M8 IR - more tonality in B&W's?

[rf1552]

So im hearing this again and again on this forum. How the M8 lack of IR filter can help increase the tonal range of B&W images.

Does any have any example test shots proving this? or can someone in words tell me why it improves the B&W. Im thinking its not noticeable in print. Thanks!

 

[Tom Niblick]

I used a M8 for 4 years and the M9 for a little over a year. But I don't have both cameras to shoot comparisons since I sold the M8. Still, I like the B&W rendition of the M8 better. The resulting prints seem to have a unique combination of sharpness and smooth tonal transitions. Call it the M8 mojo. It is not a huge difference though. And I like the color prints from the M9 better. Again, it is not a huge difference.

But if I was only shooting B&W, I'd go for the M8 and use it filterless.

Tom

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

No, M8's infrared sensitivity does not mean more tonality.

 

[Tom Niblick]

No, M8's infrared sensitivity does not mean more tonality.

Tonal transitions. There seems to be a slight softening between some tones that can be very pleasing. Hard to express but M8 files looks a bit more film like.

 

[rf1552]

Thanks guys, the reason Im asking is because I was playing with my M8 in my lving room and took a snap shot of a standing speaker. With the filter on, front speaker cloth looked black and opaque. But when I took the exact same shot a min later with the IR/filter off, I could see the actual individual speaker cones behind the black (now magenta) cloth.

Is that the advantage?

I erased the photos long ago but I will try and reproduce to show you guys.

 

[Jeff S]

Is that the advantage?

No, that's the disadvantage shooting color without the filter.

Some see an advantage shooting filterless for b/w. Personally, I never remove the filters from my lenses with the M8.2, regardless of color or b/w. This way color doesn't suffer (not just black turning magenta, but green vegetation potentially turning yellow/brown, skin turning purplish, etc), and b/w can be controlled by other means. I get all the control I need to make prints by optimizing everything in the digital workflow, which involves far more than the camera and lens, i.e., PP software, papers, custom profiles, inks, printer, etc...plus all the settings and techniques along the way to achieve the result I want.

But, there is no right or wrong; it's about personal needs and preferences.

Jeff