FILTER HANDBOOK B+W FILTER 18557 Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH Business Unit: Photo Ringstr. ¡32 · D-55543 Bad Kreuznach Phone +49 67¡ 60 ¡1 25 Fax +49 67¡ 60 ¡3 02 filter@schneiderkreuznach.com www.schneiderkreuznach.
B+W employs cutting edge vacuum coating equipment for coating its filters Computer-controlled manufacturing processes safeguard the high level of B+W quality Only the best optically homogeneous optical glasses are used in B+W filters Quality filters from B+W: Tradition & Innovation “Made in Germany” The B+W filter manufacturing company was found- In order to deliver optimal image quality and to ed in Berlin in ¡947 by business partners Biermann safeguard the high demands of lens/camera manu- and Webe
Our Range of Products (Some products may not be available in your country) B+W Filters The leading brand for demanding professionals and amateur photographers for creative imaging with optimal quality. Choose from correction and effect filters for color and black-and-white photography; Käsemann polarizing filters; close-up lenses; special-effectand trick lenses; filters with SLIM mounts for vignetting-free exposures with wide-angle zoom- and fixed focal length lenses.
LIGHT, COLOR , FILT ER EFFEC T S Light, wavelength and color when it reflects hardly anything, we perceive it as being black. Most objects, however, do not reflect all Light is an electromagnetic phenomenon with many colors uniformly, some of them are reflected more facets. It travels with unimaginable high speed and it strongly, others less strongly or not at all. The sur- transports energy – even through completely empty face of the object will then no longer appear to us as space.
B +W FILT ER T ECHNOLO GY or. In other words, it takes away something from white light, so that less light is reflected than it would be by each color individually. Therefore this kind of color mixing is called “subtractive color mixing”.
B +W FOR FI LM & D IGITAL Correction- and creative filters with a great variety of accessories for analog and digital photography Filters are indispensable for serious photography.
CONTENTS T HE B +W LINE OF FILT ER S UV-/Skylight- and Protection Filters 8 ¡2 ¡6 8 Neutral Density Filters 10 Polarizing Filters and Redhancers 12 Correction Filters (LB, CC) 16 Special Filters (F-Day, UV, IR) 24 Filters for black-and-white photography 30 Special Effect Filters, Soft Focus Filters, 36 Prisms Close-up Lenses 46 Accessories 50 Specifications /Types of mounts 56 General overview of all filter sizes 62 46 24 6 7
UV-/ PROTECTION
U V / S K Y L I G H T / P R O T E C T I O N F I LT E R S B+W UV Filter UV 0¡0 [GG 375] DIGITAL-PRO SLIM MRC Filters as lens protection This UV Filter blocks the invisible UV component of Good lenses are far more expensive than light from the sky, which can cause blur and to which filters, therefore it makes good sense to many color films react with a blue cast. These filters attach a filter to protect the lens’ sensi- should be called UV-Blocking Filters, because there tive front element.
Without a neutral density filter, a small aperture renders an excessively large depth of field With Neutral Density Filter 103, the lens aperture can be opened up in order to emphasize an important detail ND FILTERS Without a neutral density filter, a fast shutter speed virtually freezes the surging surf A B+W 106 Neutral Density Filter permits to use a shutter speed that makes the surging water appear to flow again Without a neutral density filter, the camera produces a snapshot of the moving scene A
N E U T R A L D E N S I T Y F I LT E R S B+W Neutral Density Filter ¡0¡ DIGITAL-PRO SLIM MRC Charming selective sharpness The lightest B+W Neutral Density Filter attenuates Modern high-speed lenses produce bright the light by one f-stop (log density 0.
With B+W polarizing filters, reflections on glass, lacquer, on nearly all plastic materials and other electrically non-conducting surfaces can often be reduced or even eliminated. B+W Polarizing Filters POLARIZERS/ provide you the control over how much reflection you wish to remain because the light reflected at an angle of about 40° to 70° by these surfaces is strongly polarized.
© Photo: Peter Lebeda REDHANCER 12 13
Reflection and blue haze without a polarizing filter Reflection with the blue cast removed by a B+W Polarizing Filter Even more saturated colors with a B+W Polarizing Filter and a Redhancer POL B+W Polarizer Tip: Blue Sky Photographs taken approximately rectangular to the direction of the sun achieve the strongest intensification of a blue sky for a more dramatic rendition of clouds.
