Night-time Street Photography #2 - Cheap Soft Lens Filter

Here's the story. Like I said in the previous blog I wanted to get that CineStill look without spending a bomb right? I started searching for soft diffusion filters. Idk I thought lens filters were crazy expensive for some reason so I got mine off Shopee for like S$5, might as well right? Afterwards I found out a better quality CineBloom Diffusion lens doesn't cost as much as I thought so I got that too.

Initially, this post was supposed to compare between the cheap lens and the professional CineBloom lens but holy fuck FedEx is taking their sweet time, its been two weeks. I already got my Shopee lens and have already shot a roll with it so I might as well review it first. So yeah, long backstory but here's the review:

Soft Focus Effect Diffusion Diffuser Lens Filter

That's the name of the item on Shopee. Even though they just included as much search keywords into the name, that's really what it is. Here's a link for you to check it out.

It's super cheap and quality is probably not the best but it is made of metal and honestly pretty well built for the price. Also notice how it says SOft lol. Due to the price point I wasn't expecting anything but wow was I impressed.

Minolta X700 | Fuji Superia Xtra 400 | 1/60s | f2.8 | ISO 1600

I tested this filter in two different nights at Lau Pa Sat and Jewel. These pictures from a 5 bucks lens filter? Not too shabby at all really. Definitely adds a more cinematic look to it. The first picture looks like it's straight out of a Tumblr post lol. Also, I might consider pushing just one stop next time cause there's A LOT of grain. The light halation vary in size depending on how in focus the light sources are. They look great but definitely not the same as CineStill film.

The exposures, shadows and highlights have been edited tho, some shots more than others. They didn't come out of the lab looking straight like these.

Overall is this lens filter worth it? Fuck yeah it is. No regrets here. To my untrained eye they look really good but idk maybe if you have more experience or you have better filters you'd have more to say. If my Cinebloom gives out the same results I might just sell it and continue using this one, its 1/10th of the price! No complaints so far from me. I'll talk more in depth about my experience shooting at night when I've shot more rolls.