As others have mentioned, this filter is very subtle in most circumstances... which is exactly what it should be at 1/8th strength. If you want to clearly see what the filter is doing, put a light source (like a candle or LED) directly in the frame and you'll see an increased glow and gentle fall-off. This filter is designed specifically for that type of highlight; stronger versions will soften wrinkles and take the digital edge off the image. Concept's Black Diffusion filter retains all the sharpness of the image without shifting the color, which is exactly what you want. Highlight bloom-- and softer images, if that's what you're looking for-- can be accomplished in post easily enough, but there is an elegance to doing it in camera. This filter is extremely well-priced, and well made. It's thin, with a textured rim in order to grip it easily, and threads on and off with ease. The promotional images in this listing are entirely fake (so perhaps I should remove a star for that); the image will look nothing like these dreamy, soft pictures, but it can enhance the cinematic quality in the right scene.