B+W Mist Filter for Leica Q3 43 - is it worth buying?

[Leon Weber]

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Good morning,

I got the info from the Leica Store, that there is now a special series of B+W Mist filters for the Leica Q3 43 from Tekiac. What do you think of Mist filters? I had a look at the Tekiac website and there are some impressive pictures with these Mist filters. The Black Mist is really interesting with this "light" effect. I just took some pictures from their website as examples here

 

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[Chris W]

I don't really understand paying thousands for a camera with an extremely sharp lens, then blurring it (to look like film) with a filter.

 

[Mikep996]

Well, we used use such filters with film as well but it wasn't to "make it look like film," it was to add the "effect."  If you can add the effect in a post program, I can't see any reason to buy a filter to do it.  There were all sorts of effect filters used with film that would still work the same way BUT, again, if you can add it in post, no need to buy filters.

Edited June 8 by Mikep996

[Snooopy]

vor einer Stunde schrieb Chris W:

I don't really understand paying thousands for a camera with an extremely sharp lens, then blurring it (to look like film) with a filter.

This is exactly where the difference lies compared to software-based solutions: the images stay sharp in the details, with only the surroundings taking on a subtle glow.
Software tends to make the images look mushy, but not with the B+W Ultra Slim Black Mist 1/4 Filter. It uses the same filter glass found in B+W’s large-format filters for film and video production. There, achieving the right balance between sharpness and effect is especially important, since the footage is shown in cinemas and on very high-resolution displays.

You can achieve this level of quality with the Leica Looks as well, straight out of camera (OOC), without having to edit the JPEGs or process the images on a computer.

Here’s an example withe the Q3 43 (DNG with LR), the subject has a glow, and now let’s take a look at the text where the focus is, shown as a 100% crop. The sharpness is excellent, and the soft glow is clearly visible. 

 

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Edited June 8 by Snooopy

[Snooopy]

Here’s an example with the Q3 43 and a JPEG straight out of camera (OOC); Look: STD and iDR: Auto –> this is important.

 

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[bobtodrick]

If you can add in post that’s the way to go IMO.

Even in the film days I added softening to images in the darkroom.  A crumpled piece of cellophane under the enlarging lens for part of the exposure worked as well as an expensive Zeiss Softar filter on the camera.

 

Edited June 8 by bobtodrick

[Snooopy]

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vor 21 Minuten schrieb bobtodrick:

If you can add in post that’s the way to go IMO.

Even in the film days I added softening to images in the darkroom.  A crumpled piece of cellophane under the enlarging lens for part of the exposure worked as well as an expensive Zeiss Softar filter on the camera.

You can't always achieve the same look in post-production as easily or effectively as you can with a Black Mist filter,  candlelight is one of the best examples. That's exactly why these filters exist. And just to be clear, they have nothing to do with smearing Vaseline or anything like that on the lens to create a softening effect.

[Snooopy]

vor 1 Minute schrieb Al Brown:

I disagree. Nothing is mushy, the effect is EXACTLY like promist/black mist filters. At least see the video I posted.

The video shows a simple approach that doesn’t fully replicate the effect of a real Black Mist filter. In practice, you’d need to work with multiple layers and masks to bring out certain details in a natural way. For example, this method doesn’t work at all with something like a candle,  the effect ends up looking completely wrong.

It’s definitely not as straightforward as the video suggests. For a quick edit, this might be fine, but for a well-crafted image, a lot more post-processing is required and even then, it often still won’t match the look of an actual Black Mist filter.

For those who aren't very familiar with Photoshop, producing a high-quality edit using this method just isn't realistic. And for photographers who prefer getting their look straight out of camera (JPG OOC), this workflow isn't practical at all.

[Snooopy]

vor 28 Minuten schrieb Al Brown:

All you write is correct, however, I also wrote that it "totally depends on your Photoshop skills".

You’re a professional and you understand lighting. You also know that different types of light sources glow differently depending on their nature. For example, when working with candles, it’s essential to use radial filters along with masking, because the actual light point isn’t on the outside of the flame but right in the center of it.

This is a simple example where probably 95% of users would struggle most don’t even know that a glow point exists. On top of that, masking and gradient transitions need to be handled differently. Things can get very complex once multiple elements come into play. In the example image I shared, the background is dark, which creates good contrast. But with a bright background, finding the right balance becomes even more difficult. That takes experience and many hours of post-processing.

