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Lenses and Filters -- Formatt Glass Filters |
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| Contact SMS for a customized quote on any of the products on this page.
SMS carries the full line of Formatt Glass Filters for motion picture, video and broadcast television cameras. Please feel free to contact us if you don't see the Formatt product you desire on these pages. |
DV and HDV Camcorder Accessory Chart
Download a useful and informative chart in Microsoft Excel format with many popular DV, HDV and Mini DV camcorders. The chart shows what KATA cases and rain covers are available, as well as what MANFROTTO tripods, remotes and monopods are available for each of the cameras listed. Also shows what cameras can take the Formatt Matte Box and the Fig Rig, and lists the filter diameter for each camera.
Formatt Glass Filters for Motion Picture, Video and Broadcast Television Cameras
Filters are an integral part of the imaging process. They can alter light to create specific moods, give colors a new vibrance, enhance contrast and provide just that little extra lift you need to help turn a good shot into a great one.
Filters To Match The Precision Of The Finest Lenses
DP's expect only the best from their lenses. Sadly, many of them aren't getting the most from their investment because most filters are made using inferior technology, which often degrades the image before a fine lens can even begin its work. Now, with Formatt glass filters, there is a full range of filters that match the precision of the cameras and lenses. Formatt, a company with three generations of professional filter-making experience produces every filter to the highest technical standards. The finest materials, together with state of-the-art production technology have resulted in a standard of optical excellence unmatched anywhere else.
- Each filter is manufactured from Schott White Water Clear Optical Glass.
- Absolute consistency in colour and density to Kodak Wratten standards.
- Precision grinding and polishing result in unbeatable optical flatness allowing use on even ultra-long focal length lenses.
- Filter edges are protected with a unique frame for maximum protection and easy handling.
Formatt filters are available in a full range of color grads, effects, corrections, neutral density and black and white filtration. Sizes include 4x4, 6.6x6.6, Pano's and a full range of circular filters.
ProComp® Filters
Shooting foreground objects in front of a brightly lit bluescreen or greenscreen has revolutionized the world of filmmaking and special effects. Originally the preserve of motion picture film production, this technique has now extended into video production and digital imaging.
To achieve the best results, optimization of the photographic image is essential. Usually, the background color of the screen reflects onto the foreground object, creating a slight tinge of the screen color around the edges. This is known as SPILL. With backlit objects, a glow is created around the object. This is known as FRINGING. Spill and fringing are especially problematical with objects of a highly reflective nature such as glass and chrome. More often than not, they can only be removed in postproduction at extra expense.
FORMATT FILTERS has been working on these problems with the assistance of special effects expert and DOP Kay MacKenneth. The result of many years of research is the ProComp® filter. ProComp minimizes unwanted spills and substantially improves the overall workability of images shot in blue/greenscreen environments. Highly reflective surfaces can be shot with confidence and as a result, compositing in postproduction is substantially easier.
Detailed tests on the filter have proven its efficiency resulting in seamless combined images with virtually no light spill. In short, ProComp® filter is a must for all bluescreen and greenscreen production.
Graduated Filters
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 Evening Twilight |
Color Graduated filters are one of the most widely used categories of filter. They enhance reality, adding a touch of subtlety or drama to the image. Formatt Grads are available in four types:
- Soft Edge -- Half clear, half colored with a smooth transition to full density. Generally used with medium to wide angle lenses.
- Hard Edge -- Half clear, half colored with a definite less subtle transition. For use with long focal length lenses.
- Razor Edge -- A hard edge but with a solid transition line for shooting corners of buildings, knife-edge horizons or when a very bold transition is required.
- Attenuator/Blender -- The grad line is right at one edge of the filter so the color change runs from top to bottom. Perfect for irregular objects and skylines.
