When there is a lot of color in the subject area, I find it difficult to visualize how it would look in Black and White. What kind of filter (color? green?) could I place in front of the viewfinder of a M6 to get a Black and White perspective?

The cheaper video cameras have black and white TTL viewfinders, so I thought that maybe there is a cheap solution.

Maybe this is a concept for the Leica M9, year 2202, a switch to see B&W instead of color.

-- Vikram (VSingh493@aol.com), March 19, 2002

Answers

Vikram:

Check THIS out... Also, I understand a wratten 85 works pretty well too.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 19, 2002.

Sorry, the link above broke. While at the above link, type "Zone VI Viewing Filter" into their search box, and click on the B&W 35mm version.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 19, 2002.

i use the zone vi filter frequently. it doesn't give you a true black and white image like your video machine, but certainly helps guage contrast. sometimes it is hard to tell whether the vibrant green dress will render as the same shade of grey as the vibrant green background. this filter helps. they have been aound for a long time. zone vi (via calumet) makes a pretty good one.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), March 19, 2002.

Jack,

Thanks for the link.

-- Vikram (VSingh493@aol.com), March 19, 2002.

I second Jack & Roger. Fred Picker invented the Zone VI device & I've used it on & off for B&W visualization for 10 years+... A neat filter that hangs off a lanyard around your neck.

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), March 19, 2002.

one of those "vibrant greens" above should read "vibrant red." as for picker inventing the sucker, i know he sort of takes credit for it, but i can assure you the device has been around for a long time. my grandfather used one in the 1930s. it is still in the case with his burke & james. i've also seen them turn up at photo swap meets in bakelite and even wood frames. i have never actually compared the transmission qualities of picker's filter with the others, and i have no doubt that the precise color of the zone vi device may have been picker's design. it is, however, an old idea. p.s. aren't fred's videos a trip???

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), March 19, 2002.

From what I understand the viewing filter is a wratten series 90.

There is some filter data here:

http://www.geocities.com/thombell/curves.html

Using a rangefinder camera presents us with an opportunity not available to reflex cameras: buy a cheap gel version of this mono viewing filter and stick a piece over the rangefinder's viewfinder! Instant B&W correction! I just thought of it now and I have not tried this so I have no idea how well it works, if at all (may make the viewfinder a bit dark, for example), but it may be worth giving it a go.

Cheers

Steve Taylor

-- Steve Taylor (sjt@it-innovation.soton.ac.uk), March 20, 2002.