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Impression Filters

Creative filters. Tailored look.

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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.

Guided tour

Handheld camera control unit ARRI hi-5 Introductory video.

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 
ARRI Signature Prime Lens Example on skin tone capture.

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
ARRI Signature Prime Lens Example on skin tone capture.

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
ARRI Signature Prime Lens Example on skin tone capture.

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
ARRI Signature Prime Lens Example on skin tone capture.

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 Signature Prime Lens Example on skin tone capture.
SP 58 - Frontbarrel
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.

Positive filters

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

ARRI Impression Filters | "The Impressionists" NYC | Positive filter 330P
ARRI Impression Filters | "The Impressionists" NYC | 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 | "The Impressionists" NYC | Positive filter 330P
ARRI Impression Filters | "The Impressionists" NYC | 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.
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment
SP 58 - Frontbarrel
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment

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.

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

IV Quote Picture 2

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

IV Quote Picture 3

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

IV Quote Picture 4

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

IV Quote Picture 5

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

IV Quote Picture 1

Meet the Impression Filters

Handheld camera control unit ARRI hi-5 Introductory video.
Feb. 22, 2023

ARRI Impression V Filters Guided Tour

ARRI is launching its new line of Impression Filters with eight Impression V Filters that give a vintage feel to Signature Prime and Signature Zoom lenses. Watch our guided tour and discover how 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 for Super 35 or large format with one set of Signature lenses.

Handheld camera control unit ARRI hi-5 Introductory video.
Feb. 22, 2023

ARRI Tech Talk: Impression Filters

ARRI’s new Impression V Filters provide a cost-effective way to deconstruct the digital image and achieve multiple creative looks with just one set of Signature lenses. In this Tech Talk, cinematographer and ARRI Cinema Lens Specialist Art Adams introduces a new line of Impression Filters and demonstrates how these additional optical elements can detune the lenses in a controllable way.

Handheld camera control unit ARRI hi-5 Introductory video.
Feb. 22, 2023

ARRI Tech Talk: How to shim Signatures for Impression Filters

Joachim Jäger, ARRI Service Manager Optics, shows how easy it is to shim Signature lenses for our negative Impression V Filters IV 050N, IV 100N, IV 200N, and IV 290N.

Compatibility of Impression Filters

Compatibility Chart
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment
SP 58 - Frontbarrel
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.

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

signature_primes_first_customer_shipment
Example Footage of ARRI Cine Signature Prime Lenses.
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment
signature_primes_first_customer_shipment

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.

Compatibility Chart

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.

More FAQs

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