Sun Feb 18, 2024 1:33 pm
After tons of online research, and a frustrating exchange with BMD technical support (asking me every time to fill in a huge form full of pointless and irrelevant questions, before I could even get an answer to my query), I decided to get the UV-IR Clip Filter from STC Optics, at around $100USD / £100GPD.
This filter is made of actual glass, unlike the original BMD one which at best is a piece of glass covered by a blue plastic, very prone to corrosion;
It is super easy to install, clipping to the sensor opening (you should first remove the original filter - disassembly required, although easy enough for most people);
The position of this filter is different from the position of the original one, which normally sits deeper inside the sensor opening. The STC filter sits right behind the rear optical element of the lens attached to the lens mount. I'm not sure if this affects the optical performance of the lens in any measurable way, as I need to run further tests. It seems to do a great job of cutting the IR pollution, though.
To clean it I just unclip it from the sensor opening, which also allows me to clean the sensor, if needed. No complicated disassembly process and tool-free.
Although the RAWLITE OLPF filter may be of superior optical quality, It's too pricey for a BMPCC 4K user, at more than half the cost of the camera. Also, I have yet to encounter a situation in which I find the need for an Optical Low Pass Filter, to counter aliasing issues - not to mention the slight softening of the image detail that comes with the use of an OLPF. Perhaps this would be a welcome compromise for more detail-heavy, over-sharpened footage from other camera manufacturers, but since BMD cameras are known for a kind of "film-like" look, I think the use of an OLPF might overdo it. Or maybe it even makes it more filmic? Probably a great combo for skin tones, like Hollywood's favourite Black Magic filter (different company, not a BMD product).
I am surprised by how little to nothing I found online about using these STC filters with BMD cameras, other than some videos by the STC brand on YouTube. I would love to learn about other users' feedback from these STC filters. For now, it will do as a replacement.
To finish, with a piece so integral to the BMPCC 4k, that is so prone to deterioration, I do not understand why BMD makes it so hard and frustrating to get a hold of a replacement, without having to send our camera to them, when it's such an easy thing to replace at home. Instead, you are left with ordering alternatives of questionable quality on eBay, AliExpress, or invest on the highly expensive RAWLITE one.
Anybody else has the STC Optics filter?
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