Thank you for your response, Grazie. I've tried contrast in VP, and it does improve a bit, but quickly blows out the highlights. Adobe Dehaze has a very different algorithm and doesn't increase contrast in all area equally, which is a plus. Here is a frame grab from one of the clips. I will also post a "dehazed" frame grab, done in PS with Dehaze.

Here is a "dehazed" clip, from the same series, shot minutes apart.

This is what I can achieve: using Color Curve, Fill Light, and also NBFX ColorFast.

Hi Ken. Well, I've assumed you want that sequence to marry to your next sequence which is your DeHaze thing - yes? In which case here are my attempts using NewBlue's ColorFast2:

It ultilizes the advanced Masking techniques to adjust those items in the distance and then I've used a Primary CF2 to adjust the overall saturation to the Highs, Mids and Shadows.

I like the details on the Bow of the ship and those details emerging of the rocks to the right and then on the far left the little town and the lower lying cloud base. I could add a further CF2 to pop that boat in the distance.

Here is a setup I just knocked-up using two Layers and DODGE:

Here's the result:

If you don't find a Vegas based solution you like, export video as TIFF, import TIFFs into Lightroom, apply dehaze to one image, select all images and sync settings (make sure the dehazed image is selected first), export all tiff images to the folder of your choice. Go back to Vegas, select the first TIFF image from the file import menu, check the "import image sequence" check box at the bottom of the file import window. This will import all of the TIFF images back into Vegas as one clip. Don't expect smooth editing from that point, unless you render to an intermediate clip, but it works. I also use LR to remove vignetting and do other types of brightness and color correction on my timelapses. I wish Vegas could do all that, plus read RAW files, then I could do all my timelapse editing in one program.

Thank you all for your responses. Recently, CF2 has become my "new favorite" plug. It digs into the shadows like I've never been able to do before. The result obtained with LR or PS, I feel, is more effective, and I will go back to trying that, with the additional info provided above, on how to apply it to the entire clip, and not just the first frame. A bit tedious, as I have many such clips to deal with, but perhaps a game saver.

You just can't believe the level of smog in that entire region. I don't know how people can live in that, day to day (or how long they live like that). This is not an isolated incidence of smog, but a regular part of the landscape. Nothing like breathing air you can see!

If someone came up with a plugin that did all of the above, I think they could make quite a bit of money. NewBlue...are you out there?

One possible problem with using an per image adaptive algorithm like the Dehaze in the still image apps is pixel shimmer or crawl in a video file.

Those algorithms are adapative to the specific pixels in a given image. This is fine for stills. Only one image. In a video, each frame/image will likely get slightly different settings/adjustments due to the image adaptive nature of the algorithm. When played back in rapid sequence you can get pixel shimmering/crawling because a pixel in successive frames can be ever so slightly different. Comparing two successive stills you may not see the difference but played back in rapid succession you can easily notice such small diffs.

So generating an image sequence and then editing each frame and then recombining the video may get this shimmer result.

A video version of such an adaptive algorithm like Dehaze has to temper these frame to frame differences. Potentially very non trivial even if the base still algorithm is trivial.

Good points, Norman. Perhaps if it's a scene that doesn't change too much, it won't be too noticable. For example, distant, indistinct mountains, such as in the sample I uploaded. I'll be trying it later; will let ya'all know.

Len I agree. What did you end up doing?

Using Vegas' existing (pitiful) color tools, you can probably do a credible de-haze by boosting per-channel contrast.  You can stack three levels plugins, each targeting a separate color, or use the color curves and change each color in sequence.  Basically, just use your three-channel histogram in scopes and then optimize each channel (in the same way you'd do a normal levels correction) individually.  

That should help get rid of the hazy look.  Option two is to just do it in photoshop, and then export back to Vegas.

For what it's worth, I haven't noticed any pixel crawl when using dehaze on my timelapses.

If you don't find a Vegas based solution you like, export video as TIFF, import TIFFs into Lightroom, apply dehaze to one image, select all images and sync settings (make sure the dehazed image is selected first), export all tiff images to the folder of your choice. Go back to Vegas, select the first TIFF image from the file import menu, check the "import image sequence" check box at the bottom of the file import window. This will import all of the TIFF images back into Vegas as one clip. Don't expect smooth editing from that point, unless you render to an intermediate clip, but it works. I also use LR to remove vignetting and do other types of brightness and color correction on my timelapses. I wish Vegas could do all that, plus read RAW files, then I could do all my timelapse editing in one program.

fr0sty - I have sent you a pm.

Thank you, frOsty. I glad to have those very specific instructions, and I'll give it a try, today.

Len

frOsty...When you synch settings in LR, which attributes/ items do you check in your synch? Exposure? Contrast? etc...

Also, when in PS, you have to convert video clips so that PS will work with them correctly.  Import/open the clip in photoshop, go to the filters menu, then select "convert for smart filters."  Now PS will apply effects to the entire clip, not just the frame currently active.  Fair warning: when you learn to do this, you'll find it tempting to do a lot of stuff using PS's tools...

I still need to do some work with the smoggy clips from the Yangtze River. The methods suggested above were too labor intensive, and also produced strange artifacts, as the vessel I was on was moving most of the time.

I see that Adobe Premiere Elements has the de-haze filter built in. I may do a trial version of Elements, process the necessary clips in there, and finish in Vegas 14. And Elements is on sale now ($69), so not much more than some plug-ins. Should wish NewBlue or someone would come up with the comparable filter for Vegas.

http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere-elements/features.html#dehaze

There is a "Defog" fx in the Tiffen DFX filter collection which works fine as OFX plug-in in Vegas Pro, but you can't buy single fx out of this collection.

Thank you Marco. Which version do you have? I see a stand-alone, but would prefer to operate within Vegas 14. The description from Tiffen for DFX4 seems to imply it works with these programs (Vegas not mentioned): Tech Specs / Requirements
Host Applications
Adobe Photoshop CS5 and up
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and up (Non-app store version)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 and up
Apple Aperture 3 and up 

What works in Vegas Pro is "Tiffen DFX V4 OFX Standard Plug-in".

OK...from a press release by Tiffen: The feature-rich Tiffen Dfx 4 upgrade also includes support for Sony Vegas NLEs as well as 12 new visual effects filters, 93 new historical photographic processes.

You could use the demo without watermark for 14 days and I think the watermarked demo mode (which overlays a grid) runs without time limit.