Comparing Four Prism Lens FX Filters: Halo, Lucid Dream, Moody, and Nostalgia
Blog by Jada Parrish | Article | 02/14/25
David and I love in-camera effects of all kinds, from sets to lighting. So, I was really excited to try out some Prism Lens FX filters.
They have so many cool options, and I’ve spent hours on their website, exploring all the different filters and being wowed by the effects. I believe in constantly pushing your creative boundaries and experimenting with new techniques in photography. That’s why I was excited to finally use some Prism Lens FX filters!
I tried out four of their filters on both indoor and outdoor portrait shoots. For these sessions, I used the Halo, Lucid Dream, Nostalgia, and Moody filters. Here’s what I thought:
General Takeaways:
Before I dive into each filter, here are a few general thoughts: The filters produce the most extreme results when there is a lot of direct light coming toward the lens.
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Halo:
This filter is my personal favorite. I love how it distorts images, giving even basic shots a surreal effect.
The cool thing about this filter is that the center of the image remains normal, while everything outside of it swirls in a circular pattern. It creates some really surreal images. I used this filter indoors with a musician to take some simple portraits, using just one continuous light source pointed at the subject to light everything. I loved how it allowed me to create more straightforward portraits, as well as some really trippy, surreal shots filled with energy and motion.
I also used this filter on a set with colored continuous lights, and what I thought was so cool was how much bigger it made the set look. It elongated both my model and the space itself. The circular effect also created a sense of movement, which worked really well with the photos.
Lucid Dream:
This filter softens images and creates a dreamy, ethereal aesthetic. It makes everyone’s skin look great! It’s the boldest, strongest softening filter Prism Lens FX sells, with a sparkle-like coating that gives a soft, dreamy effect.
The location I shot at had lots of wispy grasses, and the weather was overcast, so there wasn’t much direct light. The Lucid Dream filter really softened the detail of the grass and created a hazy, dream-like feel. It almost felt like a memory that’s hard to fully recall. It also softened my model Ceili’s skin, giving it a glow. The filter softened the highlights in the photo, making my digital images look more like film. The results were reminiscent of shooting with an old lens from the '70s. This filter was super easy to use and focused easily without any issues.
I loved how well the filter worked even with minimal light. I think this would be a great option for portrait, wedding, and boudoir photographers looking to add a dreamy look to their images.
I also used this filter with a surreal set using continuous colored lights, and it gave those images a hazy, dream-like effect that added to the surreal vibe of the shoot.
Nostalgia:
The nostalgia filter combines a warming effect with the dreamy quality of the Lucid Dream filter. It warms up skin tones and creates a retro, nostalgic vibe.
This filter is wonderful for portrait shoots. It’s more subtle than some of the others but very effective. It warms up the image while also giving it a dreamy, soft quality. I used it on two studio shoots and loved what it did to my models' skin tones. It gave the skin a beautiful, warm glow. I think this is a great lens for portraits both in the studio and outdoors. If I were a wedding photographer, I’d definitely add this one to my bag.
Moody:
This filter combines a starburst effect with the dreamy haze of the Lucid Dream filter. It works best with a lot of hard light in the background and gives your photos a dreamy glow.
The streetlights at the location I was shooting at had just turned on, so I began shooting with a 24mm lens at f/3.2 and framed the shots to include the streetlights. The streetlights took on the starburst lighting effect, which looked super cool and surreal against the gloomy sky. Since this filter also includes the Dream FX effect, the images also had that soft, dreamy haze.
I was pretty amazed by how this filter transformed what would’ve been a boring, everyday location—a power plant—into a surreal dreamscape. It was getting pretty dark while I was shooting, and I didn’t have any additional light sources other than the streetlights. It was a little challenging to focus in the low light, but I was still able to make it work by moving slowly.
This filter needs direct light to achieve its full effect, so it may be challenging to focus in low-light situations. I think it would work best in a studio with continuous lighting. However, it would also be great for outdoor portraits during golden hour, with the sun positioned right behind the subject.
Final Thoughts:
I really love these filters and keep them in my camera bag at all times now, just in case I’m shooting something that could benefit from one of them. They have the ability to transform a boring photo into something much more interesting.
Remember, you can use the code JadaandDavid for 15% off anything on the Prism Lens FX website!
