The Ice 55mm UV/IR Cut Filter is an ultraviolet and infrared control filter that is useful for digital cinematography as well as still photography. While recording video with a CCD or CMOS camera, multi-stop neutral density filters are used to maintain proper exposure by compensating for increased light levels when widening the camera lens's iris to obtain a narrower depth of field. As the increased amount of light passes through multi-stop neutral density filtration, visible light is progressively blocked, while infrared light is allowed to pass through. As the proportion of infrared light that reaches the sensor of a camera being used for digital cinematography becomes greater, the results can show unwanted color shifts, particularly in dark areas of the frame such as shadows where the appearance of black is dominant.
When the Ice 55mm UV/IR Cut Filter is applied, ultraviolet light waves along with infrared light waves are suppressed, helping to ensure that light falling on a digital camera sensor is limited to the visible spectrum. When used along with multi-stop neutral density filters while recording with a digital sensor, potential infrared color shifts are prevented or minimized, preserving color accuracy throughout the frame. This filter may also be used to help ensure that the appearance of unwanted blue casts is reduced while recording digital video or still photos under daylight that also features intense ultraviolet light.
The front surfaces of an Ice 55mm UV/IR Cut Filter include seventy layers of interference coatings. These coatings allow the filter to limit the light that falls on a digital camera sensor to the visible spectrum.
This filter is constructed from optical glass for clarity as well as color fidelity and features an aluminum alloy filter ring for durability while remaining lightweight.