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Tiffen #1 Black and White Viewing Filter
Tiffen #1 Black and White Viewing Filter
B&H # TIBWVF MFR # BWVF
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Tiffen BWVF overview
- 1Description
The Tiffen #1 Viewer is for black-and-white imaging. Balancing lighting by eye is a matter of experience. Decisions can be aided through the use of contrast viewing filters. These are designed to handicap the eye, with its much greater range of apparent densities, to resemble the range of the various types of film.
- Use contrast viewers to judge relative highlight and shadow densities
- There are viewers for black-and-white film, as well as various viewer densities for color film
- A darker viewer is used for slower film speeds, where you would tend to use brighter lighting; Faster film, which can be used in dimmer settings would require a lighter viewer
Tiffen Viewing Filters
- The #1 is for black-and-white imaging
- The #2 viewer is for film speeds to 100
- #3 is for faster film; They can be used for video, as well, with the #3 being better suited for lower light levels
- The green #4 viewer is for process photography
- The blue #5 is for blue screen work, as well as for setting up color video monitors
UPC: 049383056433
Table of Contents
- 1Description
Tiffen BWVF specs
| Type | Viewing Filter |
| Size | Not applicable |
| Grade | 1 |
| Filter Factor | Not specified |
| Multi-Coated | No |
| Rotating | No |
| Effect | Judges relative highlight and shadow densities |
| Application | For judging contrast in black and white photography |
| Color Temperature | Not applicable |
| Construction | Glass |
| Front Filter Thread Size | Not applicable |
| Front Lens Cap Size | Not applicable |
| Warranty | Ten-Years |
| Packaging Info | |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.1 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 3.5 x 3.5 x 1.3" |
Tiffen BWVF reviews
#1 Black and White Viewing Filter is rated
out of
5 by
27.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Ron L. from
More Like A Contrast Filter
Anyone who is expecting to see a desaturated black and white scene when viewing through this filter will be sorely disappointed; however, its utility in imagining what a composition would look like in monochrome is excellent. Black and white is all about the edges and when the light contrast between darks, grays, and lights changes dramatically in a scene, the black and white rendering will be eye catching. Looking through this glass gives the subject a dark reddish sepia tone making the whites and light grays pop out by contrast. The darker grays and blacks become less visible allowing you to easily spot the bright areas and more importantly their edges. It then becomes apparent whether there is potential drama in your light gray zones, or by contrast, if all of the gray tones are so similar that the resulting photograph will be flat and bland.
Date published: 2011-12-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Marton Lorand from
I would buy this product again and again
The filter comes with a POUCH!!! When i was browsing the site, i saw that the green filter comes with a bonus pouch, so i said to myself that i'd rather buy a pouch than have a surprise that the filter doesn't come with a pouch... It has a solid build, top quality provided once again by Tiffen filters. The filter is yellow, witch provides the best view for contrasts. This product is a bit tricky to use, since you need to understand that this contrast filter help's you see the level of contrast witch will be seen on your film medium (you have to know your film stock well, because some BW films are more contrasty than others witch are more soft in tones ). I recommend that you do a little research on viewing filters and it's uses before you purchase this product because it takes experience to get the best use out of this product
Date published: 2011-08-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Jake S. from
Two Words: Learning Curve
Hold the viewing filter cupped-side to your dominant eye and look briefly at your subject. Remove the filter. Find areas of distinct color in your subject and look with the filter again. If adjacent colors of the same reflectance value merge in the filter (if they appear to be roughly the same level of brightness or darkness), you must use an appropriate color contrast filter over your camera's lens to seperate the colors for your photograph. That's what this filter does; it helps you anticipate what areas of your subject will become blocks of similar gray tones when recorded on B&W panchromatic film such as Kodak Tri-X. There is a strong color cast in the filter, it does not produce a B&W image for you to view. You must learn to ignore this. Blue appears exceptionally dark in the filter but still, when compared with nearby objects, shows seperation of colors correctly. LED readouts on alarm clocks, etc. dissapear through this filter (red & blue). These are strange limitations of the medium. Nevertheless, Ansel Adams, Fred Picker and the like were correct in their assertion that this device is a valuable aid in visualizing the final image at the exposure stage. Buy the filter now before they dissapear from the market. The Zone VI Studios version is VERY expensive used and doesn't block stray light like the cupped metal Tiffen version does. I am glad that I purchased this filter and recommend it highly to anyone with a serious interest in B&W fine-art photography.
Date published: 2011-08-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Steve the Bee Man from
Achieving that Ansel Look
This black and white viewing filter from Tiffin is just what the doctor ordered. If, that is, you are trying to improve your black and white photography, whether shooting film or digital. It doesn't get any simpler. Outdoors, you just hold the filter up to your dominant eye (it doesn't go on the camera!) and look at your subject, or a landscape. The filter does not turn the color world into monochrome, but it does give you a pleasing orange tonal world, making it easier to visualize what the scene will look like once you shoot in monochrome (in-camera), or for most shooters, using post-processing software. This simple stop and look technique should improve how you see, think, and most importantly, take those award-winning black and white photos. In fact, Ansel Adams used to give similar filters out to photographers lucky enough to have taken the workshops he taught in Yosemite National Park. I recently used them in a black and white workshop I taught.
Date published: 2012-11-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Anonymous from
Good for approximating B&W tonalities
I use this viewing filter to get an approximation of black and white tonalities when shooting B&W film. The tones are actually a deep yellow, not true black and white, but it's the sense of tones that one would use this for.
Date published: 2012-09-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ghostcrab from
Perfect for the Black & White Photograph
This Tiffen viewing filter allows you view your subjects in monochrome and see the tonality before shooting. Very helpful with composition. The filter is small, comes with a carrying case and a neck lanyard.
Date published: 2015-03-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Alexander from
Everything old is new again
I had one of these years ago -- went missing somehow. If you carry two cameras, as I frequently do -- either film, or digital -- one B&W, one color, a filter like this lets you easily determine the difference between contrast and color value. Granted there is no film cost in the digital world, but moments and time pass -- no going back except with editing software. I prefer to follow the light and seize the moment, get it first try, in the camera -- my photos are to just please me and my family.
Date published: 2015-08-17
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Adam Ebihara from
Great Viewing Filter
I love this viewing filter. It's well made, has a lanyard to go around my neck & it's helping my B + W photography without a doubt. Ansel Adams used a similiar filter in his workshops so that's quite an endorsement. It is really helping me with landscape work by clearly delineating tonal values & edges. Sometimes it is startling how the filter breaks a landscape down tonally. I am an intermediate to advanced photographer who shoots digitally with a D7000 & soon D4. I highly recommend this filter for beginners especially. It's inexpensive & quite fun to use. The filter will be more valuable as my developing/printing skills progress. Might buy another one just in case it goes out of production. That's how useful it is. Indeed, valuable. And I haven't started to print yet! Adam Ebihara, NYC
Date published: 2012-03-19
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