Filter news

In the days of film, filters were absulutely necesary to balance light. This was true in color where cooling, warming or light balancing fiters, as well as conversion and skylight filters  were used   and in black and white when red, green, yellow and orange filters were used to get special effects. Of course there were  also the neutral density and polarizing filters. Today most conversions and color balancing can be done using the on camera white balance so only polarizers or skylight filters are used.  There are programs used in black and white conversions that emulate not only different films but different filters. Today the  shylight filter is essentially used for lens protection. I have always been critical of filters  attached to the lens permanently as they do impact on optical performance. These new ultra thin filters should be less harmful but I feel much more delicate.

Cokin's New Lens Filters Are the World's Thinnest

 Cokin have releases a new line of lens filters named Pure Harmonie, that claim to be the World's thinnest form factor. The thinness of the filter reduces the potential for flares and vignetting.

The tiniest of their lineup is the UV filter which comes in at just 3.3mm thick. Not much larger than that is the 4.5mm thick polarizing filter that Cokin says is also the best in its category.  Lastly there's a variable density neutral gray filter what's 9.5mm thick and goes from ND2 to ND400.

All of the Pure Harmonie filters are available now. Pricing starts at around $50 for the UV filter and scales up from there. Visit Cokin's website for more details.

 The prices appear to be somewhat steep for a filter

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