Does anyone use filters such as UV-IR for film?

[Aguilera85]

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Hi Everyone.

I have been enjoying being a new leica user these past 2 months. I enjoy immensely using my M3 and my M8 since i sent my M9 to get the sensor replaced.

I know that its not ideal, but i usually only shoot in the middle of the day while driving for work. And on my commute to and from work. These times are always harsh, extremely lit conditions here in the intense Los Angeles sun. Even when using a light meter, images need to be adjusted due to the extreme differences between the lit streets and the dark shadows. Also there is always a sort of haze that adds even more dynamics to the image, probably due to days of high pollution, and also on highly humid days after an overcast sky. Seems to leave a layer on the ground that gets lit up by the intense sun lol.

    Just wondering if you guys recommend  keeping on the UV-IR filter i have on my Zeiss plannar while using the M3. I had it on for my M8 since it needs it for indoor color shots. I have not tried it yet on film and i just started a new roll of HP5. The haze and extreme brightness is much more noticeable on color film though.

 

What do you guys recommend i should use during these only times i have available for shooting street photography?

[jaapv]

An UV/IR  filter will not be very helpful  under the conditions you mention, as your lens is pretty well UV filtered by itself, as most if not all modern lenses are. Film is not IR sensitive.

To reduce haze use a middle yellow, or, depending on the intensity of the haze, an orange or red filter on your B&W film. (this in ascending order of intensity of effect).

For colour film a polarizing filter will be helpful.

If you want to enhance the haze effect use a blue filter.

Have a look at your developer to reduce the risk of blown highlights and blocked shadows.

[erl]

Basically I am lazy, so my recommendations are skewed for that.

I use my lens set across M7, M8, M9 and M10. Originally I fitted IR cut fillters because of the terrible IR pollution that affected the M8, Taking the filter off for the M9, or now the M10 as well as the M7 (film) sometimes left me with 'unprotected' M8 shots in artificial light. Disastrous!

 

I now leave the filters on permanently and notice no deleterious effects, other than occasional flare of light sources caused by (any) filter. I have noticed that some greens in landscape for example are marginally improved/changed by the IR filters.

 

I have referred to this before and I think Jaap has provided additional comment on it as well, but I forget what his opinion is.

[jaapv]

On the M8? Green foliage turns olive or yellow under IR, Caucasian skin blotchy magenta, etc... They are certainly not for indoor use only, mandatory all the time. I would not use them on film, although they probably wouldn't harm.

They are still beneficial on the M9 and M240 in high-IR conditions, I find. I had a series of noon shots in the tropics with a virtually incorrigible orange/yellow cast without IR filter on the M240.

[pico]

Largely unappreciated filters to fill shadows and lower  contrast are Tiffen ultra contrast filters. I used them in the early days of digital video, and for high-noon film photographs. I used the strongest. They work. Explore.

 

Today with the improvements in post processing you can auto-bracket for high dynamic range (HDR) photo merges for subjects that do not move much.

.

[Ko.Fe.]

I prefer IR cut filter on M8. On film UV filter became useless long time ago, IMO. Modern glass, modern film. Especially on film like HP5+.

I don't know what is "harsh light" anymore. LA, GTA, noon, bright sun... bring it on. No big deal.

 

Oh, use Leica lens, without haze, but with hood, for street photography. Leica lens on Leica film camera is the best.

 

 

 

It is darkroom print. HDR is also great. On the iPhone.

[pico]

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See all the people in your photo looking at you.

Were you wearing a funny hat or something?

[Aguilera85]

thanks for the help guys. Even if it might not help much, ill probably just keep the filters on there in order to protect the lens in general lol 

[Ko.Fe.]

See all the people in your photo looking at you.

Were you wearing a funny hat or something?

 

You never know what people would imagine. 

 

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To OP. Where I'm they are asking to keep cats inside. Due to heavy birds population. I have bird poop flying into the new Leica lens once. Hood&Filter saved it from disaster. 

[skucera]

The original owner of my M3 (my wife's grandfather) never used filters.  He didn't have a single one, not even yellow or orange for b+w film.  He did have metal lens hoods for all of them, though, both for flare protection and impact protection.

 

My dad taught me that filters are much cheaper to replace than the cost of repairing a scratched lens, so I've always used filters whenever possible, usually UV or Skylight filters.  The trick is to use good quality filters.  Tiffen filters have layers of glass around a central layer of plastic film, and they are especially tough, like a laminated car windshield, if the main concern is good optics and impact protection.

 

Scott