Best full spectrum filters

James Blonde

James Blonde

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I've got a full spectrum converted Nikon Z5 and been using 77mm hoya r72 and UV/IR cut filters (and polarisers), however I've just got the 14-30 which has an 82mm filter thread, meaning it might be as sensible to replace my existing filters with 82mm ones. (and use step up rings for other lenses).

Any suggestions on filter manufacturers that do usable filters other than the 720nm and UV/IR cut? Would love them to be magnetic, but suspecting they don't exist. I'm aware of Kolari Vision but don't know what their ranges are like (but do get pricey at 82mm and would need to be imported from the US)

Definitely want a UV/IR cut, and a 720nm. Probably also something around 550 - 580nm, and I like the look of the chrome IR / aerochrome, but does a channel swap of a 550nm give me that? I know nothing about UV but I seem to think the lens (vintage non coated?) is as important as the filter? Also, any astro filters worth trying, as I do want to give astro a proper try?

(Don't think I'm fussed about a polariser - suspecting the lens is too wide for it to be effective.)

Any suggestions / ideas??
 
The standard Red and dark red filters work well on full spectrum cameras. My modified Oly hardly has any other than the dark red filter fitted. I find that this gives a little more false colour and a greater spread of tones in foliage. The orange filter is worth trying too..
 
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Yeh I did see a suggestion somewhere thst the 25a was good, but not seen any examples. Definitely a cheaper option having seen some of the prices!

Edit... Ahhh hold that thought - they're like hens teeth it seems, and not as cheap as I thought, doh!
 
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James Blonde said:
Yeh I did see a suggestion somewhere thst the 25a was good, but not seen any examples. Definitely a cheaper option having seen some of the prices!

Edit... Ahhh hold that thought - they're like hens teeth it seems, and not as cheap as I thought, doh!
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Hardly, I've got at least half a dozen #25A filters one of my favorite options for IR. A Wratten #47 is also an interesting one to try giving blues & IR.
Quite a few different #25A examples found in my IR album https://www.flickr.com/photos/petrochemist/albums/72157625367777590 which also includes a few more unusual technical glass filters like U330 & BG3.
Note the aerochrome style shots rely on the unusual way Foveon sensors determine colour & won't be the same on normal converted cameras.
FWIW just about any strong red filter will be reasonably similar to a #25A

You are quite right about the lens being critical for UV, but it's not just vintage uncoated it also typically wants only small amounts of glass so slow lenses can have an advantage! All the old fashioned UV pass filters leak considerable NIR which a modified camera is highly sensitive to (unlike film). I've had several tries at UV & never managed more than junk shots with some definite UV features.
I'll probably end up trying a single fused silica element on a jury rigged mount as I can't justify any of the lenses that work reasonably well for UV.
 
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Hmm suspect the answer to my next question is likely to be no, but has anyone imported any filters into the UK from Kolari Vision in the US? Wondering about any import duties / taxes, given the high cost to start with....
 
if you can source them b+w 092 and 093 filters are really good quality.
Hoya R72 is really the best one for price to performance/quality ratio. 720nm is also fairly versatile.
Might be an idea to see if any clip-in filters are available for your camera.
 
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nandbytes said:
if you can source them b+w 092 and 093 filters are really good quality.
Hoya R72 is really the best one for price to performance/quality ratio. 720nm is also fairly versatile.
Might be an idea to see if any clip-in filters are available for your camera.
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R72 is Hoya's name for their 720nm filter.
Clip in filters can be very fiddly to fit, but they are useful if you rarely change filter type & great for lenses that are awkward/impossible to fit filters on.
Sadly I cracked mine by trying to fit it in a rush out in the field.
 
Petrochemist said:
R72 is Hoya's name for their 720nm filter.
Clip in filters can be very fiddly to fit, but they are useful if you rarely change filter type & great for lenses that are awkward/impossible to fit filters on.
Sadly I cracked mine by trying to fit it in a rush out in the field.
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I have never actually used one to comment.
I have also heard reports some of them can introduce field curvature issues. Did you find any such issues or impact on image quality?

But seems to be a good idea if it works.
 
nandbytes said:
I have never actually used one to comment.
I have also heard reports some of them can introduce field curvature issues. Did you find any such issues or impact on image quality?

But seems to be a good idea if it works.
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I didn't notice any issues, but I can't rule out the possibility especially if pixel peeping. I probably used something like 20 or 30 lenses with it fitted but many I've not tried on other systems. I suspect any issues it caused would be far less than those some of the lenses I tried would have on their own...
 
Been using the Hoya R72 for years, but I've only got a 77mm and also want to try other wavelengths, specifically 550nm to 580nm, the ChromeIR that Kolari Vision do, want to try some astro filters, and will need a UV IR cut.

Clip in filters are tempting but I would be likely to need to change in the field. I guess the question is how fiddly is too fiddly.... Obviously the alternative is getting the biggest filter size I'm likely to need (currently 82mm) and get step up rings, but then I thought 77mm was going to be the largest I need.

Kolari Vision don't have their more exotic filters on Amazon, and almost none at 82mm. I've been stung with import duties from the states in the last year, and the Kolari website specifically calls it out, hence my question.

Reason for looking at Kolari directly is because of the more exotic filters, and they do discounts on sets (which matters given the price of 1!) not sure of any other single manufacturers with that range
 
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