Digital Concepts 37mm Hitachi 3-Pc. Filter Kit...Just What The Poor Videographer Needed!
Written: Mar 16 '08 (Updated Sep 08 '08)
Product Rating:
Pros: Extremely versatile! Cheap! Well made! Perfect for Hitachi DVD cams!
Cons: Polarizer pulls apart too easily. Too many of us videographers overlook these items.
The Bottom Line: The Digital Optics FK37CL 37mm 3-Pc. Filter Kit is a must for Hitachi DVD camcorder owners that offers great value at the lowest possible price.
sam-pro's Full Review: Digital Concepts FK37CL Camera Lens Filter Kit
Ok. You just purchased an Hitachi DVD camcorder. What else do you need? Well...you'll need some 3" DVD's, a camera bag...of course...what else? Oh yeah...you'll need some kinda inexpensive warranty extension...that might be nice...anything else???
Hey wait a minute! The salesman is trying to sell you a three piece filter kit. Oh c'mon...you don't have that kind of money. What does he think...that your money grows on trees??? He says the kit only costs under twenty bucks but do you really need this extra stuff? Hey, you gotta conserve here on the cash flow...don't you?
Well...actually...I know how you feel. This was exactly the situation I was in when I made my recent purchase of an Hitachi DVD camcorder. Although limited in cash...I decided to shortly thereafter make this $18 purchase of a 3-Piece Digital Optics FK37CL 37mm Filter Kit that features a UV Filter, a Polarizing Filter and an FLD or Fluorescent Light Filter. I'm so glad I did and let me tell you why...
First of all...you'll notice that your new Hitachi DVD cam has 34mm threads. So why purchase a 37mm kit? Because this is precisely what this manufacturer recommends for all its 34mm models...straight from the almighty owner's manual itself. Of course you'll have to purchase a separate adapter/step up ring...34mm to 37mm. This is a very cheap item that shouldn't cost you more than five bucks.
My feeling is that Hitachi wants you to step up in this manner in order to avoid situations that might cause the viewfinder and main camera lens to have a dark outer ring-like appearance when going extremely wide {with your zoom control}...which of course these camcorders are designed to do! They all have the 16:9 format and screens which are simply a must these days! Besides...you'll notice that 37mm items are far more widely available than 34mm ones.
Once the 34mm {camera side} to 37mm {filter lens side} adapter is easily screwed into place on the cam's main lens...it may remain there permanently so all other attachments can be of 37mm type. And so it is with the product in question here which obviously sports 37mm threads.
The Digital Concepts kit is extremely well made in Japan but outrageously cost effective! The filter rings are of Titanium makeup.
The poor man never had it better when it comes to filming! It arrives to you in silver finish {matching the Hitachi's} from VCC...Video Camera Center located in Miami, Florida...for under $20 w/S+H. Don't worry if you don't live nearby as this wonderful vendor is one of Ebay's top power sellers and their Customer Service Dept. is absolutely first rate!
The first thing that really struck me about this product was its packaging which includes a very nicely designed quality three compartment vinyl pouch. A pouch is included at this price! Are you kiddin'??? It's not just one of those soft flimsy ones with a tie strap either. No...Digital Concepts actually offers you a well made stiff and durable black vinyl pouch that sports a nice snap for proper closing of the contraption and storing the lenses when not in use.
The Lenses:
1. The highly polished well formed UV Lens clearly filters out harmful ultraviolet rays without darkening or taking away available light...even in low light situations. It can and should remain on the camera at all times but can be removed by easily turning the lens counterclockwise. The threads are true and mate well with the adapter in place. The uv lens also provides an economical means of protecting your camcorder's expensive main lens. If the Hitachi is assaulted by debris...only the inexpensive uv lens will suffer or sacrifice itself...not the expensive main lens.
2. The Polarizing Lens also threads nicely in place and can be attached to the adapter or the uv lens. Its job is to heavily filter powerful sunlight or glare from metallic objects such as cars. It is much more aggressive than the uv filter and is a must for filming sports events whereas you are limited to a fixed position from a media booth or grandstand seat.
Although it certainly is ideal to keep the sun to your back...we can't always expect this to be so. Real-world situations dictate otherwise to amateur and professional videographers and photographers alike! Rotating the polarizer's adjustable ring also alters blue sky densities from light to dark blue...rendering dramatic contrast between blue skies and white clouds. For game filming...the continuously adjustable outer ring of the polarizer gives you subtle but noticeable overall change rendering a very slightly warmer or colder effect.
It is very effective but I must voice what could be more than a minor quibble with the contraption. The outer adjustable ring pulls apart from the filter too easily {at least on my model} and can drop down below your perch if you add a shade hood with any amount of weight to it! More expensive filters simply don't do this...so beware.
3. The FLD Lens attaches precisely in the same manner as the the other two lenses and can be added to the uv lens. It is most effective in filtering indoor or flourescent lighting to give a truer more natural picture. The best example of where an fld lens is needed is when filming an indoor hockey game. All too often the combination of lighting from above, the speed of the game and brightness of the ice mixed-in with colorful jerseys make for a yellowish or as I like to call it...a Jaundice effect...that renders a less than perfect picture.
In Conclusion:
It must be stated at this point that although this precision-like trio is absolutely perfect for Hitachi brand DVD camcorders...other camcorders or still cams of all makes and models with 34mm or 37mm will truly benefit from the product at hand here. Just remember to purchase the aforementioned adapter ring separately if your camera sports 34mm threads. At any rate...and with its ridiculously low price tag...Digital Concepts AKA Digital Optics has hit the proverbial grand slam with this one!...PJSII
Important Update******
I solved the Pl filter problem! It seems as though when this item was assembled at the factory...someone overlooked the fact that the inner ring was not true. The circumference showed a slight but noticeable inward dent. I pulled the Pl lens apart and straightened out the ring with a pair of pliers to true it up. After this I was able to snap the two assembies back into place with some force and now the ring is secure and the polarizer should not pull apart in the future. Perhaps this design flaw was not a design flaw but rather simply a defective untrue ring. I'm confident yours will be fine and not have this problem. And yes...I can turn the Pl ring for variable adjustment without fear of the contraption falling apart!
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