I'm in a pickle

So I'm headed out on a 2 day liveaboard out here in California this weekend and I only have a blue water filter. Unfortunately I don't think I have time to go and get a magenta gel to create green water filters. Would it be okay to use the blue water filter in green water and white balance or would I be better off white balancing without the blue filter? Thanks!!!

Billy

Billy I hope you mean a blue water filter and not blue filter. In other words the orangey reddish one?

Yes, use the blue water filter and white balance. In California seawater you might find it gives better results anyway than a green water filter. When I did some comparison testing years ago in English greenish seawater the blue water filter was better. Those green water filters are best for really #$*&ing green water like inland freshwater ponds and stuff.

Billy I hope you mean a blue water filter and not blue filter. In other words the orangey reddish one?

 

Yes, use the blue water filter and white balance. In California seawater you might find it gives better results anyway than a green water filter. When I did some comparison testing years ago in English greenish seawater the blue water filter was better. Those green water filters are best for really #$*&ing green water like inland freshwater ponds and stuff.

Nick, sorry for the poor wording, I just fixed the post. Our water isn't totally green and in the summer it can change to this beautiful deep blue that you can't find even in tropical areas. Sounds like the blue water filter is the way to go regardless. Time to start cutting some bastard pink gel, thanks!

Billy

You'll be fine, I use a blue water filter when it's a pretty green here in Sydney and get good results.

Jon

Normal lighting gel is not really optical quality but you can get away with it. In the long term you'd be better off with a proper rigid filter. Magic Filters are basically gels but they're allegedly "optical quality". Not sure exactly what the difference is but I think they have to get batches specially made.

Normal lighting gel is not really optical quality but you can get away with it. In the long term you'd be better off with a proper rigid filter. Magic Filters are basically gels but they're allegedly "optical quality". Not sure exactly what the difference is but I think they have to get batches specially made.

I'm not quite sure as to exactly what "optical quality" means but the gel I used for some Hawaii action worked out great. The lens port of my camera has a small flat matte surface so I can tape the gel to it without distortion or wrinkles. Unfortunately the only way to use an actual filter with my setup is to have a custom 102mm filter made and I'm guessing that would run around $500 if not more. I think I'll stick with my $6.50 sheets that produce about 100 filters. I'll try the color gel I have for blue water and post some results.

Thanks,

Billy