VideoLoopImpression_Start

Impression Filters

Creative filters. Tailored look.

ARRI Impression Filters Logo of REVEAL Color Science used by alexa 35 camera.
Impression V for vintage looks

Launching the new line of ARRI Impression Filters are eight Impression V Filters that give a vintage feel to Signature Prime and Zoom lenses. The four negative and four positive diopter filters incrementally shift the focus characteristics of the image, allowing a range of detuned looks to be created with one set of Signature lenses.

Impression V features

Exciting new creative option

  • Cost-effective way to achieve multiple looks with a single lens set
  • Positive and negative filters affect bokeh in different ways
  • Controllable, repeatable detuning of Signature lenses on set
  • Images can be made more glamorous, or grittier
  • Incremental deconstruction of the digital image 

Easily exchangeable rear filters

  • Set of eight diopters: four positive and four negative
  • Fast to exchange via magnetic rear filter adapter on all Signature lenses
  • Rear filters have a different effect from matte box filters
  • Decide on a look in prep, or change the look on set
  • Signatures can be returned to their native look in minutes

Kit includes everything you need

  • All eight filter strengths, plus shims for negative filters
  • High-end adjustable torque screwdriver
  • Inscribable Velcro tabs for labeling filtered lenses
  • Kit packaged in a specially designed aluminum flight case
  • Filters, shims, and Velcro tabs can be purchased separately

Compatible with most ARRI ALEXA cameras

  • ALEXA 35
  • ALEXA Mini LF / ALEXA LF
  • ALEXA 65
  • ALEXA Classic / ALEXA XT / ALEXA SXT
  • Third-party LPL adapters require testing

Precision-made optics

  • Manufactured from the highest-quality optical glass
  • Lens scales remain useable at T1.8 (negative filters must be shimmed)
  • Made to the most exacting standards and tolerances
  • Consistent optical performance
  • ARRI durability and reliability
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" India woman shot from below with trees in the background
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" India record player and portrait painting
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" India woman sitting on tree root
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" India record player and dog out of focus woman dancing in focus
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" India woman dancing with tree in background
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" India dancing woman wearing a sari face close up
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" India dancing woman wearing a sari with tree branches in background
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" India painted dancing womans hands close up

Positive filters

Drag the slider to compare a clean image with the strongest positive filter

ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" 2 people from behind NYC skyline in background With 330P filter
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" 2 people from behind NYC skyline in background Without filter
Image without a filter on the LEFT and with Impression V Filter IV 330P on the RIGHT. Captured with an ALEXA Mini LF and 47 mm Signature Prime at T1.8.
Positive strength Impression V Filters produce 'bauble' bokeh in the background, where out-of-focus highlights are bright in the middle and blurry at the edges. Bokeh at the edges of the image becomes more stretched and pointier.

Positive filters

Drag the slider to compare a clean image with the strongest positive filter

ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" 2 people from behind NYC skyline in background With 330P filter
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" 2 people from behind NYC skyline in background Without filter
Image without a filter on the LEFT and with Impression V Filter IV 330P on the RIGHT. Captured with an ALEXA Mini LF and 47 mm Signature Prime at T1.8.
Positive strength Impression V Filters produce 'bauble' bokeh in the background, where out-of-focus highlights are bright in the middle and blurry at the edges. Bokeh at the edges of the image becomes more stretched and pointier.
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" HongKong woman looking at dollhouse parts
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" HongKong woman drinking tea close up
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" HongKong man balancing glass shpere on hand
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" HongKong woman's face close up with lights in background
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" HongKong woman blowing bubbles
ARRI Impression Filters "The Impressionists" HongKong woman holding a glass sphere and looking at it
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" HongKong woman holding a tiny table

Negative filters

Drag the slider to compare a clean image with the strongest negative filter

ARRI Impression Filters | "The Impressionists" NYC | With filter 290N
ARRI Impression Filters | "The Impressionists" NYC | Without filter
Image without a filter on the LEFT and with Impression V Filter IV 290N on the RIGHT. Captured with an ALEXA Mini LF and 47 mm Signature Prime at T1.8.
Negative strength Impression V Filters have the opposite effect to positive filters. In the background, 'donut' bokeh gives out-of-focus highlights a bright ring around the edges, making them appear sharper.

Negative filters

Drag the slider to compare a clean image with the strongest negative filter

ARRI Impression Filters | "The Impressionists" NYC | With filter 290N
ARRI Impression Filters | "The Impressionists" NYC | Without filter
Image without a filter on the LEFT and with Impression V Filter IV 290N on the RIGHT. Captured with an ALEXA Mini LF and 47 mm Signature Prime at T1.8.
Negative strength Impression V Filters have the opposite effect to positive filters. In the background, 'donut' bokeh gives out-of-focus highlights a bright ring around the edges, making them appear sharper.

Iconic imagery from ARRI Signature lenses

Our ARRI Creative Lens Showcase webpage presents the work of cinematographers who have chosen ARRI lenses and filters to bring their creative ideas to life.

