American Cinematographer - July 2007 - 5

TAKE A LOOK THROUGH FORMATT FILTERS HD READY - 00101 01001 00111 110101 FRIENDLY I really feel as the technologies get better I want somebody on the other side of that filter that is going to listen and say "We're not good enough, we are going to get better and better. And that philosophy of Formatt's is what really excites me and that's what I love about Formatt. Craftsmanship, beautifully designed, attentive to the cinematographer's needs. You know that Formatt filters are going to be future proof. The thing that is wonderful about the Formatt diffusion is that it was built for HD. The size of the circles of confusion are based upon the 2/3 inch chip, so it is built for the HD format. The Formatt smaller dimples are smaller then the circles of confusion or the ability of the lens to resolve light on the plane of the sensor. If the dimples are small enough for the sensor size then it no longer looks like a diffuser, it looks like the lens is softer, it looks like the character in front of the lens is more appealing and pleasingand that is a great asset to a cinematographer, because we get hired to make people look good.. - This Formatt filter definitely makes people look good. F I LT E R S CLEAR QUALITY FOR HD Roy H Wagner,ASC Shot using the Sony XDCAM HD PDW 350.A majority of the production was interior of a house and on a Piccadilly tube train. The raw HD image was too sharp and not the actors friend,by using the SOFT and SUPERSOFT GOLD 2 & 3 filters, skin tone was enhanced and "smoothed" with the overall image still very acceptably "sharp" and not looking false. This same filter when used in a strong back lighted scene of two people walking in a suburban tree lined street gave a very pleasant highlight halation which did not spread across the captured image. On occasion I did use HD ND0.3, ND0.6, ND0.9 to control the exposure level of the camera with excellent results delivering a colour neutral image. There is a growing trend toward using HDV cameras for ancillary acquisition on features using F-900 and VariCam. Obviously there are a number of qualitative issues that must be addressed, two of which are depth of field and latitude. We've found that a good selection of Formatt ND filters can do wonders to improve the DoF of these small chip sets and Formatt's extensive line of gradient density filters can extend the latitude by two or three stops by smoothly cutting into those areas that would otherwise blow out. Another little trick is to turn the detail off and use a Soft Gold mist or 1/8th Warm Black SuperMist to get you into a gamma profile that will cut a bit better with the larger chips. In addition to using the Formatt series on smaller chip cameras, the Soft Gold series work wonders on those veteran actresses on any camera. Michael Elphick ACS, GBCT Scott Billups, DP, Director,Writer Try Formatt's new HD Soft Effects, HD Soft Gold Enhancing Filters and HD Supersoft Gold Filters. Formatt Filters Tel +44 1685 870979 email sales@formatt.co.uk, web www.formatt.co.uk Distributed in the USA by Bogen Imaging Inc. 201 818 9500 www.bogenimaging.us info@bogenimaging.com

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American Cinematographer - July 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - July 2007