Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsYou Really-Really need to get this filter! IR Photography is Another World!
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2022
First off, the seller (for me) was in Australia so I was concerned that it would take a long time. However, the seller to the best of my calculation, shipped the same day as the order was placed. The package very quickly came in good shape, and the product had the factory seals intact. And the product was nicely priced considering the distance shipped. So, thank you to the seller.
Now for the filter: If you like taking striking images, and having a somewhat-familiar but seemingly other-worldly feel to them, then IR photography is something you must try!
The very first images that I took with an X-T4 with a 16-80mm f/4, were hand-held, in fully automatic mode and seemed to be about 1/4 second for the shutter (I assume the aperture was also pretty wide). None of them came out blurry, as I did try to really hold steady. Since I had company coming, I just quickly snapped some images of some puffy-white clouds, first in color-mode then B&W, and they all came out just stunning. I was so taken by the perfectly exposed images, I kept looking at them, and looking at them until I was running late for my company! [And I do not seem to have the light spot in my lense like I've seen on many other lenses.] When company left, I again looked at them because they are just so striking. Now, I made no effort at composition, or camera settings or the elimination of incidental unwanted objects in the pictures; but what I was left with, was that this indeed has potential to both inspire and open up a long running vocation.
Now, after more experience, I do want to say that you really want a super bright, hot, probably miserable day to really get all the objectry of the shot to do its IR thing. One of the shots that I took, were toward it being cloudy and the effect was markedly reduced. And, this is so cool when you think about it because normally, for the most part, you really are shut down in the midday sun as far as prime landscape photography goes. And so, if you switch to IR you then can just keep composing and shooting. Also, we all think of composition and how we are going to approach a scene. After being in photography for nearly 50 years, (and yes I did shoot Kodak's IR film but did not have the proper filter to really make it work right) you tend to be a little ho-hum about composing since you generally know what your going to get. Well, you can throw a lot of what you know aside, because this will really change how you look at potential subjects--it's that profound! I found myself so excited with renewed sense of curiosity!
So, you might ask: "What can you compare this with in your experience?"
Well, the first thing that comes to mind, is shooting with Panatomic-X (ASA-32) B&W 4x5" film with a #25 Red filter. When you do this, clouds will pop, the background sky get very dark and you get a slight other-worldly feel. And, when I look at a lot of well-respected B&W photos, I know they used a #25 filter, being obvious when you know what to look for. So, I do highly recommend that you buy one of these as well and coupled with a polarizer, you can really get punchy, high-contrast old-school Agfa-like film effects. It is like a less severe IR filter, that will give you subtlety shifted images where the IR is really another planet!
Cons: The only thing that concerns me is the focus shift between natural light and IR. They used to put a red-dot and/or red markings on the lens, showing you how to compensate. All of the shots I've taken so far are at infinity. So, I will have to see how hard it is to focus near-objects.
In closing, if you want to reinvigorate your hobby, or get into making striking images--especially modifying in post, then you owe it to yourself to get this filter. I've already decided that this IR filter will be a permanent part of my kit, and I will endeavour to try and shoot IR when I can't shoot in enhanced normal light. Hope you have a great time, and I can't imagine you'll ever be disappointed...