Quotes

The Impression V Filters are a great tool for creating pictorial images with a subtle disconnection from reality that helps you get closer to subjectivity. They make the Signature Primes even more versatile, giving you different looks with a single set of lenses.

Cinematographer Pablo Rosso AEC

Cinematographer Pablo Rosso using ARRI camera

I love that you basically have three lens sets in one, varying from organic clean to a vintage look without losing the comfort of modern mechanics and LDS. Changing between looks is fast and easy, and the strength can be adjusted based on the shot or focal length.

Cinematographer Lorenzo Scudiero

Cinematographer Lorenzo Scudiero using ARRI camera

With the Impression V Filters, you now have the ability to finely adjust the characteristics of the lenses and thereby influence the dramaturgy.

Director of photography Micky Graeter

Director of photography Micky Graeter

Both the positive and negative Impression V Filters soften faces very gently, more like a texture than traditional diffusion, and I particularly love the positive filters for close-ups. For me, these filters get us even closer to the filmic look of 35 mm negative.

Cinematographer Ugur Icbak GYD

Cinematographer Ugur Icbak GYD standing next to ARRI Camera

As DPs, we are fully engaged in creating interesting images. The idea of filters that can enrich the character of our lenses is exciting, and this is exactly what the Impression V Filters do. They definitely provide another creative option for us.

Producer/director/cinematographer O Sing Pui HKSC

Producer/director/cinematographer O Sing Pui HKSC using ARRI Camera

Short film series "The Impressionists"

News & Reviews

Compatibility of Impression Filters

ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Italy person using photography camera close up
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Italy woman in focus with man in background blowing bubbles
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Italy man and woman holding sparklers
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Turkey woman on the right in focus man on left out of focus
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Italy woman sitting on a rug legs crossed
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Italy woman looking through a photography camera
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Italy two people standing with arms around each other

Technical data

When using Impression V Filters with Signature Primes and Signature Zooms, some basic parameters of the lens system will change. Similar to using a weak extender, the focal length and aperture of the lens will be slightly altered. The factors by which parameters such as focal length have to be multiplied in order to obtain effective values are given in the table below. The table also shows the impact of the aperture change on the T-stop.

Filter

Focal length 

multiplier

Image circle

multiplier

T-stop

multiplier

Exposure

change (stops)

Open aperture

for T1.8 lens

290N

1.068

1.068

1.068

-0.19

1.92

200N

1.050

1.050

1.050

-0.14

1.89

100N

1.027

1.027

1.027

-0.08

1.85

050N 

1.015

1.015

1.015

-0.04

1.83

no filter

1.000

1.000

1.000

0.00

1.80

070P

0.980

0.980

0.980

0.06

1.76

140P

0.968

0.968

0.968

0.09

1.74

230P

0.950

0.950

0.950

0.15

1.71

330P

0.929

0.929

0.929

0.21

1.67

ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Spain
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Spain man painting on a violin
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Spain close up shot
ARRI Impression Filters example footage "The Impressionists" Spain man working on a cello

Shimming depending on T-stop

In case you only use the positive Impression V Filters at a T-stop of T1.8, no shimming is required. You can easily exchange between the different positive filter types with lens scales remaining accurate. In case you want to use the negative Impression V Filters at a T-stop of T1.8, you only have to shim once with the included 2 mm shim. After shimming you can also easily exchange between the different negative filter types. 

When working in a stopped down configuration, the required shimming depends on which filter type and T-stop shall be used for the upcoming shoot. Please see the following table for detailed information on required shim thicknesses. In case of the negative filters, please note that for each T-stop / filter combination 2 values are listed. The first value refers to the LPL mount shim 1.85 mm which is provided in the Impression V Shim Set. The second value refers to the required thickness of individual shims.

FAQ

  • IV stands for Impression V. The number 330 refers to the strength of the filter (in this case: 330 = 3.30 diopters). The letter behind the number tells you if it is a positive diopter filter (P) or a negative diopter filter (N).

  • ARRI is offering an Impression V Filter Kit that contains all eight filter types, 4 positive and 4 negative filters. All necessary shims and a torque screwdriver, as well as an inscribable Velcro set to label filtered lenses on set, are included in the kit.

    Each filter type can be ordered individually as an ARRI Impression V Filter Pack. Each of these packs contains 3 filters of the same type.

    As negative filters need to be shimmed with one additional shim when shooting at open aperture (T1.8), packs containing a negative filter type will also include a set of shims. In addition, both the negative and the positive filter packs also include sets of inscribable Velcro tabs.

    It is also possible to buy separate Impression V Shim Packs and Impression V Velcro Packs. Please see the product configuration overview in the download section for more information.

  • No, to properly attach the rear lens cap to the mount, the Impression V filter must first be removed from the lens. With this procedure we want to make sure the Impression Filter is not forgotten on the rear side of the lens.

  • Each filter type can be purchased individually in a separate three-filter pack.

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