I am a newcomer to serious B+W photography with my M6. I like to shoot spontaneous portraits and city/landscape shots. What would be the best filter set up for shooting on B+W print film?

-- JackWheeler (jwheel4@lycos.com), March 13, 2002

Answers

if you want only one, go for red or orange. in the beginning it is easier to have more drastic filters to learn how they work. the classic three filter setup ist yellow, orange and red. you can later add a green and a blue one (though the latter is difficult to use). resources:

http://www.photo.net/equipment/filters#Types

and here:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/pictureTaking/lenses/lensFil10 .shtml

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), March 13, 2002.

Someone just asked a similar question on the LEG. The sources listed by Stefan are a good start to understanding how filters work, but my advice is to start w/a light yellow or light green to darken skies a bit & yet avoid messing up skin tones too much (red & orange can make "white" folks look a little ghostly). Also, a suspicion of mine was recently confirmed that @ least some of the Ilford B&W films (e.g., HP5+) are more red sensitive than the Kodak & Fuji emulsions--meaning less of a need for filters.

-- Chris Chen (furcafe@NOSPAMcris.com), March 13, 2002.

a med yellow filter is the place to start. Shoot A vs. B comparisons to determine results. (1 frame w/filter, 1 w/out). Print both. Examine closely. Decide. B+W, Heliopan make filters to fit Leica's unique sizes.

-- Mark Sampson (MSampson45@aol.com), March 13, 2002.

If you are doing a mix of people and landscapes, a yellow/green filter such as B+W's Yellow Green 060 (11) may be a good choice. That gives you some sky enhancement, and better foliage tones without washing out flesh tones.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), March 13, 2002.

David D. Duncan used 2 Leicas with Nikkor lenses covered with yellow filters for his war photos. It gives the Tri-x he used a little more contrast and interest in the sky. Why not give it a try? Good luck.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), March 13, 2002.