This is exactly why the idea of Leica looks or JPGs straight out of camera (OOC) is so appealing you get results that can be used immediately, with little to no editing. Even though I’m skilled in post-production, I always try to get the image as close to the final result as possible on location, so I can reduce the time spent at the computer. If all I need to do at the end is a few small light corrections in Lightroom and the image is ready, I much prefer that over spending hours masking and adjusting things in Photoshop. I’d rather spend that time outside shooting.

vor 52 Minuten schrieb Al Brown:

As said, all the effort in post production is there for the sake of reversibility, nothing else.

That's absolutely true, the real art lies in finding the right balance between post-processing and photography.

 

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Q3 43 @ Macro Mode with B+W Black Mist Ultra Slim 1/4 Filter

 

Q3 43 @ Macro Mode

 

Q3 43 @ Macro Mode post-production similar to what was demonstrated in the tutorial

[JNK100]

No.

[Derbyshire Man]

I just get out my M11 with 35mm pre-asph, but that’s more expensive than a filter!

[S Maclean]

I have several mist filters becasue I like the effect....and yet, I have NEVER actually used them for an actual shoot. I bought them to use them...and then I don't.

[S Maclean]

4 hours ago, Derbyshire Man said:

I just get out my M11 with 35mm pre-asph, but that’s more expensive than a filter!

Same here, I have a pre ash 90m M lens that creatres incredible dreamy yet sharp images. Just magical.

[Simone_DF]

I prefer either a Glimmerglass or a Cinebloom 10%, they are basically glued to my lenses. If you get the filters at their lowest strength, the effect is there but very subdued. I do get the point of doing it in post, but for me time is precious, so I’d rather do it in camera and spend less time sitting in front of a laptop. 

[keithlaban.co.uk]

The only filters I own are UV for lens protection.

My aim is to achieve the look I'm after by simply relying on lens choice.

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[SrMi]

11 hours ago, Chris W said:

I don't really understand paying thousands for a camera with an extremely sharp lens, then blurring it (to look like film) with a filter.

 

What about ICM and general motion blur as a creative choice? Should it be done only with low-quality lenses😉?

[Leon Weber]

Thanks for the info. I like this lighting effect, but I have not really the time to learn how to edit these images on the computer (And you'd also have to learn Photoshop 🫠 ).

I'll just give it a try. I'm going to order a B+W Black Mist filter and White Mist from Tekiac. I'll let you know in a few days whether it was worth it for me 🙂

[Chris W]

9 hours ago, SrMi said:

What about ICM and general motion blur as a creative choice? Should it be done only with low-quality lenses😉?

Who said anything about 'low quality lenses'. I was just juxtaposing purchasing a system with an incredibly sharp detailed lens and looking for ways to make it less sharp and detailed.

Actually I was sort of hinting at 'Derbyshire Man's' comment. If it were me I would get out my M10 and a vintage lens, or buy an SL and find a vintage lens that has all the warmth and flare you look for in a photo. Don't buy something super accurate and sharp in the first place.

But it's just a debating point, people are free to buy and use whatever they like!

[Simone_DF]

3 hours ago, Chris W said:

Who said anything about 'low quality lenses'. I was just juxtaposing purchasing a system with an incredibly sharp detailed lens and looking for ways to make it less sharp and detailed.

Actually I was sort of hinting at 'Derbyshire Man's' comment. If it were me I would get out my M10 and a vintage lens, or buy an SL and find a vintage lens that has all the warmth and flare you look for in a photo. Don't buy something super accurate and sharp in the first place.

But it's just a debating point, people are free to buy and use whatever they like!

I do agree with you in principle, but, for me the M is a no-no, because I do want autofocus, and the SL is too big and heavy, in fact I sold a SL2-S to switch to a Q43. 
Slapping a BPM filter is the best compromise for people looking for a Leica camera with autofocus and a reasonably compact package. 
The only alternative I can think of is a Nikon ZF with a Techart autofocus adapter, but that brings other compromises 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[Tseg]

I got a 1/4 Black Mist filter for my Q3 43.   I got it for portraits, but have not used it much.  It does soften the biting sharpness of an APO.

 

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