POLARIZERS / REDHANCER B+W “Käsemann” Polarizing Filters DIGITAL-PRO SLIM Better view with cementing MRC The “high-end” polarizing foils of the Käsemann-type Unlike some other polarizing filters, B+W filters are neutral in color, they have a higher effi- Polarizing Filters do not consist of a plas- ciency than conventional polarizing foils and they are tic polarizing foil loosely sandwiched be- cemented between high-grade plano-parallel optical tween two protective glass discs. Instead, glass.
LB- (LIGHT BALANCING-) / CONVERSION FILTERS .
The color of daylight varies from morning, to noon, and to evening. It also does so differently in winter, with an overcast sky, or in the fog. Color differences are even more pronounced between various sources of artificial light. Arc lights appear to us as bluishwhite, halogen bulbs yellowish, normal tungsten bulbs even more yellowish, candlelight warm orange.
KB ¡2 Reddish evening light before sunset Moonlight effect with Conversion Filter KB 6 B+W Tip: Compute with Mired Color temperatures in Kelvin must not be numerically added or subtracted because they do not behave linearly. Sums or differences calculated in this manner lead to false results.
CO N V E R S I O N F I LT E R S / L B - F I LT E R S B+W Conversion Filter KB ¡.5 (82 A) SLIM MRC Color temperature and Mired The conversion filter with the most delicate shade of A “Color temperature” of 5600 K (Kelvin) blue attenuates the slightly higher red, orange and is assigned to the “white” light of the sun, yellow components in order to produce a neutral because the temperature of the surface color rendition. It can also be used for subjects that of the sun is approximately 5600 Kelvin.
Atmospheric haze causes a blue cast Partial color correction with KR 1.
CO N V E R S I O N F I LT E R S / L B - F I LT E R S B+W Conversion Filter KR ¡.5 Skylight SLIM MRC What is under-correction? This most delicate reddish-yellow conversion filter For neutral color rendition, one of the absorbs violet and some blue plus a minimal amount conversion filters listed in the adjacent of green, but it passes yellow and red undiminished; descriptions is recommended when the the color of the light becomes “warmer” by ¡5 Mired.
COLOR CORRECTION B+W C 05 B+W C 10 B+W C 20 B+W C 40 B+W M 05 B+W M 10 B+W M 20 B+W M 40 B+W Y 05 B+W Y 10 B+W Y 20 B+W Y 40 B+W R 05 B+W R 10 B+W R 20 B+W R 40 B+W G 05 B+W G 10 B+W G 20 B+W G 40 B+W B 05 B+W B 10 B+W B 20 B+W B 40
CC - F I LT E R S (CO L O R CO R R E C T I O N ) B+W Color Cast-Correction Filters (CC Filters) LB Filters versus CC Filters CC filters (Color Correction or Color Compensa- In order to understand the differences tion) act specifically on relatively narrow bands of between LB (Light Balancing) or Conver- color. That is why they do not come in two color sion Filters and CC (Color Correction) variants (bluish and reddish) like conversion filters Filters, one has to divide white light into do.
B+W SPECIAL
What photographer wouldn’t love to leave the beaten path and create pictures that stand out, fascinate, perhaps even take one’s breath away? To show objects or landscapes as no eye would see them in L FILTERS nature is an irresistible challenge. A large selection of B+W Special Filters can help you to take on this challenge and master it with perfection.
F-DAY Fluorescent tubes produce a disturbing green cast B+W Filter F-Day produces pictures with neutral colors B+W Filter Tip: Available Light Nearly every color cast can be corrected by means of a B+W (Special) Filter on the lens – provided that a uniform kind of light illuminates the subject. Things become problematic, however, in mixed light sources, such as electronic flash used in addition to fluorescent light illumination, e.g. in an office shot or in a shop.
S P E C I A L F I LT E R S B+W Fluorescent Light Filter 499 F-Day SLIM MRC B+W UV-Blocking Filter 4¡5 (≈ 2 B) [GG 400] This B+W Special Filter eliminates the green cast This sharp-cutting, nearly colorless B+W filter blocks that occurs when daylight-type color film is in fluo- UV radiation up to the limit of visible light. It is used rescent lighting.
