These photos feel like the 1970s. They were taken with a modern digital camera – and a set of very unusual filters

These photographs exude a distinct 1970s vibe, captured with a contemporary digital camera and a trio of peculiar filters. PolarPro, the innovators behind these filters, have crafted them to accentuate the very imperfections that once defined classic film photography. The Radial Gradient filters, available in a trio of hues – blue, red, and orange – produce an outer ring of color over a clear center, evoking the nostalgic aesthetic of yesteryears.

These filters are packaged as a three-pack, each designed to introduce dramatic, warm, cool, and atmospheric color shifts, most pronounced at the edges.

PolarPro asserts the filters' output shifts subtly with varying light conditions on the subject. The company showcased the filters' capabilities in a photo shoot inspired by the 1970s drive-in culture in Los Angeles. The behind-the-scenes footage reveals a mix of modern cameras in use, yet the end results exhibit the iconic vignetting and color casts that lend a vintage touch. Apart from color enhancement, the filters also introduce a subtle diffusion effect, reminiscent of vintage lens softness.

Linear gradients, commonly found in filters, are less prevalent these days due to modern lens advancements. However, the radial gradient filters by PolarPro evoke a sense of nostalgia, akin to filter sets popular during the 1970s and 1980s, such as Cokin’s Creative Filter System. Available in four circular screw-in sizes - 49mm, 58mm, 67mm, and 82mm - and a Helix magnetic filter system, the PolarPro Radial Gradient Filters are priced at approximately $180 for the smallest size. Pre-orders are now open, with shipping slated to commence on October 7.