81A or 81B filter?

Thank you very much for your really good, expert and exhaustive advice and
opinions. I am not very serious photographer and soI opted for 81A. In my
photo store 81A filter was 1/3 more expensive than 81B, though the quality
of coating was the same. Probably there is more demand for 81A from the
buyers.
National Geographic's Photography Field Guide suggests to use 81A+UV filter
in high elevations (so maybe I won't need 81EC). In very cloudy weather I
will probably miss 81B - maybe I'll buy it some time later. But first of
all, I have to see the results with this one.

Thank you all again and good luck with your photography!
Simon

Simon wrote:

Thank you very much for your really good, expert and exhaustive advice and
opinions. I am not very serious photographer and soI opted for 81A. In my
photo store 81A filter was 1/3 more expensive than 81B, though the quality
of coating was the same. Probably there is more demand for 81A from the
buyers.
National Geographic's Photography Field Guide suggests to use 81A+UV filter
in high elevations (so maybe I won't need 81EC). In very cloudy weather I
will probably miss 81B - maybe I'll buy it some time later. But first of
all, I have to see the results with this one.

Stacking filters will likely cause vignetting at wide apertures.
Should be okay a couple stops down from wide open. For landscape
scenes this is not much of an issue.

You won't "miss" the 81B... there is hardly a difference.


--
--e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

Bill Hilton wrote:

Probably should have asked this earlier, but are you shooting
slides or print film?

That's an excellent question, and another important question is
which slide film or print film?

Some films (E100GX) are already warm. Some (Provia 100F) have
a tendency to accentuate blue due to restrained yellow response.
For the former, you wouldn't use even an 81A filter, and for
the latter you might want an 81C is some situations.

Another thing to consider is a warming filter with more red,
such as the European KR 1.5 or Tiffen 812. I like them better
and am surprised nobody has mentioned them. The only situation
where I'd use 81A (81B) would be at high (very high) altitude,
and then maybe not, because extra-blue is kind of pretty.

Probably should have asked this earlier, but are you shooting
slides or print film?

From: "Simon"

I'm usually shooting slides.

That's cool ... with slides you'll always see the effects of the filters but
with print film the person doing the printing can easily compensate enough
during printing that you won't see the effect of these mild warming filters.

Probably should have asked this earlier, but are you shooting slides or
print
film?

I'm usually shooting slides. Sensia 100 mostly, but I also tried Velvia 50 -
very vivid colours, but ISO 50 is somewhat 'uncomfortable' for me. I am not
very fond of using my tripod most of the time, especially not in the
mountains (extra weight and space).
I also used Kodak Elitechrome 200 and was quite pleased - I didn't see any
grain when slides were shown on a screen - no difference from Sensia 100.
However, I really did not make any enlargements or any detailed studies.
You see, I am not very eager or professional photographer. Maybe through
time... if DSLRS won't wipe out the film enthusiasts (or rather - make the
film manufacturers stop making quality films).

Galen Rowell used to keep skylight filters on his shorter lenses and 81A
filters as the standard "lens protector" on all his lenses 200mm and up.
For warming purposes I'd start with an 81A if it's going to be used on
lenses shorter than 200mm and an 81B if it's going to be used on lenses
of 200mm and up.

Why the difference depending on focal length?

Eliot

Simon wrote:
Thank you very much for your really good, expert and exhaustive advice and
opinions. I am not very serious photographer and soI opted for 81A. In my
photo store 81A filter was 1/3 more expensive than 81B, though the quality
of coating was the same. Probably there is more demand for 81A from the
buyers.

I think its called making a quick buck ;-)

National Geographic's Photography Field Guide suggests to use 81A+UV filter
in high elevations (so maybe I won't need 81EC). In very cloudy weather I
will probably miss 81B - maybe I'll buy it some time later. But first of
all, I have to see the results with this one.

it depends on what you want to achieve - it might differ from that what
National Geographic wants. So experiment. Oh, and if you will be shooting
a lot in high altitudes, getting a filter that is 81A and UV in one may
be worth it.


Thank you all again and good luck with your photography!
Simon



--
Sander

+++ Out of cheese error +++

(EliotN) wrote:

Galen Rowell used to keep skylight filters on his shorter lenses and 81A
filters as the standard "lens protector" on all his lenses 200mm and up.
For warming purposes I'd start with an 81A if it's going to be used on
lenses shorter than 200mm and an 81B if it's going to be used on lenses
of 200mm and up.

Why the difference depending on focal length?

Presumably because of their different uses (in his shooting style).
Generally, he used longer focal lengths in situations where he was
farther from his subjects, so he experienced more "bluing" effect due to
the greater amount of atmosphere between lens and subject. (Remember
that the 81A isn't a particularly strong warming filter.) Details on
this and other aspects of his technique are detailed in is book "Galen
Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography". Highly recommended.

--
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com

Yet another related question. I have a Hoya skylight 1B filter, but not
the 81A or 81B. I was looking at buying an 81A, and was comparing one to
my skylight 1B at my local camera shop. Color-wise, they visually look
the same, with the 81A maybe a bit darker. (more intense) Is there
really enough difference here to make the purchase? 77mm filters ain't
cheap! I've been shooting mostly Fuji Superia 400x-tra lately BTW,

Bill Wilson

BILWIL wrote:
Yet another related question. I have a Hoya skylight 1B filter, but
not the 81A or 81B. I was looking at buying an 81A, and was comparing
one to my skylight 1B at my local camera shop. Color-wise, they
visually look the same, with the 81A maybe a bit darker. (more
intense) Is there really enough difference here to make the purchase?
77mm filters ain't cheap! I've been shooting mostly Fuji Superia
400x-tra lately BTW,

Bill Wilson

They might let you take a photo with the 81A and then you can use your
1B under the same conditions and you can then see the results side by side.
Since out eyes and film do not record light exactly the same way, looking
though them does not give a 100% accurate idea.

I expect you will see little difference, even under the conditions that
the difference would be greatest.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math