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 No Filter |
 Victoria Plum | |
 Aegean Sunset |
 Tijuana Tabac |
Formatt Combination Graduated Filters
These unique filters offer a degree of image control that in the past has required 2, 3, or even more stacked filters. A Blue #2, for example, has a graduated blue hue on one end and graduated ND on the other, letting you simultaneously control the foreground and enhance a sky. Available in all the Formatt Color and Correction filters.Polarizing Filters
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 Crown Polarizer |
Polarizing filters are used to eliminate surface reflections, glare or hotspots from any light source. They also darken blue skies and increase colour saturation. Polarizers are ideal when photographing into water or through glass.
Formatt's Crown Polarizer enables you to achieve a level of optical performance previously unavailable. The polarising film is fabricated between two pieces of Formatt's crystal clear white water optical glass. The absolute clarity of the glass combined with advanced polarising material make crown Polarising filters particularly effective on demanding scenes.
- Reduce glare and unwanted reflections
- Saturate colors
- Deepen blue skies
- Improved contrast
- Penetrate haze
Low Contrast Filters
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 Low Contrast Filter |
For use when the sun is too bright and the shadows too dark and it is difficult to get good detail in both at the same time. Formatt Low Contrast Filters reduce contrast by allowing more shadow detail to be visible. Ideal for those who shoot video and desire a film look.
- Bring back detail into deepest black
- Create muted pastel colors
Formatt Low Contrast Filters are ideal when used in combination with other filters. For example, when used with a 0.3 Neutral Density (one-stop), you can maintain your depth of field for sharpness of image while reducing excessive highlight brightness and subtly lightening shadows.
Fog Effects Filters
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 Fog Filter |
Available as Fog and Double Fog, this Formatt filter recreates the effects of natural fog, creating a soft glow and flare producing a warm romantic tone. Varying degrees of 'Foginess' reduce visual contrast and color saturation of the image. Fog filters create a halo around bright lights, as real fog would. Double Fogs give a more realistic heavy fog effect, dramatically reducing contrast while maintaining image sharpness.
- Add mood and atmosphere
- Helps control contrast
- Ideal for using in combination with other filters
Neutral Density Filters
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 ND 0.9 Grad |
The Formatt range of Neutral Density Graduated filters enables the shooter to adjust exposure without affecting color balance. Exposure can be increased by 1,2,3 or 4 stops to suit individual situations. For example, when photographing landscapes in which the sky is much brighter than the foreground, placing the neutral density part of the filter onto the sky in the frame will reduce the sky exposure without affecting the foreground. This enables cloud detail to be kept correctly exposed in the picture.
A standard set of ND's is 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2. This represents 1 to 4 stops of light reduction. Heavier ND's can be manufactured but are not standard stock items.
Formatt manufacture Neutral Density Graduated filters as Soft Edge, Hard Edge, Razor Edge and Blender/Attenuator.
Supermist Filters
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 Super Mist Clear |
Supermist is Formatt's proprietory name for this type of filter. The Supermist filter is the ultimate softening tool for creating a mood outdoors or indoors, in broad scenics or portraits. The Supermist is excellent for toning down excessive sharpness and reducing contrast by moderately lightening shadow areas without detracting from the overall image.
Supermist filters are perfect for taking the harsh edge off many of today's ultra sharp video images or for smoothing and softening facial imperfection.
Warm Super Mist combines the classic Super Mist with a unique skin tone enhancer adding a natural warmth. This is useful in outdoor open shade situations where there is excessive blue in the image and total control over lighting may not be possible.
Supermist Black softens fine detail and reduces contrast but is more subtle than a standard Supermist with less lightening of shadow areas.
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 Warm Super Mist Clear |
 Super Mist Black |
- Super Mist Black
- Super Mist Clear
- Warm Super Mist Black
- Warm Super Mist Clear
Warm Tone Enhancement Filters A.K.A. Skin Tone Enhancer
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 Warm Tone (812) |
- Adds warmth to pale skin tones
- Ideal for portrait or scenic
- Absorbs blue cast caused by some light sources
- Warmer alternative to UV filter
- Ideal for using in combination with other filters
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 Warm Tone (812) and Tobacco Grad combination |
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