Viewing filter for B&W photographers?

jay moussy · Apr 5, 2021

I keep "The Amateur Photographer's Handbook" (A. Sussman) by my beside, and last night, I discovered that there are such things as viewing filters, used by B&W photographers, to preview the monochrome scene, it seems.

Did I understand this right? Are they in use at all?
I never heard of them before, but I now see a few on online vendor sites.

BrianShaw · Apr 5, 2021

I have a couple that were bought in the 1980’s. They have very rarely been used.

Kino · Apr 5, 2021

I have two; one for color and one for B&W. I think they were made by "Peak" and look like a folding magnifier.

Like Brian says, they are only marginally useful and most people stop using them shortly after purchase.

You can do roughly the same with a .60 to .90 ND filter briefly held up to your eye to avoid adaptation.

Sirius Glass · Apr 5, 2021

I had one, it was easier to use my imagination.

Pieter12 · Apr 5, 2021

You can a similar idea of how an image will look in monochrome (albeit not black and white) by wiping though almost any medium color filter such as amber, yellow or orange.

Maris · Apr 5, 2021

The classic viewing filter for black and white photography is the Wratten #90, a dark amber shade. In use it is brought up to the eye for a quick glance rather than a long stare. The eye/brain complex adapts quickly and tends to cancel perception of the filter effect.

Nicholas Lindan · Apr 5, 2021

Blue filters were used as viewing filters in the days of blue sensitive film. A cyan filter would work for orthochromatic film, I imagine, though cyan filters aren't very common outside a Rosco theatrical filter sampler pack and not even then. A very deep blue/purple filter would work as a viewing filter for wet plate & tin-type.

Viewing filter for B&W photographers?

jay moussy

BrianShaw

Kino

Sirius Glass

Pieter12

Maris

Nicholas Lindan

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