B+W 77mm 486 Digital UV/IR (MRC) Blocking Filter

Comments about B+W 77mm 486 Digital UV/IR (MRC) Blocking Filter:

I have this filter mated to a Canon Rebel T2i / 24-105mm F4 L IS USM combination, and knowing that the lens was $1,100, I wanted to make sure it maintained its optical quality while mitigating a CMOS sensor's propensity to blow out skies due to UV and particularly IR interference. Immediately after putting this filter on the camera and shooting cityscapes, I noticed skies which usually were pale blue at best became a more intense blue, bricks became redder, and general detail became sharper. As a film photography aficionado, knowing that I can do what would normally be done in Post-processing with artificial programming functions could be done naturally just as with film. One of the reasons I don't like post-processing is that synthetic processing algorithm acts like CDs... sure it has the same sound / view more or less, but it lacks the nuance of a record / filter. The coating is both purple and green, multi-coating that within those colors causes the blockading of the undesirable UV and IR rays.The build quality of this filter is amazing. Brass, good glass, and it fits the lens like a glove. I initially feared that it wouldn't because of the amount of screwing on required, but the tight screw incline ensures that it will stay on. As an added bonus, this filter's clarity means that it doesn't lose light (ie: cause increase of shutter speed) as it blocks out UV and IR. Now I know I have brought up UV and IR quite a lot in the context of digital cameras, here's th importance of a UV / IR filter. Unlike film, which isn't terribly affected by IR rays (although UV will affect it), Digital CMOS sensors commonly found in modern digitals are sensitive to IR, and the IR will result in flare, coma, aberrations, and worse, it can contribute to making skies that should be blue become whited out. (Undesirable trait to see, nice photos with whiteout skies..)Now I know some would ask "why pay [$] on a filter?!". Sure you can spend less, but many of the less expensive 77mm filters, even from high-end filtermakers, only cover UV; and thus designed for film. Only half of the problem of flare, coma, etc., is solved. Would you leave a business or corporate problem half-solved because the more popular solution is raised? Of course not. Why do that for a piece of machinery that could be used in a professional or amateur application? Why spend thousands on equipment to not get the most of it? B+W's UV IR filter brings out more film-like properties of the camera-lens that it's being applied to because it eradicates the aforementioned strickenings of IR. It makes using professional lenses and good digital cameras more enjoyable by bringing out more contrast, more detail, etc., without blowing out the details or making an un-natural processing effect occur in your camera.Great filter, would highly recommend to others.

Comments about B+W 77mm 486 Digital UV/IR (MRC) Blocking Filter:

I purchased two of the 77mm UV/IR filters to use with a Nikkor 70 - 200mm f 2.8 VR II and a 24 - 70 f 2.8 lens, the first on the 70 - 200mm to test it against the UV filter only, the second when I realized they were worth the money and the effort. I'm finding the images taken in indoor available light are much more to my liking. The cost is insane, but then everything about the cost of these lenses is insane, the pictures, however, are first rate.

Comments about B+W 77mm 486 Digital UV/IR (MRC) Blocking Filter:

An unfortunate side affect of CMOS cameras is there problem with IR. This filter is currently the best way to deal with the problem. On some cameras, like the EX series, it can cause a green cast to the image at wide angle.

Comments about B+W 77mm 486 Digital UV/IR (MRC) Blocking Filter:

Be aware that you can not leave this filter on a camera as a 'protection' filter. It works well for it's intended use - to render true color of black colored sythetic fabrics for example. However I discovered red spots when used at night with a high pressure sodium lighting source. Leave a UV filter on the camera for protection and use this one only when needed. It's a first class filter.