THE ONLINE
CAMERA TOOLBOX
This is a collection of online tools & resources that I have found useful in the Pre-Production process of a Director, Cinematographer, Camera Assistant, or Gaffer. Enjoy!
Filter Tools
Filter Glow Visualizer
See the effect of diffusion filters on a light source. Compare the softening, contrast loss, halation, & overall glow effect. See strength-level differences, which surprisingly don't always simply mean "weaker or stronger." Tiffen - Black Diffusion FX --- (1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Black Frost --- (1/8, 1/4, 1/2) Tiffen - Black Pro Mist --- (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Schneider - Classic Soft --- (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - Fog --- (1/4, 1/2, 2) Tiffen - Glimmerglass --- (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Schneider - Hlywd Black Magic --- (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - Low Contrast --- (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Mitchell - Diffusion --- (B) Tiffen - Pearlescent --- (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - Pro Mist --- (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Schneider - Radiant Soft --- (1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Satin --- (1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Smoque --- (1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Soft FX --- (1/2, 1, 2, 3)
Filter Test Switcher
See diffusion and special FX filters tested in different standardized comparison tests, in a switchable viewer window. Discover the minute differences by switching back-and-forth between overlaid video players. Tests: Tiffen's 4K Filter Test Timur Romanov's "Diffusion Lens Filtration Test" Olan Collardy's "The Filter Test"
Dual Filter Comparator
A dual video-player by RWP. See an encompassing selection of professional filters compared side-by-side, & their effect in a low-key soft-lit environment on a face, bare bulb, string lights, color chart, and slate. Wide & MCU. ZEISS Supreme Prime 65mm & 100mm on ARRI Alexa Mini LF (FF) Tiffen - Pro-Mist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Soft FX -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Low Contrast -----(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Tiffen - Softnet Black -----(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Tiffen - Hyper Star -----(800, 802) Tiffen - Streak -----(1mm, 2mm, 3mm) Tiffen - Ultra Contrast -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Warm Black Pro-Mist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Warm Pro-Mist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Black Diffusion FX -----(1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Black Glimmerglass -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Black Pearlescent -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Black Pro-Mist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Black Satin -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Bronze Glimmerglass -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 3) Tiffen - Glimmerglass -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Gold Diffusion FX -----(1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Tiffen - Pearlescent -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) - Schneider - Classic Black Soft -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Schneider - True-Streak Rainbow Schneider - True Streak Blue -----(1mm, 2mm, 3mm) Scnheider - Black Frost -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Schneider - HD Classic Soft -----(1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Schneider - Hollywood Black Magic -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) - Harrison - Double Fog -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Harrison - Diffusion -----(1, 2, 3, 4) - Wratten - Conversion -----(80A, 85A, 85B) - Lee Filters - Star Filters -----(2pt, 4pt, 6pt, 8pt)
Tiffen 4k Filter Test
Tiffen's own 4k video test. See a broad range of Tiffen's filters, and their effect in a low-key soft-lit environment on a white and black face, bare bulb, color chart, and slate. Images are shown next to a filter-less image. Wide & CU PANAVISION Primo Prime 27mm & 75mm on SONY F55 (S35) Tiffen - Glimmerglass -----(1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4) Tiffen - Pearlescent -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Pro-Mist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1, 2) Tiffen - Satin -----(1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Black Diffusion FX -----(1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4) Tiffen - Black Net -----(1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Black Pro-Mist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Black Satin -----(1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Bronze Glimmerglass -----(1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Gold Diffusion/FX -----(1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4) Tiffen - Warm Black Pro-Mist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Warm Pro-Mist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Digital Diffusion/FX -----(1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Soft/FX -----(1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4) Tiffen - Warm Soft/FX -----(1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4) Tiffen - HDTV/FX -----(1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - Soft FX + Ultracon -----(1/2, 1, 2 + 1/2, 1, 2) Tiffen - Smoque -----(1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Soft FX + Black Pro Mist -----(1/2 + 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2)
