct then I believe a polarizing filter should work. Most sunglasses block UV and are polarized, both of which will enrich colors and increase clarity when you look through them.

Jorge · Oct 21, 2003

There is a filter that does exactly what you want, but I dont recall the name. Go to Calument or B&H and do a search for color filters, it should appear in the list.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 21, 2003

You might be thinking of the didymium filter, also sometimes called an "Enhancing Filter."

Aggie · Oct 21, 2003

Ed Sukach · Oct 21, 2003

Tiffen makes the "Enhancing Filter" -- their sales shtick shows autumn foliage as an example. Easy to find with a Google search.

Lex Jenkins · Oct 22, 2003

If anybody makes what you're looking for it'll be Tiffen. They make all kinds of filters for the movie making industry.

I think they still make the day/night filter too, y'know, the one that was so beloved of Hollywood Westerns and war movies during the 1960s so they could cheap out and shoot "night" scenes in broad daylight.

Ole · Oct 22, 2003

A polarizer and a light warming filter (81B?) is a very common combination - so common that it can be found combined in one filter.

brimc76 · Oct 22, 2003

I have the Tiffen enhancing filter but I only use it once in a while. If it's the same one you are thinking of, it enhances reds. I find it a little overwhelming for some fall colour but I've used it up north when I've been shooting landscapes with a lot of Canadian Shield granite in the picture. It brings out the reds in the granite nicely.
I think they also call this filter a red enhancer or a didymium filter as David has mentioned.

GreyWolf · Oct 23, 2003

Thanks to everyone for the education. I will be looking into the enhancing filter you are all talking about.

I guess my question was really twofold. The first was pure interest in whether our eyes being fooled by the sunglasses would be noticable in film with a "sunglass like" filter.

The second was to discover if there was such a filter.

You have answered both.

Thanks

Sunglass filter. Is there such a thing?

GreyWolf

Shesh

Silverpixels5

Jorge

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Aggie

Ed Sukach

Lex Jenkins

Ole

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brimc76

GreyWolf

Sunglass filter. Is there such a thing?

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Moderator

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