There have been countless times during my photography journey where I faced challenging lighting conditions or sought a specific creative look that post-processing alone just couldn’t quite replicate. Dealing with excessive atmospheric haze or wanting to achieve a strong, stylized colour contrast in-camera presented significant hurdles. If these issues weren’t addressed at the time of shooting, it meant compromising on the final image’s mood and impact, often leading to flat results or an inability to convey the desired artistic vision. Finding the right tool, like a specialized filter such as the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter (Blue), could have dramatically simplified achieving those specific effects and saved countless hours in editing later.
- Dark blue filter
- Accentuates haze and fog
- Used for dye transfer and contrast effect
Thinking Through Your Needs Before Acquiring a Camera Filter
Camera filters serve as essential tools for photographers looking to control light, manage contrast, or introduce specific colour effects directly onto the sensor. They solve problems ranging from reducing harsh glare and reflections to protecting the front element of a lens, or even allowing for slower shutter speeds in bright light. One might seek to buy a filter to enhance skies, cut through haze, create long exposures, or simply add a unique artistic touch that’s difficult or impossible to achieve digitally.
The ideal customer for camera filters is someone who understands the principles of light and exposure, values getting the image right in-camera, and has specific creative or practical needs that filters address. This includes landscape photographers dealing with dynamic range or atmospheric conditions, portrait photographers managing light and skin tones, or anyone looking to experiment with creative effects.
Conversely, someone who relies solely on extensive post-processing might find traditional filters less necessary, although even then, some effects are best originated in-camera. Absolute beginners might find the complexity of choosing and using filters overwhelming initially, perhaps preferring to master exposure and composition first. Those on a very strict budget might prioritize other gear, as filters for multiple lenses can add up. Instead, they might focus on lens adapters or basic protection filters until their needs evolve.
Before investing in a camera filter, several factors require careful consideration. First and foremost is the *type* of filter needed – is it for UV protection, reducing light (ND filter), managing reflections (polarizer), or changing colour/contrast? Second, ensure the *size* matches your lens’s filter thread diameter; otherwise, you’ll need a step-up or step-down ring. The *material* (optical glass vs. resin) affects image quality and durability. *Coatings* are crucial for reducing reflections, repelling water/dust, and overall image clarity. Finally, consider the *brand reputation* and read reviews specific to the filter’s intended use to ensure it delivers the desired effect without introducing unwanted artifacts.
- Includes #6, #13, & #25 Contrast Filters
- 【58mm Color Filter Kit】 This kit includes 9 pieces 58mm color filters (red, orange, blue, yellow, green, brown, purple, pink, and gray filter), 2 filter pouches, and a cleaning cloth
Introducing a Particular Filter: The Tiffen 67mm 47 Blue
Among the vast array of photographic filters available, the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter (Blue) stands out as a specialized tool designed for specific creative and technical purposes. Essentially, it’s a dark blue filter intended to manipulate the colour balance of a scene, primarily promising to accentuate atmospheric elements like haze and fog while also being useful for high-contrast effects or niche applications like dye transfer processes. When you purchase this filter, you typically receive the optical glass filter element itself housed in a standard protective case. Compared to general-purpose filters or higher-end coated options from brands like B+W or Hoya, Tiffen positions itself as an accessible brand offering good value, particularly known for its filters made in the USA. While general filters like UV protectors or polarizers are common across all brands, a specific colour filter like the 47 Blue is more specialized, catering to photographers seeking particular in-camera effects.
This specific Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter is best suited for photographers who understand colour theory and want to achieve dramatic cool tones, enhance blue elements, or manipulate contrast for artistic effect, especially those working with atmospheric conditions or exploring historical printing techniques. It could also appeal to users of full-spectrum cameras seeking specific tonal separation. It is definitely *not* for photographers who primarily shoot portraits and want natural skin tones, those looking for a versatile, everyday filter, or anyone expecting it to protect their lens from physical harm (beyond minor scratches on the filter itself).
Here’s a quick rundown based on my experience and product details:
Pros:
* Delivers a strong, distinct dark blue effect.
* Effective at enhancing haze and fog in appropriate scenes.
* Useful for specific artistic contrast effects and applications like dye transfer.
