B + W 58mm Basic Soft Pro Filter camera filter

Soft focus filter for portrait and landscape

The B + W 58mm Basic Soft Pro Filter uses randomly distributed mini-lenslets on a plano-parallel glass disc to scatter light. This overlays a sharp core image with diffuse halos that open deep shadows while highlights form a shimmering aura. Skin blemishes are gently covered without blurring fine details such as eyelashes. The effect adds a gentle, romantic character to portraits and landscape scenes.

Contrast reduction and backlight handling

The filter reduces overall contrast and softens light fringes that appear in backlit situations. Highlights remain largely unblurred, preserving a defined core while the surrounding haze lifts shadow detail. This behaviour is fixed by the optical construction and cannot be adjusted or switched off during shooting. Photographers seeking variable strength or a neutral density effect will need a different filter type.

Threaded mount for 58mm lenses

The filter mounts directly onto any lens with a 58mm front thread, adding minimal thickness thanks to the plane-parallel glass disc. Brass construction of the mounting ring resists binding and allows repeated attachment without cross-threading. No additional adapters or filter holders are required for standard use. Stacking with other 58mm filters is possible but will increase the risk of vignetting on wide-angle lenses.