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Tiffen 37STR42 37mm Star 4 Point Filter — main product image
Tiffen

Tiffen 37STR42 37mm Star 4 Point Filter

★★★★★4.2 (45 reviews)

Transform any point of light into a dramatic four-pointed star with Tiffen's precision-crafted 37mm rotating star filter.

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Overview

Star filters occupy a specific, deliberate space in a photographer's kit — they're not for everyday use, but when the moment calls for them, nothing else replicates the effect in-camera. The Tiffen 37STR42 transforms any bright point source into a crisp, four-pointed starburst, adding a layer of visual drama to night cityscapes, stage photography, backlit portraits, and architectural work where specular highlights anchor the frame. The key creative advantage over fixed star filters is the rotating mount: you can dial the ray orientation to align with leading lines, frame edges, or subject geometry rather than accepting a default position.

Construction uses Tiffen's standard precision optical glass in a metal mounting ring — the same build quality philosophy found across their professional filter line. The glass stays optically neutral enough that color integrity across the frame is preserved, with only the characteristic soft halo around the star itself. At 37mm, this filter is purpose-built for compact and mirrorless lenses in that thread size, making it a natural companion for street shooters and travel photographers working with small-format primes. For video, the rotating mount opens up in-shot animation possibilities — slowly turning the star rays during a slow push adds a cinematic quality that's hard to replicate in post without specialized software.

Key Features

Limitless creative options.

Rotating mount allows exact positioning of light rays.

Can be used in combination with other filters for remarkably creative effects.

Precision metal mounting ring.

Specifications

Filter Diameter
37mm
Filter Type
Star effect
Star Points
4
Mount
Rotating precision metal ring
Brand
Tiffen
Model
37STR42

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The rotating metal mount gives precise ray orientation, so you can align star points with architectural lines or composition diagonals with intention rather than luck.
  • Tiffen's optical glass construction keeps color neutrality across the frame, avoiding the yellow or blue cast that cheaper star filters introduce.
  • Works beautifully in urban night photography and concert shooting where point light sources are abundant — streetlights, stage lights, and bokeh highlights all take the effect cleanly.
  • Compact and lightweight enough that it adds nothing noticeable to a travel lens kit.
  • Designed for stacking, so it integrates into a multi-filter workflow without needing to redesign your setup.

👎 Cons

  • The 37mm diameter limits this filter to compact cameras, mirrorless systems with small native lenses, or adapted setups — it won't fit most standard DSLR lenses without a step-down ring.
  • The etched-grid pattern that creates the star effect introduces slight global softening, which becomes visible when pixel-peeping at full resolution on high-megapixel sensors.
  • Four-point star patterns are a specific aesthetic choice — not universally flattering on all subjects, and overuse in a single shoot can feel repetitive compared to more variable effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Very precisely. The rotating metal mount lets you spin the filter to orient all four rays exactly where you want them — diagonal, horizontal/vertical, or anywhere between. That control is what separates a thoughtful star effect from a random one, and it's one of the 37STR42's most practical features on a real shoot.
Some slight softening can occur in areas outside the star effect, which is inherent to etched-grid star filters as a category. Tiffen's optical glass minimizes color cast, but if critical corner-to-corner sharpness is your priority for a given frame, plan to remove the filter when you're not using the effect.
Yes, and Tiffen specifically notes it's designed for combination use. Stacking with a circular polarizer can add drama by controlling reflections while the star effect is active. Just be mindful that additional glass elements in the stack can introduce vignetting, especially at wider focal lengths.
Point sources work best — streetlights, candles, bare bulbs, specular highlights off metallic surfaces, and sun flare. Soft, diffuse light sources won't produce a defined star pattern. The effect is most dramatic when the light source is small and bright relative to the background exposure.
Absolutely. The rotating mount makes it especially useful in video, where you can slowly rotate the filter during a shot to animate the star rays — a technique that works well for establishing shots or transitions in event and cinematic work.

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