UV/IR filter and classic b&w ?

[Florian1234]

Hey guys,

is it wise to use a UV/IR cut filter on a lens for classic black and white film based photography or will that cause bad stuff on the negatives?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Works fine with HP5 and Tri-X for Frances and me (sorry, never tried it on other stocks).

Tashi delek,

Roger

 

[Florian1234]

Thanks for the quick reply, Roger. Tri-X is what I mainly use, otherwise for the lighter time of the year I use the still sold APX100.

 

[charjohncarter]

But Roger, what do the results look like. Example: is it just like a red filter but slower or are there any other benefits.

 

[MartinP]

is it just like a red filter but slower or are there any other benefits.

I think what Florian is talking about are the filters used to remove ir, not the ones designed to remove visible light and pass ir.

It is the type of filter which is used on the M8, in order to avoid needing the ir-filter built on to the sensor in the 'usual' way. It becomes tedious to remove filters every time one swaps the lens between film and digital M's. (Not that I have an M8, but if anyone is offering . . . ?)

 

[charjohncarter]

I guess I have to bone up on digital. I have about 40 hours this week free so maybe I'll do that rather than watch 'The English Patient.'

 

[Florian1234]

MartinP is right. I aks about the type of filter used on a M8 to avoid those pinkish reds.
Since I don't have a M8 and bought a lens with which such a filter comes with, I want to ask if I should remove the filter before using it with my film Leica (M4) shooting black and white film.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Classic black and white film is not sensitive to Infrared, so it is unnecessary.

About the only side-effect could be the chance of the red reflection that can be caused by the Hot Mirror (IR CUT) filter getting into the image.

Like M8 users, I use Hot Mirror filters for older DSLR's with thin Cut filters, or no cut filters.

 

[furcafe]

Per MartinP & Brian Sweeney's posts, if you're shooting regular B&W film, there is no reason to use the UV-IR cut filter that the previous owner was probably using w/an M8. All the filter will do is increase the likelihood of flare (it will also give a slight cyan cast but I doubt that has a significant impact on B&W film).

 

[januaryman]

I've used a filter at night shooting into a bank of florescent lights behind bakery windows and found it caused reflections/flare to bounce about on the shot. Since that bad experience, I never use a filter at night, even if not shooting directly at a light source. Who'd have guessed?

 

[furcafe]

Per my post & januaryman's, the problem w/using the B+W 486 or Leica equivalent filters for protection is that they're not coated on both sides like the regular B+W MRC filters, so you do run an increased risk of flare. IME, it's most prevalent when you have a strong point light source in or just out of the frame (e.g., a spotlight on stage when shooting a show or concert).

I use exactly the filters you are asking about (486 UV / IR blocking filters) with Tri-X and they are fine, as Roger said. The only reason I use them in that combination is for convenience- I always use a filter for protection and I simply don't want to switch filters when switching the lenses from the M8 to film cameras.