* Affordable compared to many other filter types or premium brands.
* Made from optical glass for decent quality.
Cons:
* Highly specialized with limited general use.
* Not coated, potentially increasing risk of flare and reflections.
* Quality control can be inconsistent (dust/smudges reported).
* Packaging may arrive damaged (reported issue).
* Significantly alters natural colours, making it unsuitable for many standard applications like portraits.
Delving Into the Product’s Capabilities and Advantages
The Distinctive Deep Blue Tint (Effect Type: Color Correcting)
The core function of the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter (Blue) lies in its deep blue colouration. This isn’t a subtle filter; it dramatically shifts the colour balance towards blue. When you look through it or see the resulting images, blues become more intense, while opposing colours on the colour wheel, particularly reds and yellows, are significantly darkened. This fundamental colour shift is what enables its specific effects. The benefit here is the ability to create a very specific mood or aesthetic directly in camera. Instead of trying to achieve a cool, melancholic, or intensely blue look in post-production, which can sometimes lead to unnatural-looking colour casts or artifacts, this filter applies the effect as the light hits the sensor. This provides a stronger, arguably more ‘anchored’ colour base to work from. For scenes that naturally have blues you want to emphasize, or greens that work well with blues, this filter makes them pop while subduing warmer tones, creating a visually striking contrast.
Enhancing Atmospheric Haze and Fog
One of the key advertised uses for the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter is its ability to accentuate haze and fog. Haze and fog are composed of tiny water droplets or particles that scatter light. A blue filter can interact with these atmospheric elements in interesting ways. By filtering out warmer light and emphasizing the cooler tones present in haze or fog, the filter can make these conditions appear denser, more opaque, or simply more prominent in the final image. Over my time using this filter, I’ve found it particularly effective on misty mornings or in hazy distant landscapes. Instead of the haze simply looking like a washed-out grey, the blue filter helps define its presence and gives it a cooler, often more dramatic, quality. This is a significant benefit for landscape photographers who want to capture the mood of specific weather conditions rather than simply shooting through them. It allows the atmosphere itself to become a more tangible element in the composition.
Utility in Contrast Effects and Niche Applications
Beyond haze, the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter (Blue) is valuable for creating strong contrast effects. By darkening reds and yellows while lightening blues and greens, it creates significant tonal separation, even in colour images. This principle is similar to how colour filters are used in black and white photography to control contrast between different coloured subjects, but applied here within a colour context. For instance, a scene with blue skies and yellow foliage will see the sky become deeper blue and the foliage become significantly darker or shift towards a muddy tone, creating a stark contrast. This makes the filter useful for graphic compositions where tonal contrast is important. The mention of “dye transfer” in the product description refers to a historical photographic printing process where colour separation negatives are used; colour filters like the 47 blue are analogous to the filters used in creating those separations. While few photographers use this process today, the filter’s design reflects this historical application and its core function of separating colours. One thing I’ve learned from using this filter is that its effect on colours other than blue can be quite pronounced – skin tones, which contain reds and yellows, will often appear unnaturally yellow or green, highlighting why it’s not suited for natural portraits. Conversely, this dramatic colour shift can be exploited creatively, as noted by some users who appreciate how it renders foliage in golden yellows and people in ways that make them blend into a scene, almost like statues. This selective colour manipulation is a powerful creative tool, albeit one with a very specific outcome.
The Practicality of the 67mm Thread Size
A practical aspect of the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter (Blue) is its 67mm filter thread size. This specification is crucial because filters must match the diameter of the lens they are being screwed onto. 67mm is a reasonably common filter size used on many standard zoom and prime lenses from various manufacturers. The benefit here is straightforward: if you have one or more lenses with a 67mm filter thread, this filter will screw directly onto them, ready for immediate use. If you have lenses with different thread sizes, you would need to use step-up or step-down rings to adapt the filter, which can sometimes introduce vignetting (darkening at the corners of the image), especially with step-down rings or on wide-angle lenses. So, while seemingly a simple spec, the 67mm size dictates the filter’s compatibility and ease of use across your lens collection.
