The Pro 4 Hood was a unique design that allowed four effects filters to be loaded up and quickly flipped over the lens before taking a shot. Here’s a video of how it works.
When taking colour photographs in bright sunlight, especially by the sea or in the mountains, ultra-violet rays and the brightness of the sky throw out the picture’s overall colour balance.
The Skylight “filters out” the excess bluish tone, improving the overall clarity of the photograph while helping to restore the film’s natural colour balance. It also keeps skin tones free of colour reflections from nearby objects such as tree shade.
Skylight filters are available in two strengths 1A and 1B, the latter being a slightly stronger pink colour.
Many photographers buy a skylight filter for each lens and leave them screwed on to protect the lenses’ front elements.
Skylight filters are available in round type that screw into the lens in ever size imaginable. They are also made by Cokin for the square filter system, and Hoyarex and the likes used to make them for their systems.
Links to buy
Hoyarex 011 Filter
Cokin A230
One of the more useful, but under used filters in the Cokin kit is the Incolor 061. Unlike many of the other spot filters this one is practical and can be used in different ways for different effects. The spot filters with colour can look quite naff whereas this one can be adjusted to give a soft focus style effect or a lovely white vignette. This makes it perfect for wedding photography or portraits. The filter is available in A and P series and has a small hole in the centre. When placed in front of the camera lens the hole will either appear small or large, hard edged or soft edged, depending on the lens focal length and aperture used. To get a large soft edge you should take photos using a longer focal length (around 50-80mm is fine with this filter) and use a wider aperture. If you want a more pronounced circle, use a wider lens and a smaller aperture.
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| The texture on the filter can be made to look white/grey or neutral depending on how parallel it is to the ccd/film…and if light is reflecting on the rear surface | You could focus lock on the filter so the subject through the hole is blurred and the filter texture sharp. This makes interesting creative shots. |
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| A longer lens and wider aperture was used here. Notice how soft the edge is and how neutral the filtered area is. | Here the filter was adjusted so the spot was on the face. You can do this if the filter is hand held in front of the camera. The filter was held further away and angled so light reflected on it. |
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| Here’s the filter being used to it’s best. Good choice of aperture and focal length gives a lovely diffused vignette. | Another version with a slightly more defined effect. Using the filter like this is great for wedding photography and romantic portraits. |
You can buy the filter here: Cokin A series 061 Spot In color Filter
Hoyarex was a filter system developed by Hoya. Hoya was the big name in optical filters and then French manufacturer Cokin appeared with a system that would revolutionise the filter world.
Hoya reacted fast but not fast enough. Cokin had soon taken hold of the filter market with serious and special effect filters. Photographers were no longer buying one or two filters they were investing in cases full.
The Hoyarex system emulated what Cokin had done, but in our opinion did it better, some filters were glass, others had frames around them so handling was better. The holder was more flexible and had a more versatile lens hood. The filters slotted in more comfortably and the adaptors clipped in easier.
But they were too late and Cokin won the battle. Hoyarex disappeared as quick as they came.
You can still find remnants of the system sold in the second-hand sections of various photographic retailers, and there are a few on Photography Attic web site here: Hoyarex Filters
Wratten is a brand name from Kodak used for their series of coloured gelatin correction and conversion filters. There’s a wide range – each one identified by its Wratten number. The filters can be held or taped in front of the lens (or flash). Alternatively you can buy a gelatine filter holder for most filter systems for a neater way to attach the filter to the lens.
The skylight filter has a slight pink tint
The Skylight filter has been around for decades and is one of the most popular filters. It has a slight pink tint which is used to reduce blue haze in colour photography. This was essential for film camera owners but digital camera users can correct the problem easily using an image editing program.
The Skylight filter does not affect exposure, so some photographers screw one on the front of each of their lenses as protection for the front element.
There are some photographers who counter this action, suggesting that the filter will degrade quality. And it’s true if you put on a cheapy plastic option, but adding a high quality Japanese multi-coated filter will give minimal degradation to the image. Any change will certainly not be noticeable to the naked eye. And the advantage of having a skylight filter (or UV) is you maintain a clean lens which would cost much more to replace than a scratched filter.
If you use a skylight filter you can keep it attached all the time, but be careful if you add other filters as the extended depth could cause vignetting on wide angle lenses. Some manufacturers such as Hoya make slim versions to prevent this.
