Home Page
Search Our Site
New Equipment Sales
Used Equipment Sales
Expendables
Equipment Rental
Service and Repair
SMS Newsletter
Contact SMS
Internet Specials
Filmmaking Seminars
About Us
Film Festival
Korean Language Page

SMS Productions, Inc.

Professional Motion Picture Equipment
Rental - Sales - Service

Lenses and Filters
Products
Lenses and Filters -- Formatt Glass Filters
Formatt Glass Filters

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.

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

Formatt Glass Filters

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
Graduated Filters
Polarizing Filters
Low Contrast Filters
Fog Effects Filters
Neutral Density Filters
Supermist Filters
Warm Tone Enhancement Filters
Day for Night Filters
Color Correction Filters
Black and White Control Filters
UV Absorbing Filters
Star Effect Filters
Solid Color Filters
Coral Filters
Soft Net Filters

Day for Night Filters

No Filter
No Filter
Day for Night
Day for Night

This is a great way to create images realistic to dusk or night-time while filming during the day.

Cool Day for Night is based on the perception that moonlight is cool, therefore bluish in colour. To produce this effect Formatt uses a shade of lavender for visual coolness whilst maintaining realistic flesh tones.

Monochrome Day for Night is based on the theory that lower light levels will reduce the sensitivity of the eye, creating a more 'silvery moon' type effect. This filter effects the color balance of the image so fine tuning of color timings is essential.
No Filter
No Filter
Day for Night and Fog combination
Day for Night and Fog combination

Color Correction Filters

Color Correction Filters are specifically designed to affect the colour sensitivity of film emulsions. Formatt manufactures three types of Color Correction Filters -- Color Temperature Conversion, Light Balancing and Color Compensating.
Major Adjustment Exposure Conversion
Blue 80A +2 3200º - 5500ºK
Blue 80B +1 2/3 3400º - 5500ºK
Blue 80C +1 3800º - 5500ºK
Blue 80D +1/3 4200º - 5500ºK
Amber 85 +2/3 5500º - 3400ºK
Amber 85B +2/3 5500º - 5200ºK
Amber 85C +1/3 5500º - 3800ºK

Color Temperature Conversion

Color Temperature Conversion or CTC filters are the basic filters used to balance daylight film to tungsten lighting or tungsten film to daylight. They provide significant changes in color temperature of various light sources. These are detailed at right.

Formatt also produce a range of combination filters blending CTC's with neutral densities. This gives two effects in one filter. These combinations are available as 81EFND, 85ND, 85BND in 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2.

Formatt also manufacture filters to correct florescent lighting and for use in low-light conditions. FLD eliminates the blue-green cast from florescent bulbs when using daylight balanced film. FLB accomplishes the same effect for tungsten balanced film.

Formatt Dusk & Dawn filter (DDF) is for use 2 hours after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset. This means tungsten film can be used without any exposure compensation. This filter is also known as Low Light Daylight.
Fine Adjustment Exposure Conversion
Light Blue 82 +1/3 3100º - 3200ºK
Light Blue 82A +1/3 3000º - 3200ºK
Light Blue 82B +2/3 2900º - 3200ºK
Light Blue 82C +2/3 2800º - 3200ºK
Light Amber 81 +1/3 3300º - 3200ºK
Light Amber 81A +1/3 3400º - 3200ºK
Light Amber 81B +1/3 3500º - 3200ºK
Light Amber 81C +1/3 3600º - 3200ºK
Light Amber 81D +2/3 3700º - 3200ºK
Light Amber 81EF +2/3 3850º - 3200ºK

Light Balancing

Light Balancing filters provide a more subtle shift in colour temperature. These changes make images appear 'cooler' or 'warmer'.

Density 0.025 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50
Yellow - - +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +2/3
Magenta - +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +2/3 +2/3
Cyan - +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +2/3 +2/3 +1
Red - +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +2/3 +2/3 +1
Green - +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +2/3 +2/3 +1
Blue - +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +1/3 +2/3 +1 +1 1/3

Color Compensating

Formatt Color Compensating filters or CC's act as sponges, absorbing excessive amounts of particular colors. These filters offer colour control of primary (red, green, blue) and secondary (yellow, magenta, cyan) levels.

Densities range from 0.025 to 0.50, and by combining different densities, they give you the flexibility to knock out specific colors as well as offering extremely fine adjustments in color temperature.

