Tiffen - Ultra Contrast Filters

[Kharak]

Has anyone here any experience with the Tiffen - Ultra Contrast Filters?

http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?itemnum=52UC3&tablename=filters

There are 5 different filters, They are called Ultra Contrast 1 to 5, 5 being the strongest.

I am interested in using this combined with RAW, I reckon these filters could provide more information in the shadows.

 They supposedly "increase" dynamic range in shadows, though its more the highlights streaking in to the shadows to raise them as of what I understand.

But I can't find any footage or pro reviews, found plenty of footage with h264 footage, but the examples are poor quality. I want to believe these filters can raise the shadows and in some h264 clips I saw, it was very impressive, a shot of a window from inside out, the filter rose the shadows to show clearly the inside frame of the window and the outside stayed exposed correctly, but in so many other examples, it just looks like the shadows are being washed out.. Recording Codec perhaps? bad encoding to vimeo also perhaps? Too strong a filter.. I don't know.

Seems too good to be true.

If you know the filters, please tell me your experience. Looking in to buying one.

[ansius]

back in the film days there was so called pre flash, exposing a negative with a white flash just before it was exposed with picture, it elevated blacks so they would not be so grainy and ou could see in shadows more.

For this I also use older lenses that flare, and a light flare does the same trick, I guess the principle is the same.

Poor quality can also be thing in grading, you tend to push footage much more if it lacks contrast, and h264 in dslr is 8 bit so not much pushing can be done before it falls apart completely. RAW would benefit I guess, tough proper exposure still is vital.

You also cant expect natural lock if you are in the HDR area, even eye can't cope that well with interior/exterior, it just adapts quickly and we do not notice that.

[Kharak]

Thank you,

I guess I just have to give it a shot and purchase a filter to see if it is something for me.