Magic Filters

I am looking for some real Magic Filter Reviews. I have a Canon 20D and am going to the maldives in Feb to start taking my first underwater pictures with my new camera. I am heading over to BH in new york in december to buy some housing and lighting.

I am questioning what lighting system I should be buying now? If any with the Magic Filters. I have no objection for trying them at such a low price. But can not image how something so cheap can be so good.

How do they work at macro stuff, under rocks where there is no direct sunlight. And are the examples on the web site real. Or was the shutter speed also slower? Was there any other not mentioned considerations?

How exactly do they work?

Wait few days and I'll sure you start see here reviews from around the world about the Magic Filter, it’s only started distributes few days ago and there are some few wetpixelers that just got it.

If you didn't read the information here and in the magic filter/s site then do it since there are a lot of explanations and samples.

Hi Jekinsd,

I invented the Magic Filter and now sell 'em (to state my bias). One reason it is inexpensive is it is a product that is about sharing a solution that works with our peers rather than being a money making product. We are not equipment manufacturers, we are just underwater photographers.

For my money filters are not for every dive - instead they provide UW photographers with a completely new way of shooting. It is like having another club in bag, to use a golfing analogy. The Magic Filter works best above 15m, and is much more suited to wide angle photography than macro. One thing I find from using filters regularly is that they make you appreciate strobes for some shots! That said i have been on two Red Sea liveaboard trips this year with my partner in Magic Filters, Peter Rowlands, and he has used filters on every single dive. But then he doesn't like macro!

I am sorry that there are not any independant reviews yet. This is because we only released the filter this week - and have supplied other photographers first rather than sending them to magazines. All I can say at this point is that I would not have put my name on it if I was not convinced by its performance. And I hoep that within the next week or so we will start seeing the results.

Almost all the image on the website are exactly how they came out of the camera.

Alex

Hi Alex,

What amount of light is lost with the filter, compaired to same shot without the filter?

In your other thread regarding these filters you refer to seawater. I understand the filter color not working in "green" water, but is there any reason it would not work in clear spring water?

Phil

Hi Phil,

The Magic Filter results in almost exactly a 1 stop of loss of light (so a picture normally taken at F11 @ 1/60th would be F8 @ 1/60th with the filter). If you are using the camera's meter there is no need to make any adjustment because the camera is already looking through the filter!

I'd expect the filter to perform very well in clear spring water.

Alex

Hey Alex! Thanks for the very prompt service! My filters arrived in Cayman yesterday, Friday, and now that I am off, the west side is friggin poundin'....haven't gone around to Cobalt or Turtle Farm, but doesn't look good for trying the filters out today...I will get in somewhere tomorrow with them....I hope I can figure this White Balance out once I'm in the water!!

Thanks again for the quick service!!

Aurabest,

john