APS Bolex Filter Kit Quick Guide

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50 x 40px Filter spread2.jpg

INTRODUCTION

A filter kit is a useful tool for making real-time adjustments to your film exposure. The guide will cover the contents of the filter kits at APS as well as how and when to use each filter. There are a variety of filters that each have their own effect on the film for achieving things like color correcting, allowing wider apertures (with neutral density [ND] filters), converting daylight balanced film to a tungsten balance and vice versa, or adjusting contrast. Almost every filter has a specific purpose and can only be used in specific lighting situations.

There are two kinds of Bolex filter kits at APS, those for black and white film and those for color film. Each type is available for use with both bayonet mounts and turret mounts. Keep in mind that bayonet filter holders can only be used with bayonet mount cameras, and likewise for turret mount cameras. The name of each filter is written on the metal filter carriers.

You may also look at the chart at the bottom for an idea of the range of filters made. While we do not stock all of these filters, the chart can be helpful to get a sense of the exposure compensation required and other requirements for each filter.

CHANGING FILTERS

Every Bolex comes with an empty removable filter carrier. Whether or not you plan on using filters, this carrier needs to be in the camera while filming to prevent light leaks. For more on basic Bolex operation, read here. To use a filter from the kit, remove the empty carrier from the camera. On cameras with turret mounts, the carriers look like those photographed above and simply slide out of the camera. On cameras with bayonet mounts, the filter carriers have a moveable handle that must be raised out of the camera before it can be removed.

BLACK & WHITE KITS

Filter Name f-stop Increase Use
Red 25 +3 Creates dramatic sky effects. Simulates moonlight in midday by slight under-exposure.
Yellow 8 +⅔ Tonal correction for outdoors. Makes greater contrast in foliage and in clouds against a blue sky.
Yellow 15 +1 Creates dramatic dark skies and marine scenes.
ND3 +1 Blocks light to allow wider aperture.
ND6 +2 Blocks light to allow wider aperture.

COLOR KITS

Filter Name f-stop Increase Use
Sky 1A 0 Use anytime outdoors to reduce blues and add warmth.
80A +2 Converts daylight film for use with 3200°K lamps.
85 +⅔ Converts tungsten balanced film to daylight balance.
85N3 +1 ⅔ Filter 85 combined with a .3 neutral density filter.
85N6 +2 ⅔ Filter 85 combined with a .6 neutral density filter.


COMPREHENSIVE LIST

Black & White



Color 1



Color 2