B+W FilTeRS FoR diGiTAl PHoToGRAPHY
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4 10 12 14 CONTENTS 60 YEARS OF B+W FILTERS: HIGH TECH MADE IN GERMANY Page 4-7 16 PROTECTION FILTERS Clear, UV Page 8 POLARIZING FILTERS Käsemann, Circular Polarizing Filter Page 10 GRAY FILTERS Page 12 CLOSE-UP LENSES Macro Lens Page 14 EFFECT FILTERS Soft Focus Filters Page 16 18 Gray Graduated Filter and Redhancer Page 18 SPECIAL FILTERS Infrared, Digital UV/IR Blocking Filter Page 20 MOUNT TYPES Page 22 ACCESSORIES Page 24-26 20 FILTERS/LENS HOODS Table Page 28 WIDE-ANGLE FILTERS Table Page
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B+W quality: A brand that keeps its promise Behind the globally recognized B+W filter quality is a continuous process of optimization and quality control which already begins with the raw glass blocks. For the production of the high-precision B+W filters Schott colored glass is used almost exclusively because Schott guarantees the very highest glass quality.
Black hard chrome plating, with reflection-reducing finish Filter mounts – the mechanical specialists The important role played by the filter mount and its mechanically complex task are often underestimated. Although mounts are supposed to fix the high-quality filter glass in position “for life”, they must not cause any sharpness-reducing tension in the glass. B+W manufactures various mount types, mainly out of stable brass, on CNC machines.
Creative filter technology – the fascination of precise creativity Close-up and macro lenses provide a simple way of exploring new motif worlds. With infrared filters you make the invisible visible and create artistic, fabulous images. For high color contrasts that still look authentic a polarizing filter is still the best option, despite the possibilities offered by photo-editing programs. Furthermore, polarizing filters can eliminate many reflections.
PRoTeCTion FilTeRS B+W Protection Filter 007 Clear This filter fulfils the desire of many photographers for pure lens protection without a filter effect. Its only function is to keep dirt, sand or splashes away from the front lens. The extremely clear special glass with high transmission is MRCfinished. The hydrophobic coating reduces the adhesion of particles and water drops. The advantages are easy cleaning and maximum reflection reduction. Also available with Slim mount for super wide angle lenses.
Protection filters – the lens protectors Active photography demands a great deal of cameras and lenses. It therefore makes sense to protect the sensitive front element of the lens against flying sand, dust, fingerprints and water with a filter. Filters not only cost a fraction of the price of a lens, but are also easier to clean. B+W protection filters can remain permanently in front of the lens as they are absolutely colorless, highly transparent and extremely low-reflective due to their hard MRC finish.
PolARiZinG FilTeRS B+W “Käsemann” Polarizing Filter For this high-end polarizing filter the foil pieces are selected individually for maximum color neutrality. Following cementing between highgrade optical glass, additional grinding and polishing takes place. This guarantees outstanding sharpness even with very bright, apochromatic lenses. The latest cementing technique ensures lasting stability even in damp climates. Available as linear and circular polar-izing filters.
Unwanted reflections on glass (right) are removed by the pol filter Without pol filter: Typical gray-blue haze on sunny days With pol filter: Pure, authentic colors, more brilliance Polarizing filters – pure colors and non-reflecting surfaces Radiant white clouds against a deep blue sky or saturated fall colors are no coincidence. Polarizing filters block the bluish gray veil from the diffusely polarized light of the sky. They augment the purity of true colors and increase color saturation.
Gray filters – creative using less light Gray filters or neutral density (ND) filters are used if too much light restricts creative possibilities. They reduce the light in accordance with their density. They therefore allow longer exposure times or more widely opened apertures. Applications are highly varied and in some cases experimental. For very bright motifs in the snow or on the beach the aperture would also have to be closed, despite minimum exposure time.
GRAY FilTeRS B+W Gray Filter 103 This quite strong gray filter reduces the light by up to three f-stops, equivalent to a filter factor of 8x. It offers more options than weaker gray filters. This is already sufficient for successful time-exposure effects, and it can also be regarded as a universal gray filter in digital photography. White balance with the filter ensures optimum color neutrality. Tip: Remember to use a tripod for longer exposure times.
CloSe-uP lenSeS B+W Close-up lens nl 4 With +4 diopters this close-up lens is pretty powerful. With a focal length of 0 mm it attains an image scale of approx. 1: . With 100 mm focal length this even advances to 1:1. , i.e. into the true macro range. To increase brilliance and sharpness, stopping down by about two f-stops is recommended. With the B+W Close-Up Lens NL 4, calyxes (flower heads) already become too large for the format.
Without a close-up lens the minimum focus is usually not sufficient Close-up lenses reduce the minimum focus, producing clear details Close-up lenses – reading glasses for your lenses Would you like to explore fantastic worlds in miniature? Close-up lenses open up new motifs in an inexpensive way. Like reading glasses, close-up lenses move the focus range into the close-up zone. The effect increases with the diopter number and the focal length of the lens.
B+W Soft-Pro – precise beauty softener The term “soft focus attachment” does not do justice to this soft filter. The filter delivers sharp pictures which are softly overlaid with unsharpness. Details such as eyelashes do not taper into unsharpness, while skin blemishes are gently covered up. Small mini-lenses are distributed randomly on a precisely plane-parallel glass disc. They scatter the light and overlay the sharp core image with hazy, diffuse halos.
eFFeCT FilTeRS B+W Soft Focus Attachment Soft-Pro A special soft focus attachment with irregularly distributed micro-lenses on precisely plane-parallel clear glass. The sharp core image is overlaid with a soft unsharpness. Ideal for dreamlike feminine portraits, softly shimmering, backlit blond hair, dreamy landscapes, and all without much loss of sharpness.
eFFeCT FilTeRS B+W Graduated Filter dark Gray 502 Extremely well defined clouds and a full-bodied instead of milky tone in the sky – this already stronger graduated filter produces these effects. It attenuates the light in the darkest zone by two f-stops (transparency 2 %). Very high-contrast landscape motifs without loss of definition become possible.
