Does UV filters make any sense for black and white film?

[pkr1979]

Hi all! Does a UV filter make any difference when shooting black and white film - compared to not using any filter at all?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes, the UV filter cuts haze, but not smog. When it cuts haze, distant objects will appear darker and with more detail.

 

[fstop]

Sharper and more defined details in the background – A UV filter cuts out the UV light and cuts through the haze making distance objects seem clearer. With film it is more important to use a UV filter because film is extremely sensitive to UV light.

 

[DREW WILEY]

It might make a little difference, depending on the specific film in question, along with the atmospheric conditions. I use UV and skylight filters in relation to color films, but never for black and white work because, in that case, those same kinds of problems are much better resolved by stronger colored contrast filters.

 

[Paul Howell]

As noted Fstop UV filters will help reduce haze and improve resolution. Newer lens such as Sigma Art, later Canon L and Pentax LE have UV coating in their MC. As I shoot many lens from the 60s and 70s I use a UV when not using a contrast filter. From Pentax

Multi-layer coating, Ghostless Coating and internal reflection prevention​

PENTAX interchangeable lenses are treated with an original multi-layer coating to reduce the surface reflection to approximately 1/10 of single-layer coatings. This coating increases the transmissivity of light over the entire visible light range, while almost completely eliminating harmful UV light. It also reduces flare and ghost images under adverse lighting conditions such as backlight to deliver sharp, high-quality images. Some lenses are also treated with the PENTAX-exclusive Ghostless Coating, which reduces reflections from specific types of light and minimizes the generation of ghost images. PENTAX selects the best possible coating for each lens by carefully assessing key factors such as the configuration of the lens and the characteristics of the glass. PENTAX also applies a combination of flocking and painting processes to the interior of lens barrels to prevent internal reflections, while incorporating a light shielding mechanism to one optical element in each lens group to prevent scattering of light. All these features work collectively to minimize flare and ghost images.

 

[ic-racer]

It is pretty easy to check if it does anything for your film.

 

[xkaes]

I use UV filters on my lenses to help prevent damage to the front element -- as well as the other reasons mentioned above. When "crud" gets on the front of a "lens", I can clean it off easily -- by cleaning the filter, not the lens. And more than UV filter has saved my lens when it smacked into something hard -- cracking the filter, and not the lens.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hi all! Does a UV filter make any difference when shooting black and white film - compared to not using any filter at all?

theoretically, the filter should slightly increase sharpness at higher altitudes but protects your lens from fingerprints, etc. It's easier to clean a filter than a lens' front element.

 

[250swb]

Direction of light, time of day, the weather, etc. are all things that a UV filter may or may not slightly affect but there is never going to be more than one or two occasions when you can point to it being a game changer. I usually don't bother with them and actually like the idea of the diffused light caused by haze in the distance. But I do use them in lieu of a protection filter if I don't have the right size when it's raining or in woodland where I'm brushing against branches or bushes or stumbling over rocks and roots.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Direction of light, time of day, the weather, etc. are all things that a UV filter may or may not slightly affect but there is never going to be more than one or two occasions when you can point to it being a game changer. I usually don't bother with them and actually like the idea of the diffused light caused by haze in the distance. But I do use them in lieu of a protection filter if I don't have the right size when it's raining or in woodland where I'm brushing against branches or bushes or stumbling over rocks and roots.

exactly!

 

[Ian C]

I have a small-format booklet published by Petersen’s Photographic magazine from the 1970s. It shows otherwise identical black-and-white photos with and without a UV filter (no other filter on the lens).

The photos are of scenes that include details from near to far. The closest details look the same in both photos. Those at intermediate distances look more distinct with the filter. Those at the farthest distances are largely obscured by the strong buildup of haze.

Note, that this is not visible haze seen with our eyes, such as from heavy water vapor, smoke, and so forth. Rather, it is the film’s reaction to the light-scattering effect on UV light. The film records it as blue light, creating unwanted density in the developed negative. It has the same effect on color film in which the distant haze might look somewhat blue.

NOTE: Most B&W film shooters use a yellow, orange, or red filter for outdoor photography. These are strong UV absorbers. Since they strongly absorb UV from the incoming light, adding a UV filter over the lens in addition to a yellow, orange or red filter is pointless.

Using a UV filter for color film definitely reduces distance hazing due to scattered UV light. The farther the subject element, the stronger the effect. Whether you’re using color or B&W film, a UV filter will have no effect on hazing caused by heavy water vapor or smoke in the air at distance. These are visible to our eyes.

The buildup of UV scattering haze in the distance is sometimes included intentionally, as a visual clue to great distance. For example, a shot of mountains or large hills receding into haze caused by UV light scattering is a strong indicator of great distance. The same shot without a UV filter wouldn’t convey quite the same feeling of the distance and a heightened sense of 3-dimensionality. A strong buildup of haze with distance is sometimes referred to as aerial perspective in some of my photography books.

 

[xkaes]

Thanks for the great summary.

Since UV light is invisible to us poor humans, the best approach is to leave a UV filter on at all time to remove UV light and protect the lens -- except when using a color-contrast filter or to maximize the unseen UV haze.

 

[pkr1979]

Thanks guys - much appreciated

 

[DREW WILEY]

UV filters are generally discussed in relation to color film. But there are numerous types of them, just as there are many different color films. I've discussed that numerous times on color film threads. There are also differences in quality, attachment mode, and so forth. And of course, lots of people employ UV and even colorless filters as supplemental lens protection.

Ian mentioned haze as a potentially valuable clue to distance in a picture. But the difference with or without a UV filter would be hardly noticeable. Try a light blue filter to exaggerate a sense of atmosphere and distance. Or, if you admire the look of old time blue sensitive films, use a deep blue filter.