Have you ever looked at your photos and felt like they were missing a certain punch, especially when it came to the sky or achieving a specific mood? As a photographer, I’ve certainly been there, grappling with scenes that looked vibrant to the eye but turned out flat in the final image. The problem wasn’t always about exposure or composition; sometimes, it was about controlling contrast and colour rendition in a way that standard camera settings couldn’t replicate. Failing to address this meant missing out on dramatic skies, impactful black and white conversions, or unique atmospheric effects, leaving images feeling less compelling than they could be. Finding the right tools to enhance these aspects felt crucial for elevating my photography.
Before adding any filter to your kit, it’s essential to think about what you’re trying to achieve. Camera filters are optical accessories screwed onto the front of a lens or placed behind it, designed to modify the light entering the camera. They can protect your lens, reduce glare, darken skies, enhance colours, or create specific effects. Someone would seek a filter to solve problems like excessive brightness (neutral density filters), unwanted reflections (polarizing filters), or needing specific tonal separation or colour shifts (colour filters).
The ideal customer for a specific filter category depends entirely on the filter type. For colour filters like the Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue), the ideal user is often a photographer who works with film, particularly black and white, or one who shoots digital and wants to achieve specific in-camera colour or contrast effects that are difficult or impossible to replicate perfectly in post-processing. They might be interested in classic black and white techniques, creating atmospheric haze effects, or even exploring alternative processes like full-spectrum photography.
Who might *not* need such a filter? Someone who relies entirely on digital editing software to create effects, a photographer primarily shooting portraits where colour casts on skin tones are undesirable, or someone looking for a general-purpose filter like UV protection. For these individuals, a different filter type or simply relying on software might be a better fit.
When considering purchasing a filter, several factors come into play:
* Filter Type: What effect do you need (UV protection, polarization, ND, colour)?
* Lens Thread Size: Filters must match your lens diameter (e.g., 58mm). Adapters exist but can introduce issues like vignetting.
* Material: Optical glass is generally preferred for image quality over resin or plastic.
* Coatings: Anti-reflective coatings reduce flare and ghosting. Some filters also have coatings that repel water or dirt.
* Effect Strength: Colour filters come in various densities; ND filters have different stop values.
* Budget: Filter prices vary significantly based on brand, material, and coatings.
Thinking through these points helps ensure you buy a filter that genuinely meets your photographic needs and fits your equipment.
- Dark blue filter
- Accentuates haze and fog
- Used for dye transfer and contrast effect
Introducing the Tiffen 58mm Deep Blue Filter
The Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue) is a simple yet effective photographic tool designed to alter the colour and contrast of your images directly in-camera. At its core, it’s a piece of coloured optical glass housed in a metal ring, specifically sized for lenses with a 58mm filter thread. Its primary promise is to deliver a distinct “deep blue” effect, primarily used to create contrast effects in black and white photography or for specific colour shifts in colour work. It’s particularly noted for its ability to accentuate haze and fog and its historical relevance in processes like dye transfer.
When you purchase this filter, you typically receive the filter itself, often in a basic plastic protective case. Compared to multi-coated, weather-sealed modern filters, the Tiffen 47 is a more traditional, straightforward piece of gear. Tiffen has a long history in the filter market, known for producing a wide range of filters, often at accessible price points, and emphasizing their US manufacturing. While other brands offer similar coloured filters, the Tiffen 47 provides a specific density and tone that many photographers seek out.
This specific 58mm blue filter is ideal for photographers working with lenses of that size who want to experiment with strong colour filtration for creative or technical purposes, particularly in black and white photography for dramatic contrast or for niche applications like full-spectrum imaging. It is *not* for someone looking for a clear protective filter, an effect that can be easily replicated precisely in software, or a filter designed for maximum light transmission and flare control.
Here’s a quick look at some key points:
Pros:
* Creates a distinct and strong blue colour effect.
* Effective for accentuating haze and fog.
* Useful for achieving dramatic contrast in black and white photography.