"The Filter Test"
A video by Olan Collardy. See a wide selection of professional diffusion filters, and their effect in a low-key soft-lit environment on a face, practical lamp, and slate. No hair light. MCU COOKE S4 50mm on ARRI Alexa Mini (S35) Tiffen - Black ProMist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - ProMist -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - Pearlescent -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - Fog -----(1, 2) Tiffen - Double Fog -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - Low Con -----(1, 2, 3, 4) Tiffen - Ultra Con -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Tiffen - Black Satin -----(1/2, 1) Tiffen - Soft FX-----(1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Glimmerglass -----(1/2, 1, 2, 3) Tiffen - Soft Black Net -----(1, 2, 4) - Schneider - Hollywood BlackMagic -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) Schneider - Classic Softs -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2) Schneider - Digicon -----(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) - Mitchell - Panchros -----(A, B, C, D)
"Diffusion Lens Filtration Test"
A video by Timur Romanov. See the effect of professional diffusion filters in a low-key environment on a face, string lights, and color chart. A strong edge-light / backlight is used, making effects more apparent. Wide & CU ZEISS Ultra Prime 32mm & 85mm on ARRI Alexa Plus (S35) Filters: Classic Soft --- (1/4, 1) Soft FX --- (1/2, 1) Pro-Mist --- (1/8, 1/4, 1) Black Pro-Mist --- (1/8, 1/4, 1) Glimmer Glass --- (1/2, 1) Digital Diffusion --- (1/4, 1) Hollywood Black Magic -- (1/4, 1) Harrison & Harrison Diffusion -- (1/2, 1) Fogal 110 Noblesse 2100 Noir stocking (rear element, front element) Low Con --- (1/4, 2) Black Diffusion FX --- (1) Gold Diffusion FX --- (1)
Lensing Tools
Ultimate FF Lens Test Switcher
Huge full-frame lens test by ShareGrid. Directly compare the best cinema lens sets at selected focal lengths and T-stops. Switch between viewers for a back-and-forth comparison. See bokeh, flares, sharpness, lens breathing, etc. Lenses: ARRI Signature ZEISS Supreme ZEISS CP.2 Super Speed ZEISS CP.3 Sigma FF High Speed Tokina Vista Tokina Vista One Cooke S7/i Rokinon Xeen Canon Sumire Canon CN-E Schneider Xenon TRIBE7 BLACKWING7 Canon K35 Laica R Nikon AI-S Canon FD Leitz THALIA Richard Gale CLAVIUS Sigma Cine FF Classic
Cinema Lens Test
Lens tests by RWP. See a wide range of classic lenses in a low-key soft-lit set, with backlight on talent, and focus racking to see bokeh. A direct light source is also introduced to see flaring. Compare color rendition with a color chart. SONY Venice 2 FULL FRAME: Zeiss Supreme Canon Sumire Leica Summicron-C Arri Signature Primes Cooke S8i Sigma Cine FF Sigma Classic Tokina Cinema Vista SUPER 35: Zeiss SuperSpeed MK II Zeiss SuperSpeed MK III Cooke Mini S4 Uncoated Leica Summicron-C Hit Celere HS Cooke S4 Canon K35
Sensor/Lens Coverage & Specs
View the coverage of almost any lens on any camera. Compare two cameras and lenses at once to be able to match frames. "The CVP Lens coverage and camera comparison tool" shows sensor resolution, dimensions, pixel pitch, aspect ratio, and FOV, along with lens T-stop, close focus, front diameter, weight, length, focus throw angle, aperture blade count, and available lens mounts.
Custom Aspect Ratio Visualizer
Can be used with or without a reference image. Press "Create Design Without Art" to begin. Set the height to 10 in order to represent 1, and set the width to whatever aspect ratio you wish to see, with the decimal moved over one place. For 2.39:1 aspect ratio, you would type 23.9. For 1.85 aspect ratio, you put 18.5. For 1.33, put 13.3, etc. (Larson Juhl Design Studio tool)
Lighting Tools
Diffusion Material Test
Diffusion test video by RWP. See the spread pattern of a wide range of popular diffusion materials used on a 1kW Tungsten Fresnel. Compare color cast on a grey card and color chart. ROSCO e-color+ 251 - 1/4 White Diffusion 250 - 1/2 White Diffusion 216 - White Diffusion 434 - 1/4 Grid Cloth 430 - Grid Cloth 229 - 1/4 Tough Spun 215 - 1/2 Tough Spun 214 - Tough Spun 420 - Light Opal Frost 410 - Opal Frost 257 - 1/4 Hanover Frost 256 - 1/2 Hanover Frost 253 - Hanover Frost 255 - Haarlem Frost 228 - Brushed Silk 414 - Highlight ROSCOTEX Unbleached Muslin Bleached Muslin Cinebounce China Silk Griffolyn
Diffusion & Bounce Test
Diffusion test video by Matt Porwoll. See the most popular materials diffusing and bouncing a daylight Joker 400 Fresnel. A video and in-depth blog post detail the test, including material size, distance, color cast, & light loss. Diffusion: Full Silk 1/4 Stop Silk China Silk Full Grid Cloth 1/2 (Lite) Grid Cloth 1/4 Grid Cloth Frost Opal (Lee 410) Full White Diffusion (Lee 216) 1/2 White Diffusion (Lee 250) Bleached Muslin Unbleached Muslin Bounce: White Griffolyn Ultra Bounce Bleached Muslin Unbleached Muslin Bead Board
