The Tiffen 67mm Black Satin 3 Filter helps to reduce the overall contrast of an image and better control the highlights within a scene. In addition to rendering highlights with a grittier, more grainy appearance, this filter also helps to subtly soften facial blemishes and wrinkles for a natural, refined look. The 3 density provides more contrast and highlight reduction than the 2, while still producing a soft, yet natural appearance. This filter is constructed from Water White glass and is made using ColorCore technology, a process that involves laminating the filter substrate between two pieces of optical glass, grinding flat to a tolerance of 1/10,000th of an inch, and mounting to precision metal rings.
The Tiffen 67mm Black Satin 3 Filter helps to reduce the overall contrast of an image and better control the highlights within a scene. In addition to rendering highlights with a grittier, more grainy appearance, this filter also helps to subtly soften facial blemishes and wrinkles for a natural, refined look. The 3 density provides more contrast and highlight reduction than the 2, while still producing a soft, yet natural appearance. This filter is constructed from Water White glass and is made using ColorCore technology, a process that involves laminating the filter substrate between two pieces of optical glass, grinding flat to a tolerance of 1/10,000th of an inch, and mounting to precision metal rings.
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The Tiffen 67mm Black Satin 3 Filter helps to reduce the overall contrast of an image and better control the highlights within a scene. In addition to rendering highlights with a grittier, more grainy appearance, this filter also helps to subtly soften facial blemishes and wrinkles for a natural, refined look. The 3 density provides more contrast and highlight reduction than the 2, while still producing a soft, yet natural appearance. This filter is constructed from Water White glass and is made using ColorCore technology, a process that involves laminating the filter substrate between two pieces of optical glass, grinding flat to a tolerance of 1/10,000th of an inch, and mounting to precision metal rings.
The Tiffen 67mm Black Satin 3 Filter helps to reduce the overall contrast of an image and better control the highlights within a scene. In addition to rendering highlights with a grittier, more grainy appearance, this filter also helps to subtly soften facial blemishes and wrinkles for a natural, refined look. The 3 density provides more contrast and highlight reduction than the 2, while still producing a soft, yet natural appearance. This filter is constructed from Water White glass and is made using ColorCore technology, a process that involves laminating the filter substrate between two pieces of optical glass, grinding flat to a tolerance of 1/10,000th of an inch, and mounting to precision metal rings.
Last updated at 09/01/2026 19:23:48
originally posted on adorama.com
Adds a soft subtle glow with much less "subtle peen" than the Black Satin 1. If you aren't sure what I mean, the pattern on these make a subtle phallic shape in the flares. It's much less noticeable on the 1/4 and 1/8 but still there, very noticeable on the 1. Otherwise if there's no flare it adds a soft subtle glow to the image and removes some of that sharpness and clinical look. A little expensive.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
This filter simply expands the camera’s dynamic range with 1 full stop in the highlights area. It affects in this way only the values that are one stop brighter than 18% gray, that is, brighter than caucasian skin. The skin and all other exposure zones darker will retain their own values. This is the reason why I keep using this filter even for outdoor nature shots, even if the producer recomends it mainly for portraits. For portraits it’s simple a must: contrasts are more pleasing and natural on the skin while the focus and sharpness is almost the same as it was before mounting the filter. I never made any portrait without this filter since I’ve discovered it, regardless of the position of the light in relation with camera, time of the day, or artistic lightning ... MoreThis filter simply expands the camera’s dynamic range with 1 full stop in the highlights area. It affects in this way only the values that are one stop brighter than 18% gray, that is, brighter than caucasian skin. The skin and all other exposure zones darker will retain their own values. This is the reason why I keep using this filter even for outdoor nature shots, even if the producer recomends it mainly for portraits. For portraits it’s simple a must: contrasts are more pleasing and natural on the skin while the focus and sharpness is almost the same as it was before mounting the filter. I never made any portrait without this filter since I’ve discovered it, regardless of the position of the light in relation with camera, time of the day, or artistic lightning effect.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I initially loved this filter, until last week when I used it on a paid client shoot and noticed that there is a pattern of u-shaped bokeh artifacts in any image where a clear bokeh ball is rendered. I will definitely be removing this from my kit, as it’s not suitable for professional work unless you don’t mind delivering to clients with that pattern. It destroys portraits with bokeh. I also tested my lens with no filter, and with a diffusion filter from a different brand, and had no issue.. very disappointed as tiffen is supposedly the top of the line for diffusion filters..
| Filter Type | Diffusion (Grade 3) |
| Front Accessory Thread / Bayonet | 67 mm |
| Filter Material | Glass |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 4.35 x 3.6 x 0.65" |
Adds a soft subtle glow with much less "subtle peen" than the Black Satin 1. If you aren't sure what I mean, the pattern on these make a subtle phallic shape in the flares. It's much less noticeable on the 1/4 and 1/8 but still there, very noticeable on the 1. Otherwise if there's no flare it adds a soft subtle glow to the image and removes some of that sharpness and clinical look. A little expensive.
