Diffusion Filters - Roaming through the City at Night

[Qwertynm]

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Yesterday we all received Leicas latest marketing e-mail: Roaming through the City at Night - André Josselin (Leica Q3). In many or most of the images I assume André was using a diffusion filter to bloom the hightlights. If you don't know what diffusion filters are Tiffen has some great explanations and samples on their website: Diffusion Camera Filters – The Tiffen Company.

As someone who's been testing different diffusion filters over the past years I have yet to settle on one that I leave permanently on my Q3. I want the effects to be subtle and not spend more time in post to counter the effects (eg add contrast). I started with a Black Pro Mist 1/4 but found the effects sometimes too extreme, especially with diffused natural lighting. Everything gets washed out and flatter than it already is. Most tests or comparisons online are done at night with artificial light (like the images in the blog post from André). The best comparison I've found for a subtle look is this youtube video: 

Since I got the camera I've been using the Black Satin 1. The effects are really subtle, especially at this wide focal length. I'd like to try out a BPM 1/8 on the Q3. 

Do you use diffusion filters occasionally? All the time? Never? What are your thoughts on diffusion filters?

Edited June 30, 2023 by Qwertynm

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[TDE-Photo]

I like those filter very much, especially for night shots. I use a cheap black mist 1/4 Filter fro Haida

 

 

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[Qwertynm]

I have both the Haida BPM 1/4 and 1/8 as they are quite a bit cheaper than the Tiffen. I've found the Haida to give a stronger effect than Tiffen. The 1/4 Haida is more equal to a Tiffen 1/2 imho. I like the 1/8 from Haida a lot and even that can be sometimes a bit over the top. 

Here is one example shot with the 1/8 BPM Haida. The sun is just left off the frame and hitting the lens at a pretty straight angle, yet it gives a nice halation of the left side of the image - quite strong imho. 

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this was shot with the Tiffen Black Satin 1. Sun straight into the camera but retaining contrast quite well.

Obviously both shots are not straight out of camera so these examples are not the best comparison.  Most comparison I've seen online are night shots with artificial light. But that's not how I shoot usually so those are useless to me. I'd like to compare Glimmer Glass 1, Black Satin 1 and BPM 1/8, 1/4 when I find the time.

 

 

 

 

[darylgo]

At the time I was testing diffusion, the attempt was to duplicate the Thambar look in a 50mm outdoors in natural light.  The closest I achieved and it was somewhat close, nothing was as good as the Thambar look, was the 50mm Summilux R, 55mm filter, and a softar.  Lately, the softar doesn't get much attention, it has fallen out of favor but I love the sharp, not sharp spherical abberration look to it, often-times I place these on my lenses when it is contrasty light and it knocks the contrast down slightly.