Photographed on black-and-white film, without a filter Infrared black-and-white film with B+W Filter 093 Photographed on infrared color film, without a filter Suppression of the blue cast with B+W Filter 099 B+W Tip: Digital IR Photographs CCD sensors in digital cameras are very sensitive to infrared radiation, which can generate false colors and blur. This is why a filter layer on the sensor customarily suppresses it.
D I N F R A R E D F I LT E R S B+W Infrared Filter 092 (≈ 89 B) [RG 695] Invisible infrared radiation The nearly opaque B+W Infrared Filter 092, which The spectral range that is visible to the looks dark purplish red when held in front of a light human eye ends at a wavelength of ap- source, blocks visible light up to 650 nm, and passes proximately 750 nm. This is where infra- only 50 % of the radiation just below 700 nm (thus red radiation begins (only certain birds the dark red color).
BLACK & WH
Because early black-and-white films did not render colors in the gray tones that corresponded to the brightness perception of human eyes, the use of yellow- and yellow-green filters was simply indis- pensable. Today’s panchromatically sensitized blackand-white films no longer require such a correction, at least not in daylight. In artificial light, however, the increased red component can distort the rendition in gray tones in critical cases by rendering blue tones too darkly and red tones too brightly.
CLOUD Black-and-white photograph taken without a filter; the original colors are shown in the color photographs on page 20 023 With yellow filter 023, the yellow façade is brightened, but the sky could do with a little more darkening 04¡ With orange filter 041, the façade remains bright, but the clouds are rendered more prominently
F I LT E R S F O R B L A C K & W H I T E F I L M S B+W Light Yellow Filter 02¡ (2 E) [GG 455] SLIM Colors become gray shades MRC This filter suppresses violet and attenuates blue. On Black-and-white films should render all the other hand, green, yellow, orange and red are colors in shades of gray in such a way reproduced in lighter shades. It is ideal for landscape that their brightness values look natural.
These colors are to be translated by black-and-white film into well-differentiated shades of gray Without a filter, black-and-white film renders red and green with little contrast in nearly equal shades of gray B+W Red Filter 090 brightens red and darkens green B+W Green Filter 060 darkens red and lightens green CONTRAST
F I LT E R S F O R B L A C K & W H I T E F I L M S B+W Yellow-Green Filter 060 (¡¡) [GG ¡0] SLIM MRC More differentiated greens This filter has an effect similar to that of the medium Why does the use of a yellow-green filter yellow filter, but it also darkens red colors.
The filters presented on the preceding pages normally serve to either: contour the light source to the characteristics of the film that is being used; block disturbing UV- or infrared radiation; correct B+W EFFECT F the color balance or the translation into gray tones and to eliminate deficiencies; or strengthen characteristics that appear too weak (such as the blue sky). Thus, they are serving as functional “tools”, while the special effects filters that follow act more like creative “toys”.
GRADUATED FILTERS . SOFT FOCUS FILTERS . STAR FILTERS . PRISM ATTACHMENTS 36 37 © Photo: Thorsten Meywald FILTERS . TRICK FILTERS .
GRADUATED FILTER B+W Tip: Black-and-White Film B+W graduated color filters are primarily intended for color photography and are The very bright sky would be over-exposed without a filter, but it gains structure by means of a B+W Graduated Filter Gray 501 used mostly for photography on color transparency film (the effects described on the right). When color negative films are used, the processing laboratory should be informed, so it won’t “correct” the effects from the image.
G R A D U AT E D F I LT E R S B+W Graduated Filter Gray 50¡ Correct exposure metering The neutral gray half of this filter transmits 50 % of When only a single graduated filter is the incoming light, so that it darkens the respective used, it is nearly always for darkening (an portion of the subject by one f-stop without altering excessively) bright sky. Exposure metering its colors.
Flattering soft focus with Soft Pro FOG Harsh sharpness without attachments Noticeably softer with B+W Soft Image B+W Soft Focus Tip: f/4 The type of soft effect filter will determine what level that the effect of aperture conveys to the image. The aperture should be chosen judiciously and according to the following rules: ¡. The aperture should not be smaller than an f-stop number that is approximately ¡/5 of the focal length of the lens in mm.
SOF T FOCUS AT TACHMENT S B+W Soft Focus Attachment Soft Pro Soft does not mean unsharp SLIM The effect of this B+W soft focus attachment is cre- In spite of the fact that the effect of soft ated by fine lenticular protrusions that have been focus attachment is related to unsharp- applied to a high-grade plano-parallel plate of glass in ness, it should not be equated with it. a random pattern.