* Made of optical glass for better image quality than plastic alternatives.
* Affordable compared to some other filter types or brands.
* Relevant for historical photographic processes like dye transfer.
Cons:
* Lacks modern anti-reflective coatings, potentially increasing flare.
* Not water-resistant, requiring extra care in damp conditions.
* Quality control/packaging issues have been reported by some users (e.g., dust/smudges on arrival).
* Limited general applicability; primarily for specific creative/technical uses.
* Can significantly impact exposure, requiring compensation.
- 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
Putting the Filter to the Test: Real-World Performance
Having used the Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue) for a considerable period, I can speak to its specific characteristics and how they translate into practical photographic benefits and challenges. This is not a filter you’ll leave on your lens all the time; it’s a specialist tool, but when you need its particular effect, it’s quite effective.
The Impact of the Deep Blue Colour
The core feature of the Tiffen 47 blue filter is, obviously, its colour. This isn’t a subtle filter; it’s a deep, dark blue. In colour photography, its effect is a significant cooling of the scene, pushing colours towards blue tones. This can be useful for correcting overly warm lighting or creating a cold, stark mood. However, its most dramatic impact is felt in black and white photography.
When shooting black and white, colour filters work by lightening colours similar to the filter’s colour and darkening complementary colours. A blue filter, therefore, significantly darkens reds, oranges, and yellows while lightening blues and purples. This is incredibly important for contrast. For instance, a common use for a blue filter in black and white is landscape photography. While a red filter is more common for dramatic, dark skies, a blue filter has the opposite effect. It will darken clouds *against* a blue sky (making the blue sky appear lighter, the white clouds darker), but its main benefit often lies elsewhere – like separating tones in urban scenes or affecting vegetation in a unique way compared to red or green filters.
For those interested in alternative photography like full-spectrum imaging, this filter takes on a different role. As one user noted, it can render foliage a striking gold-yellow while making the visible-light sky incredibly vibrant blue. This is because the blue filter blocks out significant portions of the infrared spectrum, which is often a major component of light captured by full-spectrum cameras. This specific effect isn’t something you typically aim for in standard photography, but for experimental work, it’s a powerful tool for creating surreal landscapes where familiar elements take on unexpected colours. This dual utility – classic B&W contrast and modern experimental colour shifts – highlights the filter’s versatility for specific niches.
Optical Glass Construction
The fact that the filter is made of optical glass is a crucial benefit. Compared to cheaper plastic or resin filters, optical glass generally offers superior clarity and sharpness, ensuring that the filter doesn’t degrade the image quality passing through the lens. While any filter adds an extra element in front of your lens, a well-made glass filter minimizes negative impacts like distortion or loss of resolution. It feels solid and durable, though, being glass, it is still susceptible to breaking if dropped. The metal ring is also sturdy and screws onto lenses smoothly, provided the threads are clean.
Designed for a 58mm Thread
The 58mm size is quite common across various camera systems and lens types, particularly on kit lenses, older prime lenses, and some telephotos. This widespread compatibility makes the Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue) a practical purchase for many photographers who might already own lenses with this thread size. Using a filter that directly matches the lens thread is always preferable to using step-up or step-down rings, as rings can introduce complications like vignetting (darkened corners) with wide-angle lenses or difficulty attaching lens hoods. Having the right size means a seamless fit and optimal performance for compatible lenses.
Accentuating Haze and Fog
One of the specific effects the filter is advertised to achieve is accentuating haze and fog. This works because haze and fog particles scatter blue light more than red light (this is also why the sky is blue). A blue filter increases the contrast between the blue light scattered by the haze and the light from objects behind it, making the haze appear denser and more prominent in the image. This is a creative effect, useful for emphasizing atmospheric conditions and adding depth or mood to landscapes or cityscapes in misty conditions.
