Formatt-HiTech Firecrest glass filters
Hi,
If anyone is a regular user of the Formatt-HiTech filters for Landscape and Long Exposures - I would really welcome any feedback or opinions from users.
Are they really free of any colour cast as the manufacturers claim?
I'm looking at ND's and soft grads in the Firecrest range for sunrise & sunsets over water and long exposure blurry images with a strong ND (10 stops +)
Much appreciated
If anyone is a regular user of the Formatt-HiTech filters for Landscape and Long Exposures - I would really welcome any feedback or opinions from users.
Are they really free of any colour cast as the manufacturers claim?
I'm looking at ND's and soft grads in the Firecrest range for sunrise & sunsets over water and long exposure blurry images with a strong ND (10 stops +)
Much appreciated
I shoot with Fuji Velvia film which is notorious for finding and exaggerating colour casts as a result when I use ordinary Hi-tech filters ie resin ones I see colour casts noticeably evident (usually magenta), with anything over 1.5 stops of filtration on ND Grads. If you then need to combine that with a solid resin ND filter you have a colour cast problem. I have been able to entirely mitigate this by using the resin ND grads (up to 1.5 stops) in conjunction with any strength of solid ND filter from the Firecrest range. So to summarise, the resin ND filters from Hi-tech are neutral only up to 1.5 stops or so (in combination), I have found that the Firecrest glass filters are completely neutral and can be used in conjunction with heavy firecrest grads or very light resin grads from Hi-Tech.
I have found them to be superb. You can see their use on my website [link removed by ePz] All with the polars and many with ND's although not the 10stop which does need a little WB and tint correction in post.
Very many thanks for the useful feedback Moroccanimager. Much appreciated.
This is where I get confused. The manufacturers state their filters are completely neutral and yet I have Hi-Tech and Lee users telling me - they do have colour casts!! Arrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!!!
This is where I get confused. The manufacturers state their filters are completely neutral and yet I have Hi-Tech and Lee users telling me - they do have colour casts!! Arrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!!!
There is slight cast with the 10 stop on FHT but much less pronounced than the Lee. I've seen tests to show such. It's easy to take it out. Unfortunately my link gallery has been removed. Must be the small print which is a shame when discussing photos we can't actually show them! FHC is widely considered in the top tier of filters. You can't go wrong with them.
Many thanks Moroccanimager - much appreciated. I will place my Firecrest order in the next day or so.
As well as the ND10 and soft grad I was going to add a circular polariser too as I've seen some good results with that combination. Thank you for your thoughts, much appreciated.
As well as the ND10 and soft grad I was going to add a circular polariser too as I've seen some good results with that combination. Thank you for your thoughts, much appreciated.
Just as an aside it would probably be pertinent to emphasise that these Firecrest filters are unbelievably brittle and will break if you stare at them too harshly. That's a lot of money if you are even a little careless. I actually leave them in the original plastic box for safety and place them straight back in as soon as I am finished with them.
Superb service from FHT. Everything arrived this morning and the quality is superb.
Remembering your comment about the fragility of the glass filters, I didn't get a plastic box for each of the filters though hwatt, only one of them. I'll see if they can be purchased as an extra.
Very impressed with everything otherwise.
Remembering your comment about the fragility of the glass filters, I didn't get a plastic box for each of the filters though hwatt, only one of them. I'll see if they can be purchased as an extra.
Very impressed with everything otherwise.
