Color Filters on the Monochrom (1st version)

[Timmyjoe]

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How do color filters react with the Leica M Monochrom (1st version)? It's a question I've had since the Monochrom first came on the market?

So I shot a quick test, using a red Kodak "A" (25A) filter to see if it had a similar effect on the Monochrom image as it would on Plus-X or Tri-X. Most of you probably know all this by now, but I was very excited to see that it does.

It was a cloudless morning, and the two images were taken about one minute apart. Aside from how the filter effected the blue sky, also notice the blue background on the sign to the left in the image.

Scene shot without any filter:

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Leica M Monochrom (1st version) w/35mm Canon f1.8 LTM lens @f8

Scene shot with red Kodak "A" filter:

Leica M Monochrom (1st version) w/35mm Canon f1.8 LTM lens @f8

I realize I'm quite late to the party, but I'm finding this Monochrom camera to be really a blast.

Best,
-Tim

 

PS:I've been asked if I did anything specific on these shots, used exposure compensation, or if I used a "digital" labeled filter. I'm a bit embarrassed to say I'm pretty old school, and one of the reasons I wanted a Monochrom is that I wanted to try to get similar renderings to what I get with my Leica IIIc with old 1950's Nikkor & Canon LTM glass, old Kodak Wratten filters, and Tri-X. So the camera was set on Aperture Priority, ISO manually set to 320, and I used a Canon 35mm f1.8 LTM lens with Canon Hood(w/Series VI filter holder) and for the filter I used a Kodak Series VI Wratten Filter "A" from the 1940's. I set the aperture to f8 and pointed the camera at the tree (sans filter), pressed the shutter, put in the filter, pointed at the tree again, and pressed the shutter again. That's it.

[LeicaR10]

Tim,   You will find the MM reacts the same way as if you used a yellow, green, orange or red filters with B&W film.  The MM and MM246 both capture using luminance values.  The yellow, orange and red filters work quite well when you are looking to enhance clouds or cut haze.  The green lightens foliage.  I suggest you read some of the articles about using red filters with the MM on the site:  www.pebbleplace.com  He does a good job explaining the effects and focus issues using red filters with the MM.  I use an orange filter the most and at times a red filter, to enhance the clouds for my clients landscape images.  r/ Mark

[Jeff S]

The trade off is that the MM doesn’t benefit from the more flexible use of color channels (even multiple) in PP.  But it does make for a more ‘old school’ experience.

I enjoy both the M10 and the MM, depending on mood.

Jeff

 

[pico]

I cannot justify a monochrome camera. The benefits of modulating color with a Bayer system is profound. I will explain if necessary.

 

[a.noctilux]

Color filters on Monochrom are funny things to experiment.

As here, when I "scanned" some color negatives, orange filter was used to get rid

of orange mask 😇

 

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Fuerteventura,

 

MP, SOMNI, Super-Angulon 4/21( n° 1 ), Vista 200

"scan" with Monochrom, Beoon, Focotar

[AceVentura1986]

I’ve had my M9M for almost four years but have only recently begun to experiment filters, specifically yellow, orange, and red. 

Yellow yields a very moderate effect, not too noticeable but nice anyway. Red is very pronounced and really a great tool for landscape photography. Orange, on the other hand, is the Goldilocks of the three. Not too strong, not too moderate, but just right. 

IMHO, the M9M on its own can tend to darken skin tones a bit, so that they appear to be a darker value than I would tend to expect and can even look a bit silvery at times. I’ve found that the orange filter will tend to mitigate this somewhat and lighten and smooth human skin for a very pleasing effect. When used, skin tones tend to have a resulting value that I would expect relative to the surrounding monochrome values  

I’ve also found that the effect on exposure is not what I had anticipated. I expected the yellow, orange, and red filters would each reduce exposure by one, two, and three stops, respectively. My results are much more favorable. Yellow had no effect at all while orange darkened the image by 1/2 of a stop, a very acceptable reduction in order to achieve the lighter, softer look mentioned above. I now tend to leave the orange filter in place most of the time. 

Note, for my test I metered against a white wall using regular incandescent light and auto exposure. I tried this multiple occasions with different walls and in each case the exposure for yellow was the same as without the filter. Orange resulted in a 1/2 stop difference. 

Again, this is not what I had expected but if anyone wants to chime in here and either support or correct my results I’d certainly welcome it. 

Still, for now I tend to l ave the orange mounted to my Summicron because I love the results. 

Edited January 5, 2019 by AceVentura1986

[pico]

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13 minutes ago, AceVentura1986 said:

MHO, the M9M on its own can tend to darken skin tones a bit,

A meter is tuned to 12% grey, so Caucasian skin will be underexposed. Some people like it that way.

Quote

Note, for my test I metered against a white wall using regular incandescent light and auto exposure.

I hope someone smarter than I am will contribute, but in my experience with B&W film incandescent lighting gives more accurate readings.

Edited January 5, 2019 by pico