Description
The Tiffen 77mm 812 Warming Filter is a screw-on warming filter rental that corrects the blue cast introduced by overcast skies, open shade, and electronic flash — returning natural, flattering skin tones without touching white balance in post. The 812 formula sits between a Skylight 1-A and a stronger 85-series correction: warm enough to make a real difference on overcast days, subtle enough to leave outdoor portraits looking natural rather than orange.
Tiffen builds the 812 using their ColorCore process — the dye is laminated between two pieces of optical glass rather than applied to the surface. That construction keeps color consistency uniform edge-to-edge and holds up over years of use without fading or delaminating. The aluminum ring threads onto any 77mm front filter thread, and at 2.5mm glass thickness the filter adds negligible optical path length to your lens.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Model 77812 (also labeled 77B12) |
Filter Type 812 Warming — color correction |
| Filter Size 77mm front thread |
Material ColorCore optical glass (dye laminated between glass) |
| Ring Material Aluminum |
Coating None |
| Glass Thickness 0.1″ / 2.5 mm |
Ring / Frame Thickness 0.3″ / 8 mm |
| UV Absorption ~85% ultraviolet absorbed |
Effect Strength Warmer than Skylight 1-A; lighter than 85-series |
| Exposure Reduction None — no filter factor |
Retail Value ~$49 CAD |
BEST FOR
Warming Filter Rental Tips
The 812 works alongside — not instead of — white balance. Set your camera to daylight or shade WB, add the filter, and you get a warmer starting point that is easier to fine-tune in post than a cold, blue-shifted raw file.
Bare speedlights and studio strobes read around 5,500–6,000 K — slightly cooler than midday sun. The 812 absorbs that blue cast so skin tones render naturally on daylight-balanced film or a daylight WB setting. Particularly useful when mixing flash with ambient window light.
Unlike contrast or ND filters, the 812 carries no filter factor. You do not need to open up or adjust your metering. Meter normally and shoot.
77mm is a common filter size, so you may be tempted to stack the 812 with a polarizer or ND. Use only slim-profile stacking rings if needed, and always put the 812 closest to the lens so it warms the image before the other filter acts on it. Avoid stacking more than two filters on shorter focal lengths to prevent vignetting.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does the 812 warming filter actually do?
It shifts the color of light passing through it toward the warm (amber/orange) end of the spectrum. In practical terms: skin tones look more natural in cool or overcast light, the blue cast from electronic flash is reduced, and open-shade portraits lose the unflattering blue-green tint that shade often introduces.
How does the 812 differ from a Skylight 1-A or an 81-series warming filter?
The Skylight 1-A is the mildest correction — barely perceptible on most subjects. The 812 is noticeably warmer, designed specifically for skin-tone flattery in cool light. The 81-series (81A, 81B, 81C) are light-to-moderate warming filters used mainly for fine-tuning color temperature; the 812 sits in a similar range but is tuned for portraiture. The 85-series filters are a full stop correction for tungsten film in daylight and are much stronger.
Does it reduce light, requiring a wider aperture or slower shutter?
No. The 812 has no filter factor. It passes the same amount of light as clear glass — only the color balance shifts. Meter normally.
Will it work on lenses with a 77mm front thread?
Yes — any lens with a 77mm filter thread accepts this filter. Common 77mm lenses include the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN, and many telephoto primes. If your lens has a different thread size, step-up or step-down rings can be used, though we recommend confirming compatibility before your shoot.
Can I use it for video as well as stills?
Yes. The warming effect is consistent frame-to-frame and works identically for cinema and video work. It is particularly useful when shooting log profiles where WB is set to a fixed daylight value — the filter warms the capture before it reaches the sensor.
Is the ColorCore construction fragile?
ColorCore glass is no more fragile than standard optical glass in normal use. The laminated dye layer is fully protected between the two glass elements. Handle it as you would any filter: avoid drops, store in its case, and clean with a lens cloth or air blower rather than dragging dry fabric across it.
Do I need this if I shoot RAW and correct in post?
Not strictly — RAW shooters can adjust white balance in Lightroom or Capture One. However, the filter is useful when you want a calibrated warm baseline baked into every frame (useful for consistency across a long shoot), when shooting film or JPEG-only, or when you prefer to minimize post work. Some photographers also find the filter’s analog warmth more natural-looking than a straight WB slider shift.
Rent the Tiffen 77mm 812 Warming Filter in Williams Lake, BC — available by appointment from Gear Locker, serving photographers, filmmakers, videographers, wedding professionals, event planners, corporate event coordinators, and production crews across the Cariboo-Chilcotin region.
| Rental Duration | 1 Day, 2 Days, 3 Days, 4 Days, 1 Week, 2 Weeks, 3 Weeks, 1 Month |
|---|
