Formatt-Hitech Firecrest ND 100 x 150mm Soft Edge Grad Filter

The Formatt Hitech Firecrest Neutral Density (ND) filter is a revolutionary new type of ND filter from Formatt-Hitech. Rather than dyed resin, Firecrest is a rare earth metal coating used to create hyper neutral NDs. Soft Edge Grad filters use Firecrest technology to create the world’s most neutral grad filters, and are the perfect complement to the Firecrest ND filters. They are versatile filters used to balance the luminosity of a bright sky with the terrain below. The soft edge makes it easy to place the filter in the scene, especially over undulating horizons such as mountains. The filters are made in different densities according to the level of light reduction from 1 stop to 5 stops of light. They are made from 2mm thick Schott Superwite glass, and the multicoating is bonded in the middle to increase scratch resistance. Firecrest filters are neutral across all spectrums, including UV, visible, and infrared.

• This is a 100x150mm Formatt Hitech Firecrest ND Soft Edge Grad filter.

ND Grads

Firecrest ND grads are currently only available in soft edge grads, as they are the most versatile. Soft Edge graduated filters transition gradually in density from the top of the filter toward the center, and although there is a horizon line, it is subtle. This allows for horizon transitions to be more easily hidden in a scene, especially with an undulating horizon line such as mountains, buildings or trees. Typically graduated filters are used to enhance the sky by balancing the luminosity of the sky to the luminosity of the terrain.

Firecrest Multicoating

Firecrest ND is a quantum leap improvement over all previous generation ND and IRND products and represents the technological state of the art in scientific light modification. These glass filters are hyper-neutral across the visible light spectrum and also remove more IR contamination than any other filter - making them IRND filters.

Firecrest is a radical departure in how ND filters are manufactured. Previous generation NDs were made by dying resin. Firecrest is not a dying process, it is a rare earth metal coating process that is applied directly to the glass through an electrolytic process.

On rectangular filters, the Firecrest coating is sandwiched between the finest Schott Superwite optical glass, increasing scratch resistance and longevity. Firecrest reduces all spectrums of light (UV, visible, near infrared and infrared) almost perfectly evenly.

Firecrest ND Soft Edge Grad

Another industry first with Firecrest is the development of IRND grads. All Firecrest ND filters, including grads, block infrared radiation, technically making them IRND grads. Legacy graduated ND filters are manufactured from the traditional ND formulations originally developed for use with film and do not reduce infrared. Firecrest grads use the same Firecrest technology as their solid ND brothers. The result is a perfectly neutral graduated ND filter that pairs and stacks perfectly with even the highest densities of ND filter, and especially with other IRND filters.

Independent Test Data