Black and White Control Filters

Black and White Control Filters

Black and White filters are used to reduce or eliminate atmospheric haze, make the tonal reproduction in monochrome imagery more natural and give deliberate emphasis to certain tones and objects. Filters for use with black and white film have strong colors that block wavelengths sufficiently enough to produce shifts in grey tones.

Formatt manufacture an extensive range of Black and White Control filters to suit every conceivable imaging requirement.

Orange

Accentuates red picture parts set off against green or blue, eg. it will make clouds brighter against the sky.

Yellow

This greatly increases contrast and is particularly useful for midday sun and deep shadow. It accentuates clouds, reduces haze and will reproduce distance better.
Color Exposure
25 Red +3
21 Orange +2 - 2½
8 Yellow +1
58 Green +2½
11 Yellow/Green +1½ - 2
38 Light Blue +2/3
47 Dark Blue +3

Green

Generally used when improving green is required, for shots of forests, meadows and gardens.

Yellow Green

Retains tonal values but reduces haze and brightens green.

Light Blue

Useful for correcting reds that tend to reproduce too light under tungsten illumination. When used for portraiture, skin tones are more natural and modelling is improved.

UV Absorbing Filters

UV Haze 2B
UV Haze 2B
UV Sky 1A
UV Sky 1A

Formatt produce a range of filters to deal with the problems of atmospheric haze caused by ultraviolet and blue radiation.

Sky 1A
Slightly pinkish in colour, the sky 1A offers 45.5% UV light absorption. Useful for shooting in shade on bright days and in overcast conditions.
Haze 2A
Virtually 100% UV absorption, the Haze 2A is excellent for conditions where UV is very prevalent such as at high altitude.
Haze 2B
Slightly yellow tinted to give a warming effect, the Haze 2B also offers almost total UV elimination. Recommended for black and white use.

Star Effect Filters

4pt Star Filter
4pt Star Filter
4pt Star Filter

Star Filters are often most effective when used in combination with other filters.

Created by engraving lines into the surface of the filter, which then reflect points of light. The number of lines etched into the glass dictates how many points the star effect will have.

Star Effect Filters, when used correctly, can enhance the mood and glamor of the picture. They are frequently used to highlight water scenes, spotlights at sports events, street lamps, reflections from vehicles and candle flames.

Formatt Star Effect Filters are available as 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-point. A 4-point star will reflect symmetrically north, south, east and west.

Solid Color Filters

Solid Color Filters are designed to enhance natural light with subtle color wash or bold strong effect. The Formatt range of Solid Color is available in 1-3 densities.

Warming Filters

Antique Suede, Chocolate, Coral, Cranberry, Cyan, Golden Sepia, Magenta, Pink, Plum, Red, Sepia, Skyfire, Straw, Sunset, Tangerine, Tobac, Tuscan Pink, Whisky, Yellow

Cooling Filters

Blue, Cool Blue, Grape, Green, Tropic Blue, Twilight

Coral Filters

Coral Filters can be considered as both Color Correction and Color Effects Filters. Formatt Coral Filters are used to warm cool lighting situations such as overcast days.

Formatt Corals are available in densities 1/8 to 5 and so are ideal for maintaining a consistent color balance throughout a whole day of shooting or to create a sunset or dawn effect at any time of the day.

Soft Net Filters

No Filter
No Filter
Soft Net Black
Soft Net Black

Soft Net Filters use an old Hollywood technique of overlaying a net pattern on the surface of the resin, creating a classic diffusion effect, minimizing unwanted details while maintaining image clarity.

White Nets soften fine details with no change in contrast. Black Nets soften fine details and reduce harsh contrasts.

More Formatt Glass Filters

Back to Lenses and Filters

Back to Expendables




The latest technological updates and industry news delivered to your Inbox!
Email NewsletterFor information on updates to all these product lines, special promotions and sales, frequently asked questions and answers, Chicago Academy of Visual Arts (NAMI) classes and more, you can now subscribe to the SMS Productions, Inc. electronic newsletter. To subscribe, or read more about this service, click here.



  SMS
    1229 N. North Branch Street
Suite 218
Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: (312) 440-8963
Fax: (312) 440-8966

©1998-2007 SMS
Productions, Inc.
Email SMS ProductionsEmail SMS


Designed and hosted by SK Web Construction