One Black and White Filter

[sniki]

Only one filter: yellow-green

 

[Rob-F]

I don't use a filter for street photography. Maybe just a UVa to protect the lens. I'd rather have the undiminished film speed. If I thought I needed a filter for street work I would use aa light yellow or Leitz yellow-green. An orange filter will give you a dramatically darkened sky. But who needs that for street work? An orange or yellow filter will remove reflected blue sky-light that might have been useful when the subject is shaded from direct sunlight.

 

[Roger Hicks]

A lot depends on the film and the effects you want. For gritty 'mean streets', HP5+ and red; for delicate old-fashioned tonality, Fomapan 200 and light or medium yellow, or FP4+ and deep yellow. I never got on much with yellow-green.

But mostly I don't use coloured filters at all for 35mm 'street', even though I've accumulated most colours over the years. Yellow on the Alpa; deep orange on a 200/3 Vivitar Series 1 for landscapes; deep yellow, orange or even red on the baby Linhof...

Tashi delek,

R.

 

[mr_phillip]

Can't say I see too much point in using filters for street photography, but when I use filters at all it tends to be either red to add impact to landscapes (rural and urban), and orange when the sky needs a little added definition.

 

[mr_phillip]

...if I had just one B&W filter, it is one that I don't think is manufactured. I would like a vignette filter.

If you want to add vignetting, you're probably better off looking for a hood of just the right size (or wrong size, depending on how you look at it). Or use a combination of hood and filter (to move the hood forward and block angled light). That's the combo I use on my Perkeo to vignette the corners:

 

[qruyk12]

Thanks all

Thanks all

Thanks all. so far, all filters were mentioned. Perhaps I just like the look or orange. Personal preference rules.

 

[StanSmith]

Al has a point. I use filters in daylight but won't use them in low light. By low light I mean - iso 100, f/2.8, 1/60 or slower.

 

[venchka]

Say, "Amen!" Brothers!

Say, "Amen!" Brothers!

Listen to the brother. Yes, there are situations where this filter isn't appropriate, and the biggest drawback of any filter is filter factor, but for b&w this is the most useful filter 90%+ of the time.

Listen to the Brothers!

B+W Yellow-Green.

Next choice: B+W Yellow-Orange.

 

[Bruin]

Listen to the Brothers!

B+W Yellow-Green.

Next choice: B+W Yellow-Orange.

Exactly the only two B&W filters I have. Both B+W MRC, of course. They have "enough" of an effect--not so light as to be hardly noticeable (such as light yellow, etc.) and not too strong either (like the reds).

I shoot mostly fast film so they act as 1 and 2-stop ND filters also.

 

[taxi38]

I use green that has a filter factor of zero

 

[horosu]

What about yellow-orange (B+W number 040)? It seems much easier to find than the yellow-green one (060). In theory, it should work well for skin tones, shouldn't it?

 

[David Hughes]

I went through this years ago and settled on pale green but can count the number of times I've used it on my fingers...

I suppose that's half a vote for pale green.

Regards, David

 

[leicapixie]

Since using "filters" on Picassa Photoshop, i find the green filter way more interesting than orange or red! Personally i use a IA or UV as a safety factor all the time! Saved a lens or two! Suggest going with Picassa Photoshop! Way easier and instant result. Further proof that the Leica Monochrom is really outdated in use, concept and results. No live view, stuck with "trying" out filters at various exposures.. Wow! It might be sharp in resolution but the darkest crayon in the box!

 

[venchka]

If you could choose one black and white filter for street photography, what would it be? I am thinking Orange.

Yellow-Orange or Yellow-Green. From B+W. Fortunately, I am not limited and own both. And several step-up rings. I can use the filters on several lenses from 34mm to 46mm.
I do have K2 (medium yellow), orange & red in other sizes. The Yellow-Green & Yellow-Orange see the most use.

Redumbnant! Yikes!

Wayne