Low contrast 35mm recommendations

[sinjun]

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If these filters reduce the overall light levels reaching the sensor, the resulting longer exposure could benefit the shadows by raising them further above the noise floor. Tonal discrimination, and therefore bit depth, may be lost, but I could see how genuine shadow detail could be improved over what you would get by amplifying the shadow signal in post processing. This, of course, does not apply for a sensor whose dynamic range is much larger than the range of the unfiltered light levels across the image.

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[lct]

Interesting to read what RED explains here: Understanding Low Contrast Filters

 

[Pyrogallol]

This all seems a complicated way of producing the sort of images you can get by using prewar uncoated lenses.

[pgk]

It does all make the idea of bothering with coatings and other anti flare options seem a bit pointless. Unless of course they actually help produce 'better' photographs. Does anyone want to trade all their modern lenses for older uncoated ones?

[lct]

1 hour ago, Pyrogallol said:

This all seems a complicated way of producing the sort of images you can get by using prewar uncoated lenses.

I wish it were that simple. I long waited a compact 28 with less contrast than my Elmarit 28/2.8 asph for my digital M and CL cameras. Not sure i would have found it among pre-war lenses besides the Summaron 28/5.6 perhaps but it is too slow a lens for my taste. The only compact 28 i found was a Rokkor 28/2.8 for Minolta CLE from the eighties. Very good lens actually but bringing up other frame lines than 28mm on Leica cameras. I had to find out a copy with modded flange then, which i could do with a good lot of luck, but if i knew i could use a low contrast filter instead, i would have tried it on my Elmarit in the first place, if only to know how those filters work.

Edited December 1, 2023 by lct