Blackmagic Forum

[EDIT: I changed the title to include the Heliopan, in part because it's what I ordered in the end.]

I plan to use the 82mm version of the B+W in the following order: Pocket 4K > Lens with 82mm filter thread > 82mm B+W UV/IR Cut 486M Filter > 82mm B+W XS-Pro ND Filter. I am not concerned about vignetting.

Does anyone have any reservations about this B+W filter or believe that another brand is preferable? The B+W is US$147. Heliopan’s UV/IR Cut is a very unattractive $260.

Thanks.

This is an old, but interesting DVInfo thread on the Schneider/B+W 486 and the Schneider True-Cut 750. A Schneider rep participated in the discussion: https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdcam ... -time.html

Leica’s first digital camera, the M8, required an IR Cut filter and there are many forum discussions about the B+W 486, the Heliopan and Leica’s own IR Cut. The following 2007 thread from the Leica forum is reasonably brief, and some of the participants had used both the B+W and the Heliopan. As usual there is no consensus. It appears that Schneider/B+W has changed the 486 coating since this discussion took place: https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/28 ... -any-info/

The Heliopan site contains this statement, which also appears to be applicable to the B+W filter: “This dichroic coated specialty filter should not be used with extreme wide angle lenses.” Apparently these filters can cause a colour cast when used with quite wide lenses. The DVInfo thread (above post) discusses this.

The Schneider True-Cut cuts at 750, although there's also a 715 and a 680. The B+W cuts at 680. This is the Heliopan chart, which Robert Neissner posted in an earlier thread:

More info on using these filters with wide lenses, including a quote from Schneider/B+W: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56711

I've come to the conclusion that the B+W and the Heliopan are very close. Based on my previous experience with Heliopan filters, and comments about these two filters on forums, the Heliopan may have an edge on build quality.

It’s worth noting that Schneider/B+W does not sell an XS-Pro version of the 486. It’s only available as part of its F-Pro line.

I would suggest that people in the U.S. and Canada who are interested in the Heliopan filter check European suppliers. I ordered one from overseas today, and the cost, delivered, was substantially less than what North American vendors want.

I also had a look at completed auctions on eBay’s U.S. site. It appears that the B+W comes up for auction much more frequently than the Heliopan, and prices are reasonable. A B+W went this morning for 50% of retail.

Heliopan also makes a filter called "Video 103". There isn't a lot of information on this filter, and it appears that very few dealers offer it.

The following Heliopan graph compares Video 103 and its Digital IR Cut. Heliopan suggests on its site that Video 103 can be used instead of Digital IR Cut. Perhaps there are people here who are familiar with this filter:

If you're in North America, I'd just like to reiterate that it may be well worth looking around at pricing for Heliopan filters. As a result of a phone discussion with the overseas vendor this morning, I now have both a Heliopan Digital IR Cut and a Heliopan 1.8 (6 stop) ND coming.

robedge wrote:If you're in North America, I'd just like to reiterate that it may be well worth looking around at pricing for Heliopan filters. As a result of a phone discussion with the overseas vendor this morning, I now have both a Heliopan Digital IR Cut and a Heliopan 1.8 (6 stop) ND coming.

The filters arrived today, only three days from ordering. Pretty happy with the European vendor.