Without gray graduation filter: Not enough “drama” in the sky Without Redhancer: Pale red-orange tones With Redhancer: Fresh, vibrant red-orange. Gray graduated filters – reducing extreme contrast Gray graduated filters are colorless and compensate excessive contrasts between the sky and the landscape. Clouds gain definition, sky blue acquires depth. The filters can be rotated in the mount in order to adapt the graduation to the horizon.
Tips for digital infrared photography Whether or not a digital camera is IR-sensitive can be determined with an IR remote control. Instructions can be found on the Internet. The IR focus point is somewhat further away than that for visible light. With the filter attached, white balance is performed automatically or (preferably) manually.
SPeCiAl FilTeRS B+W infrared Filter 093 This filter blocks visible light (up to 800 mm) almost completely. It is dark red, almost black. With analog IR film or IR-sensitive digital cameras it delivers a fantastic wood effect (white leaves) and a typically dark sky. The exposure values vary according to the digital camera model being used and are best determined by experimenting. They are usually in the range of a few seconds. Focusing is performed first without a filter using IR focus correction.
MounT TYPeS B+W Standard Filter Mount F-Pro B+W Slim Wide-Angle Filter Mount The improved Standard Filter Mount F-Pro The trend towards ultra-compact design in has high mechanical stability despite its (zoom) lenses does not always leave enough shallow design. It can be used on most room for a normal filter thickness. With wide-angle lenses without the danger of extreme angles of view and very short focal vignetting.
Screenprint color for the gold B+W logo on the mount Strict final inspections ensure flawless filter products Filter mounts from B+W – high-tech attachments The quality of high-grade filters is determined by various criteria. Many photographers are aware that the plane parallelism and transmission properties of glass and the coating are key factors for image quality. What fewer of them know is that the filter mount must also meet high requirements as a link in the high-tech chain.
ACCeSSoRieS B+W Adapter Rings If photo equipment is to include lenses with different filter thread diameters, the B+W adapter rings can adapt filters and supplementary lenses to different lens diameters. This is less expensive than buying several lenses with the same filter type – money that would be better invested in a larger selection of filters. When buying filters, check the largest diameter required. In principle, small filters can be adapted to lenses with larger diameters.
B+W Collapsible lens Hoods Collapsible lens hoods are made of high-grade rubber. Their advantage compared to fixed lens hoods made of plastic or metal is that, in their collapsed state, they protrude only a short distance. This means that the lens hood can remain attached to the lens and, together with the camera, will also fit into a tight photo or standby bag. Lens hoods are usually regarded simply as a kind of sun visor.
ACCeSSoRieS B+W Front lens Snap Cap 310 Hard plastic cap with two spring-loaded plastic claws opposite each other that engage the front thread of the lens (or filter). Simple removal by pressing the two buttons together means fast and uncomplicated one-hand operation. Available in the following thread sizes: 46 E, 48 E, 4 E, 2 E, E, 8 E, 62 E, 2 E and E. B+W Slip-on Front lens Cap 300 Protective cap made of flexible plastic material that slips over the outer front rim of the lens or filter.
nylon Fabric Filter Pouches These filter pouches are made of padded, heavy-duty and water-repellent nylon fabric with practical Velcro fasteners and a white space for labeling. They provide excellent protection for the individual filters. Available in three sizes: • E 1 11. x 11. cm for filter sizes up to E; • E 2 14. x 14. cm for filter sizes up to 10 E; • E 20.0 x 20.0 cm for filter sizes larger than 10 E 2 . and 2 mm are available. If required, the range will be extended.
FILTERS/LENS HOODS Effective B+W Filter products Infrared Filter 092, 093, 099 Filters for B&W photography 021, 022, 023, 040, 041 Filters for B&W photography 090, 091 Graduated Filter 501, 502, 524, 543, 550, 560, 561, 581, 585, 590 Soft Focus Attachment Soft-Pro Soft-Image Zeiss Softar 1, 2 Fog 1, 2
WIDE ANGLE FILTERS Polarizing Filter Redhancer 491 Conversion Filter KB 1,5, KB 20 Conversion Filter KB 15 (80 A) Conversion Filter KR 1,5 (Skylight), KR 12 Conversion Filter 81 A (similar KR 1,5), 81 B (similar KR 4) Color Correction Filters (CC-Filter) F-Day 499 UV Black Filter 403;
Publisher Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH Business Unit B+W Filters Ringstraße 132 | D-55543 Bad Kreuznach www.schneiderkreuznach.com Copy IdeaTorial Redaktionsteam, Heinz-Jürgen Kruppa Immenbuschweg 5 | 27389 Vahlde www.ideatorial.de Tables Walter E. Schön, DGPh Titles and production photos Achim K. Rösch, DGPh Sample photos Fotodesign Frank Widmann Rheingaustraße 85b | 65203 Wiesbaden www.frank-widmann.de Design Bartenbach & Co. Agentur für Kommunikation AG & Co. KG An der Fahrt 8 | 55124 Mainz www.
Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH Business Unit B+W Filters Ringstraße 132 | D-55543 Bad Kreuznach Tel.: +49 671 601122 1009539 A Fax: +49 671 601302 filter@schneiderkreuznach.com www.schneiderkreuznach.
