Hello List Members

I shoot color negative film exclusively and am wondering if warming filter (KR 3) would be beneficial for me to keep on my lens all of the time? I shoot outdoors; never use flash. TIA.

Richard Fulco

-- Richard Fulco (CALCINC@MN.RR.COM), January 17, 2001

Answers

Richard,

This would be a personal decision. There would be no technical requirement for a permanently attached warming filter. Leica lenses are reputed to be better than most brands for having a constant color tone from lens to lens. If you are doing a specific task, say portraiture, then there might be times when the filter would help that particular subject, (in cool light, in shadows, etc...), but it might not be appropriate for every scene or subject.

Additionally, if you are using color print film, any manipulation could be eliminated or intensified by the lab. If you are using a filter to control the process, be aware of the other part of the equation... the printing. The automatic printing of most labs could remove the warming effect by adjusting the filter pack for a cooler look on the final print. Conversely, they could add "warmth" into a shot if needed... if you have a good lab. If you were shooting slide film, color correction would be more critical.

Ultimately, you are the only one that can decide if you "need" to use a filter. Shoot a couple of rolls of film in the same lighting with and without the filter and see which you prefer. The only thing in front of my Leica glass is the air between me and the subject.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), January 17, 2001.

I am a filter user. Oh yes. And I used to use a skylight to warm up blue shadows a bit. But since E100SW came out I no longer feel the need for that. Probably all totally irrelevant to your question which was about negative film, but there you go!

Personally I leave a filter on the lens all the time and can't see that it does any harm, and it certainly has protected my front element in lots of ways. From gunge (of unspecified chemical composition), angry people, heavy rain, whatever. Nowadays a UV filter.

Rob.

-- Robert Appleby (laintal@tin.it), January 17, 2001.

I use a 81B for open shade and overcast day shots even with the negative film. I figure you might as well get the color balance down on the negative as close as possible even thought the lab may change it when they print it.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), January 17, 2001.

Richard, I've been happy with using a skylight filter much of the time. It's a very light filtration, but still gives substantial correction for blue shadows, without over-correcting in direct sunlight. When a stronger effect is needed, I use a Tiffen 812 warming filter, which looks more natural to me than the 81 A,B,C options. The Skylight is enough 98% of the time.

Regards,

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 17, 2001.