The Tiffen Black Satin Filter helps to reduce the overall contrast of an image and better control the highlights within a scene.
The Tiffen Black Satin Filter helps to reduce the overall contrast of an image and better control the highlights within a scene.
The Tiffen Black Satin Filter helps to reduce the overall contrast of an image and better control the highlights within a scene.
The Tiffen Black Satin Filter helps to reduce the overall contrast of an image and better control the highlights within a scene.
Last updated at 05/11/2026 11:32:48
Tiffen 46mm Black Satin 1/8 Diffusion Filter Mfr 46blacksatin18
Delivery $30.39
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originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
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.
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
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.
| Filter Type | Diffusion (Grade 1/8) |
| Filter Material | Glass |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 4.1 x 4 x 0.5" |
Tiffen 46mm Black Satin 1/8 Diffusion Filter Mfr 46blacksatin18
Delivery $30.39
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
This is my second Satin 2 filter in a bigger size. This filter is great because it is very subtle, but just enough of an effect to take the digital look off of video. It smooths skin slightly and softens hard edges, lifts shadows for a slight reduction in contrast (which helps cameras with low dynamic range) and highlights bloom slightly so you don't get that obvious point where highlights blowout. The halation doesn't take on a warm tone like the black pro mist does, which I think helps keep it a subtle effect.Overall, the effect might be compared to the look of older lenses or a more filmic vibe.I bought it to use with the iPhone 13 Pro, which has great video, but is too sharp and clean for me. It works with the telephoto lens and wide, but with the ultra wide ... MoreThis is my second Satin 2 filter in a bigger size. This filter is great because it is very subtle, but just enough of an effect to take the digital look off of video. It smooths skin slightly and softens hard edges, lifts shadows for a slight reduction in contrast (which helps cameras with low dynamic range) and highlights bloom slightly so you don't get that obvious point where highlights blowout. The halation doesn't take on a warm tone like the black pro mist does, which I think helps keep it a subtle effect.Overall, the effect might be compared to the look of older lenses or a more filmic vibe.I bought it to use with the iPhone 13 Pro, which has great video, but is too sharp and clean for me. It works with the telephoto lens and wide, but with the ultra wide lens you can see the lens in the reflection of the filter and the little diffusion beads they apply to the filter. Unfortunate, but that lens was designed for macro too.
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.
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.
| Filter Type | Diffusion (Grade 1/8) |
| Filter Material | Glass |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 4.1 x 4 x 0.5" |
