This is great. Finally, someone actually comes out and says what nobody wants to hear at the moment: ultra-sharp portraits are often unflattering and not what the client wants. I had a conversation with a world-reknown glamour photographer a couple of years ago who said what I'd been thinking for years: modern lenses are too sharp. Now you have people using macro lenses for protraiture in a quest for ultimate sharpness and it looks awful. When I was a young working photographer in the early 1980s, I read an interview with a Playboy photographer who was talking about the level of diffusion he was using. He said he never shot without it, even when the client said they wanted a clean shot. He still used a Tiffen #1 because, in his words, they couldn't tell the difference anyway. And he was right. My go-to lens (for 35mm) at that time was an Olympus 85mm f/2 and I know for a fact that the designers had deliberately put a very small amount of spherical aberration into it _because they knew it would be used for portraiture._ Softening in post doesn't work that well. I have used all kinds of techniques and the only one that works for me is Michael Woloszynowicz's frequency separation method. It's a good system but it takes a long time to do. Ultimately, IMHO, extremely mild diffusion works better and the best part is that most people don't even know why. I agree with you on the Pearlescent, though I didn't expect to because I used the Tiffen black Pro-mist (their numbering system was different then and #1 was the lightest).
@@TheSlantedLens Thanks. I just think filters give better and more consistent results. I’m still trying to remember the Tiffen numbering system. I may have got that wrong. At a space of 30-40 years, it’s a fairly minor difference to be trying to dig up. But now that I think about it, they might have been quarter black pro mists… Everyone was using them in the early 90s.
OMG, finally found the right filter for me, thanks to this video. The Black Satin isn't available anymore, but the Pearlescent looks even better! Thanks a lot!
@@TheSlantedLens awesome awesome video. 6 years later I need a diffusion filter for darker skin in a mostly dark background UA-camr Studio with many practicals. I hope you can suggest your opinion as I need recommendations badly.
If you want to dip your toe into the fun of diffusion, try stretching a piece of black nylon or silk stocking over the lens and holding it in place with a rubber band. You can also lightly spray an old UV filter with black or white spray paint, but it has to be a really light dusting....
For classic headshots in studio with white lit background, which filter would you recommend? Looking for that old school vintage contrast. Tried a black mist 1/8 which is the weakest but still got pretty severe blooming from the background strobes so I had to dial those down pretty hard. Face contrast was great but clothes (especially black suits) got washed out around the shoulders. And that was trickier than I thought to correct in post. Any recommendations which filter to use instead? Satin? Pro Soft from B+W? Thanks in advance
First, it is important when using filters that you do not have any flare on the filter of lens. Make sure that you flag off the filter/lens. I shot with filters all through the 80's and 90's and flare exaggerates the look of the filter immensely. Then pick the ones you like from the video test and decide. I prefer the Pro Mist.
Mamma Mia the best filter tutorial have seen till now.....thanks . Will like to ask in your opinion do they work on video mode on a canon 70d and which one will be best for beauty tutorial ( color are very important in make up tutorial ) , need some filter to softening the skin....sorry for bad English ...Msg from Italy .
The difference is so subtle...its HARD to decide which one is the best choice for a subtle effect [which will step away from the uber-digital look]... :\
Very well done video but: The model was flawless -so the differences were really hard to tell. You should've taken a women in her 40s or 50s to really show the difference a filter can make.
Save your money and just let your kids play with your lens for a few minutes.. LOL I actually can't stand those filters. If I need something softened up I highly prefer to do it in Lightroom that way I can soften what I want and keep things sharp that I want sharp. But thats just me..
+Joe's Photo & Video Blog It is all a matter of preference. Some people do not like to do much to the image in post, maybe that is an old-school way of thinking now though. Thanks for watching and sharing your comments!
Wow, you chose great backgrounds, and wardrobe to show these filter's strengths! Well done!!!
Thanks so much! 😊And thanks for watching!
One of the most photogenic people I've ever laid eyes on.
Thanks for sharing all those diffusion tests, that was very helpful. I might have to try some for video.
Yes, Dave. Try it on 4K video. I`m sure it will be really great!
Dave Dugdale Glad I could give you some inspiration. It will be interesting to use some of these filters with video.
The Slanted Lens love u man...keep doing this :>
Thanks, Gull!
:>
Is the Black Satin 1 almost the same as the Black Pro Mist 1/4? Or what's the difference between the two? Thanks.
Great tests. This is how comparison videos should be made.
Glad you think so! Thanks for watching!
The Pearlescent 2 is amazing! I love the dreamy look it gives
Yeah, it is nice. Thanks for watching!
This is great. Finally, someone actually comes out and says what nobody wants to hear at the moment: ultra-sharp portraits are often unflattering and not what the client wants. I had a conversation with a world-reknown glamour photographer a couple of years ago who said what I'd been thinking for years: modern lenses are too sharp. Now you have people using macro lenses for protraiture in a quest for ultimate sharpness and it looks awful.
When I was a young working photographer in the early 1980s, I read an interview with a Playboy photographer who was talking about the level of diffusion he was using. He said he never shot without it, even when the client said they wanted a clean shot. He still used a Tiffen #1 because, in his words, they couldn't tell the difference anyway. And he was right. My go-to lens (for 35mm) at that time was an Olympus 85mm f/2 and I know for a fact that the designers had deliberately put a very small amount of spherical aberration into it _because they knew it would be used for portraiture._
Softening in post doesn't work that well. I have used all kinds of techniques and the only one that works for me is Michael Woloszynowicz's frequency separation method. It's a good system but it takes a long time to do. Ultimately, IMHO, extremely mild diffusion works better and the best part is that most people don't even know why. I agree with you on the Pearlescent, though I didn't expect to because I used the Tiffen black Pro-mist (their numbering system was different then and #1 was the lightest).
