I love the film-like glow created by diffusion filters – but sometimes I don’t want the drop in sharpness created by the special effects filter. But, PolarPro has a new filter for photographers, divided between the glow of diffusion and the loss of sharpness. The PolarPro Goldstache is a polarizer and low-strength warm diffusion filter combined into one filter.
While diffusion filters reduce contrast, mixing the effect with a polarizing filter adds some of that contrast back into the image, creating a blend between the timeless look of a softer lens and the contrast from modern cameras. PolarPro says that the Goldstache creates the “signature sauce” of the popular Shortsache filter, but blends timeless warmth with modern control.
The 1/4 strength diffusion filter doesn’t retain 100 percent of the lens's original sharpness, but creates a “minimal” loss in sharpness compared to stronger diffusion filters, PolarPro says.
The polarizer and diffusion filter are my two favorite types of filters to use. I love the softer glow and warmer tones created by my PolarPro CineGold filter. But I also love the ability to control reflections in windows and bodies of water coming from polarizing filters. Mixing the two has certainly piqued my attention.
There is a potential downside to mixing the two though – polarizing filters do reduce the amount of light coming through the lens, so they’re best taken off the lens when working in low light.
The Goldstache is similar to PolarPro's ShortStache filter, but uses a warm diffusion instead of a standard diffusion.
The filter is built with cinema-series glass and an aluminum frame. The circular filter comes in several different sizes, along with compatibility with PolarPro’s Helix MagLock magnetic filter system.
The PolarPro Goldstache starts at $89 / £89 for the 43mm size and is already available from retailers, including B&H in the US and Park Cameras in the UK.
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