Tiffen 40.5mm UV Protective Filter

Film, as well as video, often exhibits a greater sensitivity to what is to us invisible, ultraviolet light. This is most often outdoors, especially at high altitudes, where the UV-absorbing atmosphere is thinner; and over long distances, such as marine scenes. It can show up as a bluish Color cast with color film, or it can cause a low-contrast haze that diminishes details, especially when viewing far-away objects, in either color or black-and-white. Ultraviolet filters absorb UV light generally without affecting light in the visible region.

It is important to distinguish between UV-generated haze and that of air-borne particles, such as smog. The latter is made up of opaque matter that absorbs visible light as well as UV, and will not be appreciably removed by a UV filter.

Ultraviolet filters come in a variety of absorption levels, usually measured by their percent transmission at 400 nanometers (nm), the visible-UV wavelength boundary. Use a filter that transmits zero percent at 400 nm, such as the Tiffen Haze 2, for aerial and far-distant scenes; the Tiffen Haze 1, transmitting 29% at 400 nm, is fine for average situations. These filters are ideal in helping to protect your camera or camcorder Lens against dust, moisture, fingerprints, scratches and damage. They may be kept on your camera at all times.

The Haze-1 is the best general purpose UV control. It eliminates UV problems from most situations where increased haze tends to wash out color and image clarity. The Haze-1 reduces excessive blue by absorbing almost 3/4 of UV light.