Camera lens system filter

A filter for a camera system, the filter comprising:

• an electronic display configured to couple to a portion of the camera system in an optical path of the camera system and configured to filter an image passing through the electronic display for the camera system for image capture, wherein the electronic display only functions as a neutral density filter and comprises liquid crystals that are configured to enable the electronic display to provide different levels of neutral density filtering of light through the electronic display;
• means for storing different programmed neutral density filter settings that are calibrated to at least one of different iris T-stop settings of a camera lens, different focus settings of a camera lens, different camera lens zoom settings, and different light exposure measurements of a light meter;
• a housing that is attached to and frames the electronic display forming a combined assembly, wherein the combined assembly has a planar configuration defined by opposed front and back electronic display and housing surfaces, wherein the means for storing is disposed within the housing;
• a controller disposed within the housing and configured to control the filtering of the electronic display;
• means for receiving a control signal from a remoted device for controlling the controller;
• a user input disposed in the housing and configured to enable user contact therewith to control the controller and adjust an amount of neutral density filtering;
• wherein the electronic display is controlled to operate in synchrony with at least one of the camera lens iris, the camera lens focus, the camera lens zoom, and the light meter to simultaneously change the neutral density level provided by the electronic display to the calibrated setting selected by the controller among the stored calibrated different programmed neutral density filter settings based on a change to at least one of the iris T-stop settings, the focus settings, the zoom settings, and the light exposure measurements.

A method of filtering an image for a camera system comprising a camera, a camera lens, and an electronic display device coupled to the camera system, the method comprising:

• inputting neutral density filter settings into a memory within the electronic display device that are calibrated with at least one of different iris T-stop settings of the camera lens, different focus settings of the camera lens, different zoom settings of the camera lens, and different light exposure measurements of a light meter, wherein the electronic display device only functions as a neutral density filter, wherein the electronic display device comprises a housing that is attached thereto along one or more sides of the electronic display device forming a combined assembly, wherein a controller is disposed within the housing and configured operate the electronic display device based on the input neutral density settings;
• and
• filtering with the electronic display device an amount of light transmitted to the camera, wherein during the step of filtering the electronic display device is operating in synchrony with at least one of the camera lens iris, the camera lens focus, the camera lens zoom, and the light meter, to simultaneously provide a setting selected by the controller among the input calibrated neutral density settings stored in the memory as a calibrated neutral density filter setting associated with the at least one respective different camera lens iris T-stop setting, different camera lens focus setting, different camera lens zoom setting, and the different light exposure measurement, and wherein a user-operated control device remote from the camera and the electronic display device is in communication with the electronic display device through a signal receiving means in the housing to provide a signal to the electronic display device that provides the calibrated neutral density filter setting during the step of filtering.