SPECTRA Without an effect filter With 8x Star Cross Screen Arched spectral light ribbons with Spectra Spot at the light sources outside the central image region B+W Tip: Use the effects sparingly B+W Attachments make extraordinary, striking photos possible. Some shots only develop their true values with these attachments, while others are given that extra kick.
S TA R F I LT E R S / S P E C T R A F I LT E R S B+W Attachment Spectra 2 (2 directions) Ideal: point light sources The microprism structure of this attachment pro- Both the Spectra prism attachments, as duces arrow-like rays emanating from light sources well as the “radiating attachments” direct or reflections in opposite directions, with the colors a little light from every bright image point of the respective spectrum fanned out.
Natural architectural information by means of true reproduction without a prism attachment The 6x multi-prism repeats the realistic central portion of the image five times, creating a graphic pattern The slightly rotated 6x parallel prism repeats a portion of the image to the right six times The 3x multi-prism can emphasize an architectural pattern and exaggerate it to a maximum PRISMS B+W tip: Dark surroundings For the adjoining image repetitions to flow into one another softly, the focal length of th
P R I S M S / T R I C K F I LT E R S B+W 3 x Multi-Image Prism Use medium focal lengths The three wedges of equal size that meet at the Wedge-shaped prisms attached to the center of this prism attachment are made of high- front of the lens deflect the incoming grade optical glass, and they deflect the light in such light, so that prisms with appropriate a way that the lens looks at the same subject in three wedges and positioning lead to a multiple directions.
B+W CLOSE
To explore certain domains photographically, to make things become visible in a way and with a richness in details that is almost imperceptible to our bare eyes can be incredibly exciting. Those who believe that one needs specialized equipment to achieve that should take a closer look at B+W Close-Up Lenses.
B+W Tip: Ratio and subject size The maximal reproduction ratios that can be attained with close-up lenses depend on the focal length and on the closest focus distance for which the lens can be set. They also depend on the optical and mechanical design of the lens (nodal point separation and distance of the close-up lens from the subject-side nodal point). Thus, the reproduction ratio indications can only be used as guidelines. The exact reproduction ratios must be determined individually for every lens.
CLOSE-UP LENSES B+W Close-Up Lens NL 1 Superior close-up lenses! With +¡ diopter, it is ideal for telephoto and zoom The best image quality in extreme close- lenses with a near focusing distance of approximately up photographs is achieved with macro ¡ m (3 ¡/4 feet), resulting in a focusing range without a lenses. But such lenses are expensive. If gap.
B+W-AC
If you wish to consistently experience the gratifying joy of successful photography, the best way is to avail yourself of high-quality, reliable equipment. Attention should be paid not only to cameras and lenses, but also to small things that are sometimes overlooked as seemingly irrelevant. That is why we supplemented the line of B+W filters with additional accessories that are necessary or useful when used in combination with filters.
CLEANING / STORAGE B+W Photo Clear Micro-Fiber Cleansing Cloth There is not a better cleansing- and care cloth for filters, lenses and other sensitive optical equipment (like binoculars, spotting scopes and eyeglass lenses) and even slide cover glasses than the B+W high-tech microfiber cleansing cloth. It is free of chemicals and lint, it cleans well but gently and it can be washed in an environmentally safe manner. Available in two sizes, each with a protective plastic envelope: appr.
LENS HOODS B+W Collapsible Lens Hood 900 B+W Collapsible and Metal Lens Hoods This collapsible lens hood is made of Lens hoods obstruct light rays from outside the im- high-grade rubber and its angle of view aging angle of view that strike the lens, yet do not is tailored to standard- or short tele- contribute anything to the structure of the image. photo lenses.
ADAPTER RINGS B+W Adapter Rings for various filter sizes Adapter rings serve to accommodate filters, close-up Thread on the filter Filter thread or bayonet on the lens Adapter number lenses and other attachments to lenses with differ- 55 x 0.75 58 x 0.75 54 x 0.75 52 x 0.75 49 x 0.75 48 x 0.75 25 6d 6 6a 6b 52 x 0.75 Hasselblad Bayonet 50 60 x 0.75 58 x 0.75 55 x 0.75 49 x 0.75 48 x 0.75 46 x 0.75 43 x 0.75 40.5 x 0.5 37 x 0.75 35.5 x 0.5 – 23 25 b 26 8 8a 8b 8c 8e 8i 8f 49 x 0.75 58 x 0.
