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Setting Leica MP to Iso 500


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Hi everyone,

 

So I bought some Cinestill 800t film. My lab told me to set my camera to ISO 500 and develop for 800. 

So far so good...I have a Leica MP. 

Iso dial has 400 and 800 and in between 2 dots. 

Stupid question...how do I set it to 500 :D 

 

2 dots means 3 steps from 400 to 800...so 400 / 3 = 133

So 400 plus 1 dot? 

 

 

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Hello Again Memorexx,

 

Interestingly, there is a second system for determining film speeds that is used sometimes. More so in the past than today. It is called DIN which stands for Deutsche Industrie Norm. It uses a simpler system to indicate this same progression. I will repeat the above list using both systems because some older cameras & meters use it. Including some Leitz/Leica.

 

12/12 - 16/13 - 20/14 - 25/15 - 32/16 - 40/17 - 50/18 - 64/19 - 80/20 - 100/21 - 125/22 - 160/23 - 200/24 - 250/25 - 320/26 - 400/27 - 500/28 - 640/29 - 800/30 - 1000/31 - 1250/32 - 1600/33

 

Both systems have their advantages.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited by Michael Geschlecht
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Hello Memorexx,

 

Yes.

 

DIN (All capitals) has the advantage that the simple arithmetic progression of 3 numbers for a 1 stop increase or decrease in speed gives a more realistic perspective in terms of speed relationships than the ISO (Formerly ASA) system does when speeds get higher.

 

Example: 400 to 800 is the same as 27 to 30. Both indicate a difference of 1 stop.

 

As does: 25 to 50 which is 15 to 18. Also a 1 stop difference.

 

Every 3 numbers in DIN is a 1 stop increase or decrease in speed.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited by Michael Geschlecht
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Cinestill film is ISO 800 only for tungsten light. EI 500 for daylight.

If you are going to shoot in daylight, be prepared for some odd outcomes.

Cinestill 800 is very good in daylight, you'd hardly spot it was a tungsten film in sunshine, but more so in outdoor shade. It only cools down the image, it doesn't have the intensity of blue cast like some tungsten films.

Edited by 250swb
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...  ISO (formerly ASA) system ...

 

As a matter of fact, ISO numbers are those given in post #6. People always kept using ASA numbers, falsely calling them "ISO". However, ISO numbers are not ASA numbers by another name. Instead, they are ASA/DIN pairs, with the DIN number adorned with a degree character, like so: ASA 50 = 18 DIN = ISO 50/18°.

 

By the way, note how the DIN number always increases by ten when the corresponding ASA number multiplies by ten. For example, ASA 50 = 18 DIN, ASA 500 = 28 DIN, ASA 5000 = 38 DIN.

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I just read the ISO 500 on a website. Not sure what to do. Hehe

So you say 800 is good enough? I might shoot one roll 800 and one 500 to compare.

Read it on meinfilmlab.de

 

And cinestil in daylight is ok? Will try :) need to empty my roll of hp5 first

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Hello Memorex,

 

On the film cartridge itself there should be 2 sets of 6 boxes. 1 over the other. They are either black or silver/white.

 

Holding the cartridge with the little "nubbin" to your left: Could you tell us what they are. First the top. Then the bottom.

 

For example:

 

                          white - black - white - black - white - black

 

Or:               

 

                                     w - b - b - w - w - b

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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I shoot this in daylight with an 85b filter, iso set to 800. Works great and color balances out due to the filter. At night shoot it at 800. 

 

I don't see a need to rate this at 500.

 

Hello Sjauch,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

The reason that everything works fine without your adjusting the ISO in the camera is:

 

When you put on an 85B filter on the lens: That effectively subtracts 2/3 of a stop from the speed of the film. This means that if the Tungsten ISO of the film is 800 then the filter's conversion to Daylight EFFECTIVELY reduces the ISO to 500. Even tho the film speed set in the camera is 800.

 

In a meter that is separate from the behind the lens meter in the camera it would be necessary to set the ISO to 500 to adjust for the filter's effect on the film.

 

But, because the meter is behind the lens & behind the filter: It calculates the exposure correctly without having to adjust the ISO of the meter built into the camera body.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited by Michael Geschlecht
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That's correct and the original poster is asking about the ISO setting on an MP. Since that has a meter I'd recommend using shooting this at box speed, 800. I've had very good results with this. The meter will adjust if you add a filter.

 

 

Shot at 800:

33232215565_0ef91494e7_c.jpgCinestill 800t by Steven Jauch, on Flickr

 

32417284073_52430ee263_c.jpgCinestill 800t by Steven Jauch, on Flickr

 

with 85b added:

 

29260814523_9f8fac575d_c.jpg

img412 by Steven Jauch, on Flickr

 

33075705162_23a6c39427_c.jpgCinestill 800t by Steven Jauch, on Flickr

Edited by Sjauch
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Hello Memorex,

 

On the film cartridge itself there should be 2 sets of 6 boxes. 1 over the other. They are either black or silver/white.

 

Holding the cartridge with the little "nubbin" to your left: Could you tell us what they are. First the top. Then the bottom.

 

For example:

 

                          white - black - white - black - white - black

 

Or:               

 

                                     w - b - b - w - w - b

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

sorry..cant follow you here :D 

I have the Filmroll in my hand...the Filmroll came in a little film can, no paper box 

 

can't see little boxes there. 

 

 

@Sjauch

 

so you would suggest shooting at night with iso 800 

and at day set to 800 and a filter, which is practically 500. Correct?

 

I don't have an 85b filter. I intended to shoot at night time...so 800then. 

Does it look really funky if I shoot at day without a filter? 

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@Sjauch

 

so you would suggest shooting at night with iso 800 

and at day set to 800 and a filter, which is practically 500. Correct?

 

I don't have an 85b filter. I intended to shoot at night time...so 800then. 

Does it look really funky if I shoot at day without a filter? 

 

Based on my use, yes I'd recommend setting the meter on your MP to 800. In addition to helping with the color during the day the 85b filter will also help you manage your shutter speed. 

 

Without the filter in daylight you'll get a heavy blue cast. 

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Hello Memorexx,

 

Not all film cartridges have the 6 over 6 little boxes.

 

The colors in a color film are produced by a "sandwich" of various layers. Some layers are there to capture a specific color. Some layers are there to provide a separation. Some layers are there to filter this or that. And so on.

 

When a film is said to be a "Daylight" film or a "Tungsten " film, that means the color sensitive layers are designed to record light from those average color temperatures, in a certain manner.

 

The purpose of a corrective filter, such as an 85B, is to add colors to & to subtract colors from the average light coming into the lens so that the light coming in the lens & falling on the film (Which is designed to be used at a specific color temperature.) will more properly contain the wavelengths necessary to record colors accurately. Given the film in the camera & the light falling on the subject: So that the images recorded will better approximate the colors people are perceiving when they are photographing this current scene.

 

So:  800 at night in a scene lit by incandescent light.

 

       800 in daylight with an 85B filter if you are using a behind the lens meter.

 

       500 in daylight if you are using an 85B filter & a separate meter which is NOT reading thru the filter.

 

These are a start.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited by Michael Geschlecht
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