Contents

Introduction

Updated: July 5, 2008

Please see the main article on the Coastal Optics 60mm f/4 UV-VIS-IR APO macro.

Spectral transmission graphs on this page were measured by Coastal Optical Systems on their equipment using single samples of the specified filters. Graphs used by permission.

A great source for filters at very competitive prices is B&H Photo. Get filters at B&H Photo.

Coastal Optics 60mm f/4 UV-VIS-IR APO Macro

The exotic optical elements and 12-layer coatings of the Coastal Optics 60/4 APO Macro provide an exceptionally broad transmission band not available in any other commercially available lens.

Full range — UV through infrared (275 - 1500nm)

Even digital cameras modified for infrared use rapidly lose sensitivity beyond 1000nm (1 micron); the 60/4 easily exceeds that wavelength.

Coastal Optics 60mm f/4 UV-VIS-IR APO Macro (FULL RANGE)

Ultraviolet range (275 - 400nm)

As with infrared, the transmission of the 60/4 APO macro extends far beyond the capabilities of any DSLRs on the market (even ones modified for ultraviolet use).

Coastal Optics 60mm f/4 UV-VIS-IR APO Macro (Ultraviolet range)

Transmission graphs — visible light imaging

Graphs are in nanometers. Visible light is approximately 390 - 650 nm (the human eye can see very weakly into the 700-800nm range).

B+W UV 010

This is what an ideal UV filter should do: pass the visible spectrum at with a nice flat transmission curve. Get B+W UV filters at B&H Photo.

B+W 010 UV filter

Hoya HMC Super UV (0)

Compare to the B+W 010 above. The author has never liked the non-neutral behavior of the Hoya UV filters, and this graph shows why—it attenuates dark blue tones significantly. Get Hoya UV filters at B&H Photo.

Hoya HMC Super UV

Hoya Ultra UV (0)

Sorry, no spectral transmission graph for the Hoya Ultra UV(0), but its characteristics are consistent with the other Hoya HMC filters tested by diglloyd.com. The Hoya filters impart a yellowish cast as can be readily seen below (sunlight was used, but tungsten lighting produced the same results). Get Hoya UV filters at B&H Photo.

Even if white balance is adjusted, it is still an overall approximation which cannot restore the original color relationships; the attenuation of blue light subtly changes the color relationships. It’s always better to begin with as neutral a rendition as possible in the first place, especially for work where repeatably neutral color is needed, like product photography. Alternately, if the rendition of a non-neutral filter is preferable, that’s OK too—but it’s probably not a good idea to mix and match brands of filters when consistent color is desired.

Hoya Ultra UV(0) at left, B+W 010 MRC at right

B+W 103 0.9 ND 3-stop neutral density

While B+W calls it a “neutral” density, shooting a neutral gray card for white balance would be wise because the spectral response is not neutral. The author has observed this firsthand; images tend to be on the warm side. Get B+W neutral density filters at B&H Photo.

B+W 103 0.9 ND 3-stop neutral density

B+W 091 dark red

The B+W 091 filter has a real benefit with some EOS cameras converted for infrared use; see the diglloyd Guide to Digital Infrared for details and examples. Get the B+W 091 infrared filter at B&H Photo.

B+W 091 dark red filter

B+W 489 infrared-block

No so effective at blocking infrared, with a very gradual “tail” well into the infrared range, passing nearly 50% infrared at 700nm. This is enough infrared to cause a red shift on IR-sensitive cameras like the Nikon D2H. It also passes shorter wave ultraviolet almost unimpeded. Get the B+W 489 filter at B&H Photo.