Manufactured from Optical Glass
The Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter is made from optical glass. Optical glass is the standard material for quality photographic filters and lens elements. Its primary benefit is clarity and flatness, which are essential to avoid distorting the light passing through the filter and potentially degrading image quality. Compared to cheaper resin filters, optical glass is generally more scratch-resistant (though not indestructible) and maintains better optical integrity. While the lack of coatings on this specific filter is a drawback, the use of optical glass as the base material ensures that the filter itself isn’t inherently introducing softness or distortion simply due to the material quality. This means the primary impact on your image will be the intended colour shift and light reduction, not optical aberrations caused by the filter material itself.
Understanding the Absence of Coating
Perhaps one of the most significant points to consider regarding the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter (Blue) is its described lack of coating. Modern filters, even affordable ones, often feature multi-coatings that serve several important functions. Coatings reduce reflections off the filter surface, minimizing ghosting and flare, particularly when shooting towards bright light sources. They can also enhance light transmission, ensuring more light reaches the sensor. Furthermore, hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings help repel water, dust, and fingerprints, making the filter easier to clean and maintain. The absence of coatings on the Tiffen 47 Blue filter means it is more susceptible to reflections and flare. When shooting scenes with bright lights or the sun near the frame, you might encounter more internal reflections between the filter and the front lens element than you would with a coated filter. This is a clear disadvantage, requiring more careful shooting technique to shade the lens. While some photographers might argue that a lack of coating provides a “classic” or “pure” look, in most practical scenarios, coatings improve usability and image quality by mitigating unwanted optical artifacts. This is something I’ve had to be particularly mindful of when using this filter, often needing to use a lens hood or my hand to shield the front.
Notes on Build Quality and Packaging (User Feedback Integration)
Based on user feedback and my own observations, while the filter’s optical element performs its intended function, the overall presentation and initial condition can sometimes be a point of concern. Several users have noted issues with the filter arriving with dust, smudges, or even fingerprints on the glass, suggesting potential inconsistencies in Tiffen’s quality control process for this particular product line. Additionally, there have been reports of the packaging – specifically the plastic filter case – being cracked or damaged upon arrival. While the damage to the case itself might be attributed to shipping, the presence of dirt or grease on the filter glass directly out of the (potentially damaged) case points towards manufacturing or packaging issues. While the filter glass itself might be in good condition underneath the grime, needing to clean a brand new filter thoroughly before its first use is less than ideal and detracts from the initial user experience. This feedback indicates that while the filter delivers the requested effect, buyers should be prepared for the possibility of needing to give it a careful cleaning upon arrival and should perhaps not expect robust, high-end packaging. This is a distinct disadvantage compared to filters from brands with stricter quality control standards.
Hearing from Other Users: Social Proof
I’ve scoured various online forums and retail sites to see what other photographers are saying about the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter (Blue). The sentiment is generally positive regarding the filter’s ability to produce the advertised strong blue effect and enhance specific scene elements like haze. Users confirm it works well for creating artistic contrast and is effective for niche uses, such as with full-spectrum cameras where it can yield striking colour shifts like golden foliage. However, several reviewers echoed concerns about the filter’s condition upon arrival, mentioning dust and smudges, and some reported the packaging being less than pristine or even damaged. Despite these initial presentation issues, most seem satisfied with the filter’s performance once cleaned, acknowledging its specific purpose and limitations, particularly its unsuitability for natural-looking portraits.
Concluding Thoughts on the Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter
Ultimately, the challenge for many photographers is capturing specific moods and artistic effects that go beyond standard colour reproduction, especially when dealing with atmospheric conditions or aiming for high contrast. Failing to achieve this in-camera can limit creative expression and result in images that lack the desired impact. The Tiffen 67mm 47 Filter (Blue) offers a powerful, albeit specialized, solution to this. Its ability to deliver a strong blue cast, accentuate haze and fog, and create dramatic colour contrast makes it a great fit for photographers pursuing these specific looks. It’s an affordable way to achieve effects that are difficult to replicate authentically in post-processing. If you have lenses with a 67mm thread and a need for this particular creative tool, it’s worth considering. To learn more or purchase this unique blue filter, Click here to check it out .ca.
Last update on 2025-07-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API