Application in Contrast Effects and Dye Transfer
Beyond accentuating atmospheric conditions, the deep blue filter is a historical tool for controlling contrast, especially in black and white printing techniques like dye transfer. While few photographers use dye transfer today, the principle of using colour filters to manipulate tonal contrast remains relevant. The Tiffen 47 Filter (Blue) can be used digitally or with B&W film to pre-visualize or directly capture images with specific tonal separations. For example, it’s excellent for making blue subjects pop against other colours or for creating unusual tonal relationships that differ significantly from standard grayscale conversions.
The Disadvantage: Lack of Coating
Perhaps the most significant functional drawback of the Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue) is its lack of anti-reflective coatings (“No Coating”). Modern lens elements and filters are typically multi-coated to minimize internal reflections and maximize light transmission. Without these coatings, the filter surface is more prone to reflections. This means shooting towards strong light sources (like the sun or bright lights at night) can lead to increased lens flare and ghosting artifacts. While sometimes flare is desired creatively, the lack of coating makes it harder to control. You need to be more mindful of light sources when using this filter compared to a coated one.
Another Limitation: Not Water Resistant
Similarly, the “Not Water Resistant” description points to another practical limitation. While you shouldn’t submerge a filter, many modern filters have top coatings that repel water droplets, making them easier to clean and less likely to show water spots in damp conditions. This filter doesn’t have that feature, meaning raindrops or splashes are more likely to stick and smear, requiring immediate and careful drying to avoid impacting the image or potentially leaving water spots on the glass. This limits its use in wet environments unless you’re prepared to constantly shield and clean the filter.
Handling and Quality Control Notes
Based on my own experience and observations from other users, it’s worth noting that the condition upon arrival can sometimes be less than pristine. While the filter itself is optical glass, receiving it with dust particles or smudges on the surface, or in packaging that isn’t robust, means you’ll likely need to give it a thorough cleaning before first use. This isn’t a dealbreaker for the filter’s performance, but it speaks to potential quality control or packaging issues during manufacturing or shipping. Proper filter cleaning technique (using a blower, brush, and lens cloth/solution) is always recommended, but it’s slightly frustrating to have to do it straight out of the box. Despite this, once clean, the optical quality of the glass itself is good for its price point.
Overall, the Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue) is a specialized filter that performs its intended functions well. Its strengths lie in its optical quality for its price, its effectiveness in creating specific blue filtration effects for black and white contrast, accentuating haze, and enabling unique results in niche areas like full-spectrum photography. Its main disadvantages are the lack of protective and anti-reflective coatings, which require careful handling and awareness of potential flare, and potential initial quality concerns regarding cleanliness upon delivery.
What Others Are Saying
Looking around at what other photographers have shared about their experiences with the Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue) confirms many of the points I’ve noted. Users appreciate that the filter delivers the expected colour cutting effect, making it effective for achieving specific contrast goals, particularly in black and white or specialized uses like full-spectrum work where it creates unique colour renditions such as vibrant blue skies and yellow foliage. However, some reviews highlight concerns about the filter’s condition when received, mentioning issues like dust, smudges, or less-than-perfect packaging, suggesting that while the filter’s performance is generally good, the initial presentation could be improved.
Final Thoughts on the Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue)
As we’ve discussed, flat or uninspired images often stem from a lack of control over in-camera contrast and colour, issues that can detract significantly from the intended mood or impact of a photograph. This problem is especially relevant for photographers who value optical effects or work with mediums like black and white film.
The Tiffen 58mm 47 Filter (Blue) offers a straightforward and effective solution for those specific challenges. Its deep blue tint is excellent for manipulating tonal values in black and white, adding drama to atmospheric haze, and enabling fascinating colour shifts in experimental fields like full-spectrum photography. Its optical glass construction provides good quality for its price point, making it an accessible tool for creative exploration. While it lacks modern coatings and requires careful handling, its ability to create unique, in-camera effects makes it a valuable addition to a photographer’s kit when its specific properties are needed. If you’re looking to achieve these particular looks and your lens has a 58mm thread, this filter is certainly worth considering. To explore the possibilities this Tiffen filter offers for your photography, Click here to check it out.
Last update on 2025-07-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API