B+W 489 infrared-block

B+W 486 UV-IR cut

See the Schneider Optics B+W 486 UV-IR cut page for this interference-type filter. Interference filters do not work well with wide angle lenses; light rays entering at an angle cause differing color rendition, resulting in increasingly cyan corners. It should not be used on lenses with an angle of view wider than 60° (about 35mm on a full-frame 36 X 24mm sensor). Get the B+W 486 filter at B&H Photo

B+W 486 UV-IR Cut

Kenko IR block filter DR-655

See the Japanese language specification page describing this interference type filter. The spectral transmission curve suggests that color rendition might offer some irregularities.

Kenko DR-655 IR-block

Baader UV-IR block

Blocks UV and IR quite effectively. The author does not own this filter, but it is likely an interference-type filter, which makes it problematic on wide-angle lenses (even if it could be fitted to them in terms of size).

Baader UV-IR block

Transmission graphs — infrared imaging

B+W 092 infrared-pass

The B+W 092 filter (50% cutoff at 690nm) is the best all-around choice for infrared work because it allows the differential sensor response that generates “false color”. See the diglloyd Guide to Digital Infrared for details. Get the B+W 092 filter at B&H Photo

B+W 092 infrared-pass

Hoya R72 infrared-pass

The Hoya R72 (50% cutoff at 720nm) is another good choice for infrared, but it can be more expensive than the B+W 092, especially in larger sizes. Get the Hoya R72 filter at B&H Photo

Hoya R72 infrared-pass

B+W 093 infrared-pass

The B+W 092 filter above is a better choice for most infrared work; the 093 cuts off the highly useful 700-800nm band, which eliminates false-color possibilities. Get the B+W 093 infrared filter at B&H Photo.

B+W 093 infrared-pass

XNite BPB 750nm

This maxmax.com filter uses coatings to achieve its bandpass filtration and might have undesirable off-center effects with wide-angle lenses.

Maxmax.com XNite BPB 750 (bandpass filter)

 

XNite BPG 830nm

This maxmax.com filter uses coatings to achieve its bandpass filtration and might have undesirable off-center effects with wide-angle lenses.

Maxmax.com XNite BPG 830 (bandpass filter)

XNite BPG 950nm

This maxmax.com filter uses coatings to achieve its bandpass filtration and might have undesirable off-center effects with wide-angle lenses. This is simply a characteristic of all such coated bandpass filters.

Maxmax.com XNite BPG 950 (bandpass filter)

Transmission graphs — ultraviolet imaging

B+W 403 Ultraviolet-pass

Note the highly undesirable “leak” of infrared in the 700-830nm range. Not recommended for UV work (unless you need a larger size), even though such work is its stated goal. See the Baader Venus II filter. Get the B+W 403 filter at B&H Photo.

B+W 403 Ultraviolet-pass (visible block, infrared “leak”)

Baader Venus I Ultraviolet-pass

At first glance, the original “Venus I” filter doesn’t seem much different than the Venus II filter below. Yet field reports from ultraviolet shooters indicate that the infrared-blocking performance of the Venus II is much improved. Notice the “bump” near 780nm on the Venus I which is not present on the Venus II; no doubt this is the source of the infrared contamination that is so disliked (keep in mind that there may be many stops more infrared present than UV, so even a small leak is significant).

Baader “Venus II” ultraviolet (visible/infrared block)

Baader Venus II Ultraviolet-pass

This is the most effective ultraviolet-pass filter on the market, sold by Alpine Astro in the US. Of key importance is its strong suppression of infrared, though there is a small blip near 1150nm. A step-down ring is necessary to use it with the Coastal Optics 60/4 UV-VIS-IR APO Macro. Be sure to get the version 2 filter, which suppresses infrared more effectively.

Baader “Venus II” ultraviolet (visible/infrared block)

Resources

Fujifilm white paper

Those shooting Fujifilm infrared cameras might wish to read the Fujifilm white paper for the Fujifilm IS Pro, which discusses filtration.

Conclusions

With the right filtration and the right camera and the Coastal Optics 60/4 UV-VIS-IR APO macro, just about anything can be photographed!

See the main article: Coastal Optics 60/4 UV-VIS-IR APO macro

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