Do you need these special lens filters?
Maybe you have a lens filter or two for your camera lenses, but have you ever used diopter lens filters? If you’re not yet familiar with them, today’s featured video by Mathieu Stern shows what these special filters can do, how much they cost, and why you may need them for your photo and/or video work. According to our favorite Paris-based weird lens enthusiast, diopter lens filters can completely transform your lens, but they are often overlooked. This often works in favor of lens manufacturers, who likely don’t want you to know about them so you can just keep buying lenses — particularly for macro photography. Simply put, a diopter is essentially a magnifying glass for your lens, as it reduces the minimum focus distance and lets you get closer to your subject. As such, it’s often useful for lenses with poor close focusing abilities like anamorphic lenses. Or, you can simply use them to add extra magnification to your current lenses. One thing Stern touches on about diopter lens filters is how they can go for dirt cheap or very expensive. As you can probably tell, the size, quality, and coating of the glass dictate the price. And as with many things, the more expensive ones produce the pro-level results, so they can be worth the investment if you really need them. He also demonstrates the effect of these filters based on their strengths; the higher the number, the stronger the magnification. Particularly interesting are his demonstration for anamorphic lenses and comparison with macro lenses. So, did Stern convince you to give diopter lens filters a try? What kinds of projects do you think they will come in handy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Maybe you have a lens filter or two for your camera lenses, but have you ever used diopter lens filters? If you’re not yet familiar with them, today’s featured video by Mathieu Stern shows what these special filters can do, how much they cost, and why you may need them for your photo and/or video work.
According to our favorite Paris-based weird lens enthusiast, diopter lens filters can completely transform your lens, but they are often overlooked. This often works in favor of lens manufacturers, who likely don’t want you to know about them so you can just keep buying lenses — particularly for macro photography. Simply put, a diopter is essentially a magnifying glass for your lens, as it reduces the minimum focus distance and lets you get closer to your subject. As such, it’s often useful for lenses with poor close focusing abilities like anamorphic lenses. Or, you can simply use them to add extra magnification to your current lenses.
One thing Stern touches on about diopter lens filters is how they can go for dirt cheap or very expensive. As you can probably tell, the size, quality, and coating of the glass dictate the price. And as with many things, the more expensive ones produce the pro-level results, so they can be worth the investment if you really need them.
He also demonstrates the effect of these filters based on their strengths; the higher the number, the stronger the magnification. Particularly interesting are his demonstration for anamorphic lenses and comparison with macro lenses.
So, did Stern convince you to give diopter lens filters a try? What kinds of projects do you think they will come in handy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
