Nikon O56 Filter = 85b?

perkeleellinen · Mar 8, 2021

Hello All,

I want to shoot some tungsten slide film in daylight I need an 85b to do this.

I'm wondering is a Nikon O56 an 85b filter or a straight orange filter?

And just a rant - why can't filter manufacturers agree on one standard code for filter colours?

Thanks!

brbo · Mar 8, 2021

perkeleellinen said:
And just a rant - why can't filter manufacturers agree on one standard code for filter colours?

Maybe because, just like on internet, everybody knows better than the rest? Can't you see how much better "O56" communicates the colour temperature correction factor than "85B"?

Ok, seriously, I have Nikon "A12" filter that is the same (at least it looks the same) as my other "85" filters. So "O" (orange) Nikon line is probably not "85" equivalent.

Nikon filters.

perkeleellinen · Mar 8, 2021

Thanks, brbo. I hadn't thought about the A12 - I wonder if that might be a 85b.

I don't really want to buy an 85b if I already own it under a different name.

Confusion with these codes; none of them communicate any better but if there was only one standard we could learn it, we have this for film speed as ISO numbers and for filter diameters as millmeters. Maybe there's competitive advantage in not collaborating as it locks you into a system (as with my Nikon codes).

MattKing · Mar 8, 2021

There needs to be a Rosetta Stone of Filter designations.

cmacd123 · Mar 8, 2021

the Kodak codes are canonical, but not everyone uses them.

This page says that the o56 is an Orange filter for Black and white.
http://www.nicovandijk.net/filters.htm

the other thing to watch for is that their are 85, 85A and 85B filters all slightly different.

drkhalsa · Mar 8, 2021

The Nikon O56 is an orange contrast filter for black and white film.

reddesert · Mar 8, 2021

As other people said the Nikon O56 is an orange filter with a cutoff wavelength that removes blue and green-blue light, for black and white film, not a color balancing filter.

The Nikon codes for cutoff filters are actually very sensible. O56 stands for orange, cuts off at 560 nanometers wavelength
L39 = skylight, cuts off at 390 nm
Y48 = yellow, cuts off at 480 nm (also Y44 and Y52 for light and dark yellow)
O56 = orange, cuts off at 560 nm
R60 = red, cuts off at 600 nm
Once you get into green, blue, color balancing filters this scheme no longer applies. The Nikon color balancing filters are labeled "A" and "B" for amber and blue.

perkeleellinen · Mar 9, 2021

MattKing said:
There needs to be a Rosetta Stone of Filter designations.

This is a good idea, I imagine a chart with Wratten numbers on the left and then columns for each manufacturer alongside a general description of the colour / purpose.

I think that a Nikon A12 may be an 85a not an 85b - there's conflicting comments online!

Mick Fagan · Mar 10, 2021

Kodak equivalents are:
Nikon A2 is Kodak 81A
Nikon A12 is Kodak 85
Nikon B2 is Kodak 82A
Nikon B8 is Kodak 80C
Nikon B12 is Kodak 80B

Source, Nikon Compendium by Rudolf Hillebrand and Hans-Joachim Hauschild page 159 (Nikon Filters)

Mick.

reddesert · Mar 10, 2021

Mick Fagan said:
Kodak equivalents are:
Nikon A2 is Kodak 81A
Nikon A12 is Kodak 85
Nikon B2 is Kodak 82A
Nikon B8 is Kodak 80C
Nikon B12 is Kodak 80B

Source, Nikon Compendium by Rudolf Hillebrand and Hans-Joachim Hauschild page 159 (Nikon Filters)

Mick.

Excellent. I believe the Nikon number is the approximate color temperature shift of the filter in units of 10 mireds: so an A2 is approx +20 mireds, A12 is +120 mireds, and so on. These roughly agree with the mired values at for example Lee filters: https://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera-directory/camera-dir-list/category/colour-temperature

Kodachromeguy · Mar 10, 2021

https://www.filterfind.net/Data.html

Filterfind has a handy chart comparing Written filter numbers to a few common color codes from other brands. This business of filter nomenclature is baffling.

perkeleellinen · Mar 14, 2021

Thanks, All, especially for the links. I think I can safely say an A12 is not an 85b so I've just bought an Adox 85b push-on filter.

Nikon O56 Filter = 85b?

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