Using the E. Leitz NY type A filter for B&W work: Good Idea?

[Rob-F]

OK, OK, I know: "Why don't you just try it, Rob?" But has anybody? I wonder how this would do as a cloud filter for darkening the sky? I was just about to put it up for sale and then buy a Yellow #1 filter, and I got the idea to ask if anyone has tried it. (The weather in St. Louis right now is not conducive to landscape work!)

You know the one I mean? For converting type A Kodachrome for outdoor use. (See the thumbnail.) I don't know what its spectral response is like or whether it would double as a light orange/heavy yellow substitute.

 

[Liquid-Sky]

hello,
i am bouncing on this thread too... possible to use the Type A with B&W?

 

[rbiemer]

Interesting question.
I poked around a bit and found this page:
http://www.dofmaster.com/bw_filters.html
But, it makes no reference to the Type A filter.
I do have some few🙂rolleyes🙂 old filters and am pretty sure I have some Type A filters--not Leitz brand.
And I have been wanting to see if I can figure out using filters on my new digi-crap camera--likely I'll have to just hold 'em in front of the lens...
So, I think I have a quick project for the rest of this afternoon.
If I get any results, I will post 'em here later today.
Rob

 

[rbiemer]

I learned something this afternoon: my digi is woeful at manual focus!
But I was able to get a few shots.
Set my camera to ISO 80, about 64mm equivalent, manual focus set to infinity, and in camera BW (after the first two color shots).
The filter I used is a Walz Type A - daylight filter. 1950's vintage, sized 40.5mm (I got a set of filters and a hood I use mainly on my Jupiter-8 lens. I got red 25, orange, med. yellow, yellow-green, and the one I used today, and a blue one marked "flash").
my digital camera does not have filter threads so I put the camera on a tripod, framed, set the self timer, held the filter in front of the lens and tripped the shutter.
See here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/rob.biemer/FilterTests?authkey=Gv1sRgCLTWyo7l9arvggE&feat=directlink
The filter was about 1 stop slower than the photos with out; 1/320 vs. 1/640.
It appears to me to have a bit less change of contrast than the orange and the photos look to me to be very similar to the yellow-green and the med. yellow.
I thought I had a red 25 filter with the other filters until I got to where I was shooting and discovered it was not in the stack but at home on my J-8. :bang:

I don't think I will use the type A for BW film but I can see using it with color film as a warming filter, I suppose.
I have a small Kodak box marked "Kodachrome type A/daylight filter" which was what I intended to use for this little test but that box turned out to be empty.
This exercise may not translate directly to your Leitz filter but I hope it will give you some idea of what to expect.
Rob

 

[Liquid-Sky]

thank you so much Rob for your efforts and samples! i should have think of using myself a digital camera! From what i have seen it does add a strange effect in the green and red in b&w... don't know if i will use it myself. i thought buying Orange filter and ended up with a convertion type A .

A

 

[rbiemer]

Rob-F: sorry I missed your post the first time around!😱 I'd happily done this sooner.
Liquid-Sky: glad to have been useful!
Rob

 

[loquax ludens]

If it's for type A film, like Kodachrome movie film, then it's probably an 85 in Wratten terminology, sometimes referred to as 85A. It probably will not significantly affect B&W film.

I haven't actually tried an 85, but I accidentally left an 85B on my camera after shooting some Kodak EPY. I then shot part of a roll of 400TX with that filter on before I noticed it and removed it. I couldn't see any difference in the prints of the negatives with and without the filter. But subject and lighting could make a difference, I suppose.