LENS CAPS B+W Front Lens Snap-Cap 3¡0 Protect your lens with a cap! Protective lens cap with two spring-loaded plastic Quite a few photographers assume that claws opposite each other that engage the female their lenses are adequately protected filter thread of the lens or the front thread of an at- against dust, dirt and damage inside their tached filter.
TECHNICAL DATA/ TYPES OF MOUNTS
Co ating s At first glance, the coating of filters may not seem particularly important, because unlike photographic lenses, they have only two glass-air surfaces that can lead to reflections that reduce the transmission of light. This also applies to B+W Polarizing Filters, because their polarizing foils are cemented between two glass discs. Reflection ρ [%] for 2 surfaces with n = ¡.
B+W Standard Filter Mount F-Pro B+W Wide-Angle Filters with oversized mounts Compared to the earlier B+W standard filter mount, Compared to normal filter mounts that have about the B+W Standard Filter Mount F-Pro has been im- the same outer diameter as the lens mounts, the di- proved considerably.
TYPES OF MOUNTS B+W Sheet Filters (unmounted glass filter squares) B+W Round Filters for the 28 mm f/2.8 PC lens Bellows, universal filter holders and special lens A special lens hood that accepts interchangeable hoods that can hold unmounted glass filter squares 74 mm diameter glass filter discs (see page 53) was are used primarily on medium- and large format designed for the 28 mm f/2.8 Schneider PC Super- cameras. Because the highest image quality is a major Angulon.
Transmis sion transmission is stated for each wavelength, the percentage values can be graphed in the form of a curve The technical term “Transmission”, in reference to an that accurately characterizes every color filter. This is optical system, describes the percentage of incoming not only important in technical applications, but also light (= ¡00 %) that is actually transmitted. When the in any photography where the light source is not a UV 0¡0, Skylight Filter KR ¡.5 ¡00 Conversion Filters KB ¡.
TRANSMISSION CURVES “thermal radiator” (like the sun or halogen- or incan- transmission curve shows, would transmit pure yel- descent bulbs) but has a discontinuous spectrum low (around 580 nm wavelength) without affecting with an irregular spectral intensity distribution, or it, but it would change a mixture of green (around when a color is not pure but mixed with other color 5¡0 nm) and red (around 640 nm) to orange because components.
33 Filters for black-and-white film 02¡, 022, 023, 040, 04¡ 35 Filters for black-and-white film 060, 06¡, 090, 09¡ Filters for black-and-white film 080, 08¡ 39 Grad.
2 2 1
W I D E - A N G L E F I LT E R S M 95.0 x ¡.0 M ¡05 x ¡.
F I LT E R FA K T O R S / M I R E D / I M P R I N T Filter fac tors Mire d diagram The transmission curves on the preceding spread on Mired and Decamired (= ¡0 Mired) are units used for the pages 60 and 6¡ show the result of absorption or describing the corrective effect of LB- or conversion reflection (the latter in the case of interference fil- filters (pages ¡8 to 2¡).
MAGNIFIERS Optical perfection with a modern design Large lens diameter and ample diopter compensation permit comfortable, effortless viewing as well as a large field of view for eyeglass wearers A sophisticated quick fastening device permits fast attachment or removal of the gently elastic neck strap The 3x, 4x and 6x magnifiers are supplied with interchangeable opaque and transparent bases (skirts) for viewing reflection copy and transparencies
(ILLUMINATING) MAGNIFIERS 3x Critical evaluation of your photographs is worthwhile Large field of view for 6 x7 cm The photographers that are successful The generously proportioned optical and who’s work is admired for excellent system covers an area of 7 x 7 cm with image quality are diligent in their critical outstanding imaging performance. evaluation of all of their photographs, and Ideal for examining roll films and large the rejection of those that do not meet format sheet films.
FILTER HANDBOOK B+W FILTER 18557 Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH Business Unit: Photo Ringstr. ¡32 · D-55543 Bad Kreuznach Phone +49 67¡ 60 ¡1 25 Fax +49 67¡ 60 ¡3 02 filter@schneiderkreuznach.com www.schneiderkreuznach.