This filter simply expands the camera’s dynamic range with 1 full stop in the highlights area. It affects in this way only the values that are one stop brighter than 18% gray, that is, brighter than caucasian skin. The skin and all other exposure zones darker will retain their own values. This is the reason why I keep using this filter even for outdoor nature shots, even if the producer recomends it mainly for portraits. For portraits it’s simple a must: contrasts are more pleasing and natural on the skin while the focus and sharpness is almost the same as it was before mounting the filter. I never made any portrait without this filter since I’ve discovered it, regardless of the position of the light in relation with camera, time of the day, or artistic lightning ... MoreThis filter simply expands the camera’s dynamic range with 1 full stop in the highlights area. It affects in this way only the values that are one stop brighter than 18% gray, that is, brighter than caucasian skin. The skin and all other exposure zones darker will retain their own values. This is the reason why I keep using this filter even for outdoor nature shots, even if the producer recomends it mainly for portraits. For portraits it’s simple a must: contrasts are more pleasing and natural on the skin while the focus and sharpness is almost the same as it was before mounting the filter. I never made any portrait without this filter since I’ve discovered it, regardless of the position of the light in relation with camera, time of the day, or artistic lightning effect.
I initially loved this filter, until last week when I used it on a paid client shoot and noticed that there is a pattern of u-shaped bokeh artifacts in any image where a clear bokeh ball is rendered. I will definitely be removing this from my kit, as it’s not suitable for professional work unless you don’t mind delivering to clients with that pattern. It destroys portraits with bokeh. I also tested my lens with no filter, and with a diffusion filter from a different brand, and had no issue.. very disappointed as tiffen is supposedly the top of the line for diffusion filters..
There were not much reviews on the YouTube and other web sites about this strength of filter so it was hard to choose the right one.Search on Vimeo there many tests. Particularly strength of 1 I think the most convenient amount.The filter glass have some kinda grain on it you achieve desires affect. Something that I was not found during the reviews.
I have many filters that I've collected over the last few years.This one is just fantastic. I double it up with the Tiffen Smoque 1 and it's probably my favorite combo. Instead of describing what my eyes see, I'll post a couple of screenshots for you to see for yourself. I also bought recently the 1/2 version, which I Iike even more.
Black Satin is a great filter that beautifully performs as advertised. I have as well Tiffen Glimmerglass and Black Pro-Mist. Each has its purposes and consistently enhances the look I'm going for in my photography. Love them all.
Black satin is one of my favorite diffusion filters and I think it looks great with digital sensors.It will bloom the highlights so you need to be careful in that regard but I think the black satin does a good job of not smearing the image too much while making skin look smoother.I would recommend taking a look at the sample footage from Tiffen before using to get an idea of how the filter affects the image.The only thing I would say is I wish B&H had the 1/2 black satin available in the store as well so that people could actually compare the product before buying.
I got the 1/4 filter and it is just the right amount of diffusion without being noticeable. The Black Satin diffuses the image without sacrificing the contrast and milking the image out. So just the right amount to take the edge off of modern cinema cameras.
I love this filter. It add a small amount of halation to smooth out highlights while also giving them a nicer roll off. It lowers optical resolution as well to take the edge off of modern lenses and digital sensors. This effect creates a more organic and pleasing image without looking filtered. The black element retains contrast so while it is softened and lowered it doesn't get milky like the black promist. I like the Satin 1 for close up shots and have ordered a 2 and 3 to use on wider lenses.
This filter does exactly what I wanted: Take the hard digital look out of my videos, lowers contrast ever so slightly, and gives a little glow around highlights. I’m using it in front of a Moondog Labs anamorphic lens on an iPhone SE (2020) which has a 4K sensor. Aside from the crumby dynamic range it is hard to believe the footage came from a cell phone.
| Filter Type | Diffusion (Grade 3) |
| Front Accessory Thread / Bayonet | 67 mm |
| Filter Material | Glass |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 4.35 x 3.6 x 0.65" |
