Filters

Just so you know, TCF has the following filters for the SONY HDV cameras:

1. color graduated filter

2. polarizer

3. soft

4. black pro mist

5. warm black diffusion

6. gold diffusion

7. enhancing

8. ultra contrast

Tiffen filters site explains a good deal of info on filters.

Currently, we have polarizer filters for the small JVC cameras. If you are only going to use one filter, make it a polarizer! Use polarizer filters for the following shooting conditions/locations/scenarios:

Skies
By eliminating the reflection of light on the tiny water droplets present in the atmosphere the polarizer brings more saturated and slightly darker skies.

Water and reflective surfaces
By eliminating reflections, the polarizing filter will tend to make water and other reflective surfaces more transparent. The effect will also vary depending on the angle to the reflective surface. If you place your camera very low above a river, the effect will be very limited. If you shoot from a bridge above it, the water will look totally transparent.

Color Enhancement
The polarizing filter also reduces reflection from other surfaces such as foliage and thus makes their colors look more intense. It also tends to make shadow areas darker.

Light absorption
The main side-effect of the polarizing filter is that it absorbs 1.5 stop of light. So, if you shoot at 1/180th of a second and then add the filter, you will find yourself at 1/60th of a second. This happens whatever the orientation for a polarizer. In low light situations, some type of camera support, such as a tripod, will be needed.

These articles explain and give great image examples.

I think we ordered a selection of more filters (soft con, star filters, etc) but I will have to check on that...

To use the filter, rotate the front of the filter. This video demos the effect of this rotation: