Tiffen Digital HT 812?

[George Mann]

I found out that Tiffen makes a premium version of their 812. I need the right warming filter for Ektachrome, and I prefer quality filters for my Nikkor primes.

How many of you have used this filter, and how much better is it over the standard version?

 

[Ian C]

I have not used the Tiffen filter you cite.

Tiffen filters work fine. However, you should know that they use outdated technology to obtain the filtering. Instead of using solid colored glass, Tiffen filters are “sandwich filters.” Like the filters from the 1940s, they sandwich a thin sheet of transparent colored material between two thin sheets of glass. Tiffen calls this “Color Core Technology.”

I have some Tiffen series filters for my Koni Rapid Omega lenses. At least one of them is showing signs of separation as the colored material has begun to shrink. These filters were likely made in the early 1970s or so. You will likely never see a problem with them. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t buy a sandwich filter in this era, as there are excellent filters available from Hoya, B+W, and others that are made using solid colored glass with effective antireflection coatings applied to the surfaces.

I have some much newer Tiffen filters (#29 deep red) bought about 2010 or so that when angled about under strong light, reveal the 3-dimensional character of the colored material between the two sheets of glass. Nonetheless, they work fine and give good results.

Scroll down in the following link to read Tiffen’s description of “Color Core Technology.”

https://tiffen.com/products/digital-ht-812-warming-filter

Hoya has apparently recently changed its naming conventions. We used to buy warming filters in the 81 series in increasing strengths 81A, 81B, 81C, 81D and 81E.

Now Hoya offers its warming filters marked W2 (81A) and W4 (81D).

The other two are for converting tungsten film (mostly obsolete) to daylight or flash lighting. These are W10 (85) and W12 (85B).

See the following comparison chart:

https://hoyafilterusa.com/collections/color-correction/products/w2-color-correction

Note that the center column of the table seems to be mislabeled. It says, “Cooling Amount.” It should read “Warming Amount.”

 

[George Mann]

Nonetheless, I wouldn’t buy a sandwich filter in this era, as there are excellent filters available from Hoya, B+W, and others that are made using solid colored glass with effective antireflection coatings applied to the surfaces.

I have a Hoya HMC Skylight 1B in 55mm (just a bit too pink), and a B&W KR1.5 in 52mm (not warm enough).

The 812 is the filter I require for Ektachrome. The brownish orange 81 series is insufficient.

The HD version looks to be of sufficient quality, is it not?

 

[BrianShaw]

Hi George. For me, the original Tiffen 812 and a lens shade is of quite sufficient quality. The multi-coating they added in this improvement probably can be demonstrated to have a slightly greater transmission index, but probably at the expense of ease of cleaning. Streaking when cleaning multi-coated filters has historically been an issue. Seems like a "6-of-1; Half dozen the other" situation to me. Personally, i wouldn't spend the extra 400% an additional markup for that improvement but you might be willing to.

EDIT (in addition to the above): Of course, having written that I'm quickly proven wrong. They are on sale so why not!

Digital HT 812 Warming Filter - 52HT812

Improve skin tones when working in cool lighting conditions. Offers a greater warming effect than a skylight 1-A filter and is well-suited for use outdoors on overcast days or on sunny days when working in open shade. It can also be used to absorb the strong blue cast of an electronic flash for...

tiffen.com

 

[George Mann]

I think you missed the part about the titanium protective coating that guards against scratching and renders the filter easy to clean.

 

[BrianShaw]

I think you missed the part about the titanium protective coating that guards against scratching and renders the filter easy to clean.

I saw that. I'd have to experience that effect to be fully convinced. Perhaps it does...

 

[_T_]

The extra coatings on the digital version can be useful in certain situations but will have no impact on the image in others.

The coatings can reduce ghosting and flare which are most apparent when shooting directly towards light sources, especially when the frame is filled with many shadowy areas.

These effects can also occur with bright specular highlights.

So whether or not you need the extra coatings depends on what you expect to shoot with the filter.

If you’re going to be shooting shiny chrome cars on bright sunny days, or sunset vistas, or fairy lights in a dimly lit room then it would probably be to your advantage to have the coatings.

Then again you might want to make the artistic choice to include flares and ghosts in your images for effect, in which case you would want to go with the filter without the extra coatings.

Personally I try to make sure all my filters are multicoated as I have had a shot or two ruined by ghosts before.

 

[dynachrome]

I just bought Tiffen 812 filters in a few different sizes on the auction site. Two were NOS and came with the original tiny silica gel packets. I will be using the filters with some Ektachrome too. I expect to see the biggest difference in shaded areas where the blue cast would most pronounced.

 

[George Mann]

I just bought a B+W KR3 for a steal. Hopefully it will add just enough warmth over the KR1.5.