1/16 CTO

Technical Specifications

Color Temperature Shift:

• Shift: approx. 45-50 K towards Tungsten (3200 K)
• Mired Value: approx. -16 Mired
• Output Temperature (from 5600 K): approx. 5550 K

Optical Properties:

• Light Loss: approx. 0.1 to 0.2 f-stops (negligible)
• Transmission: approx. 99%
• Durability: Long lifespan, minimal yellowing with extended storage

Application

The 1/16 CTO filter is extremely weak and is used for:

• Subtle Warming: For daylight shots with a blue sky, when only a hint of warmth is needed
• Fine Adjustment: When another filter (e.g., 1/4 CTO) is already too strong
• Tungsten Fill: Small tungsten fixtures placed next to large daylight sources to correct tungsten to daylight temperature
• Cinematic Grading: Subtle color mood in post-production, combined with physical filters
• Interior Shots: Correcting daylight through windows with minimal orange cast

Manufacturers & Products

Lee Filters:

• Lee 204 (available as a gel snippet in 1/16 quantity)

Rosco:

• Rosco 3203 (available in the corresponding strength)

Tiffen:

• 1/16 CTO (available as a cut gel)

Practical Tips

1. When to use 1/16 instead of 1/4? The 1/16 CTO is rarely purchased as a standalone filter, as most productions are standardized either fully on daylight or on tungsten. If you need it, it's for a very specific situation with subtle requirements.
2. Combination with ND filters: The 1/16 CTO is so thin that it practically produces no ND effect and can therefore be combined with neutral density filters without issue.
3. Snippets instead of full filters: Due to its minimal effect, the 1/16 CTO is often bought only as small gel snippets and attached directly to light fixtures.
4. Electronic White Balance: With digital cameras, the 1/16 CTO can practically be replaced by Kelvin adjustments (e.g., +50 K) in the camera settings.
5. Infrequent Use: Compared to 1/2 CTO or 1/4 CTO, the 1/16 CTO is used significantly less often and is often acquired only for specific grading requirements.