Great to hear about your experience with diffusion. Agreed, that ultra sharpness is not greart for most people, thus the skin softening in post!
@@TheSlantedLens Thanks. I just think filters give better and more consistent results. I’m still trying to remember the Tiffen numbering system. I may have got that wrong. At a space of 30-40 years, it’s a fairly minor difference to be trying to dig up. But now that I think about it, they might have been quarter black pro mists… Everyone was using them in the early 90s.
OMG, finally found the right filter for me, thanks to this video. The Black Satin isn't available anymore, but the Pearlescent looks even better!
Thanks a lot!
Glad I could help you out, Dennis!
@@TheSlantedLens awesome awesome video. 6 years later I need a diffusion filter for darker skin in a mostly dark background UA-camr Studio with many practicals.
I hope you can suggest your opinion as I need recommendations badly.
Great video JP, you don't get enough acknowledgment for all the great tests and reviews you do. keep the camera rolling, keep on reviewing. :)
If you want to dip your toe into the fun of diffusion, try stretching a piece of black nylon or silk stocking over the lens and holding it in place with a rubber band. You can also lightly spray an old UV filter with black or white spray paint, but it has to be a really light dusting....
When you stretch black silk stocking in front of the lens that's diffraction (bending the light), not diffusion (scattering the light).
For classic headshots in studio with white lit background, which filter would you recommend? Looking for that old school vintage contrast. Tried a black mist 1/8 which is the weakest but still got pretty severe blooming from the background strobes so I had to dial those down pretty hard. Face contrast was great but clothes (especially black suits) got washed out around the shoulders. And that was trickier than I thought to correct in post. Any recommendations which filter to use instead? Satin? Pro Soft from B+W? Thanks in advance
First, it is important when using filters that you do not have any flare on the filter of lens. Make sure that you flag off the filter/lens. I shot with filters all through the 80's and 90's and flare exaggerates the look of the filter immensely. Then pick the ones you like from the video test and decide. I prefer the Pro Mist.
Thank for your information i love it so much. Not so many youtuber want to review about it.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your feedback!
Interesting and very educational. Thanks I'm going to try one . The model is a stunner .
Diffusion is so fun to use. Go for it.
Mamma Mia the best filter tutorial have seen till now.....thanks . Will like to ask in your opinion do they work on video mode on a canon 70d and which one will be best for beauty tutorial ( color are very important in make up tutorial ) , need some filter to softening the skin....sorry for bad English ...Msg from Italy .
hey mr. morgan, if i was using a canon 17-55 F2.8 on a crop sensor which black satin would you choose? 1, 2 or 3?
Also don't forget, the smaaler the format, the less diffusion & the larger format,
the larger diffusion required.
If you stack the pearlescent and the black satin diffusion filter, which filter would you screw on the lens first?
I would simply shoot an image that has something dark with a white highlight. Then shoot a test trying both ways and make your decision based on that.
I wish you had included Tiffen Black Pro Mist filters in your diffusion comparisons.
That would be a great one to add!
Is there a preference for outdoor vs indoor?
Smart ... I thought I was the only one who continued to use these from my film days.
I love the color of this video!!!
I still cant decide which one for photography. It seems like they are all the same.
It depends on which style you like the best, they each give a slightly different feel to the image.
Thanks for this comparison video!
You're welcome Nelson! Follow us on social media for the best of our giveaways, more content and a business coaching call!
The difference is so subtle...its HARD to decide which one is the best choice for a subtle effect [which will step away from the uber-digital look]... :\
what kind of tripod are you using ? and how much does it cost to get one of those ?
Roopol Production I believe it was Vanguard's Alta with a pistol grip head. www.vanguardworld.us/photo_video_us/alta-263agh.html
Nice, the black satin doesn't affects the overall "blacks", the perlscent looks more retro tho
Wow so helpful even in 2020!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
What filters were you using in the older shots?
***** I used Harrison diffusion filters back in the day. They attached to the end of the lens in the same way these Tiffen filters do now.
Very well done video but: The model was flawless -so the differences were really hard to tell. You should've taken a women in her 40s or 50s to really show the difference a filter can make.
great tutorial! thank you!
Where can I find this filter?
+Italyta Layka You can buy them at www.Samys.com or most camera stores.
What lens did you use for the portraits?
Randall Gyebi (3:02) I used a Tamron 24-70 mm lens on a Canon 5D Mark III
Thanks. I keep seeing this lens and it seems like a good investment.
I really is, it is my primary lens for most shoots.
great video
Good info, thanks for sharing
this is really cool
Very nice...
thank you so much!!!
You're welcome! I love using diffusion filters.
The model's skin is also very important!!! You can use black satin 1000 and my skin will still not be diffused on camera. xD
I guess that is what post is for.
Too much irrelevant footage not enough direct comparisons of filters
Cool
Thank
no thank you! please subscribe if you aren't already!
Save your money and just let your kids play with your lens for a few minutes.. LOL I actually can't stand those filters. If I need something softened up I highly prefer to do it in Lightroom that way I can soften what I want and keep things sharp that I want sharp. But thats just me..
+Joe's Photo & Video Blog It is all a matter of preference. Some people do not like to do much to the image in post, maybe that is an old-school way of thinking now though. Thanks for watching and sharing your comments!
Not everything could be done in post-processing
Joe Jackson, good luck getting identical looks in post. And in video forget it.
I like to save time, just do it in camera.
If you want that, just buy some old glass, which may be cheaper that these filters.