Eric Eader Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 Hello, Is there a list somewhere (downloadable) that outlines Arri filter nomenclature so I can tell filters meant for B&W film from color film? Agfa, Wratten, Tiffen, Nikon, and Harrison published charts listing their filters, but I could not with several internet searches find such a list for Arriflex filters. Arri didn't mark their glass. Technically, not even the box either, except for hand lettering. I don't want to buy a filter meant for color film, just B&W film. (Also, a comparison like the old Wratten graphs indicating "extinction and transmission"? That would be a nice bonus). A list or an explanation would be very helpful. Thank you in advance, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Polzfusz Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 (edited) Hi Eric! There‘s a list on page 7 of this PDF: https://issuu.com/filmmaker8.com/docs/arriflex-16-catalog-1961 Another list can be found in this price list: https://archive.org/details/TNM_Arriflex_16mm_cameras_price_list_1965_-_Braun_20171019_0073/page/n9/mode/2up?view=theater and on the last page of this price list: https://ia904602.us.archive.org/17/items/arriflex_paperwork_scans/arriflex_16_price_list_19610401_text.pdf I hope that this helps. Jörg Edited March 14, 2023 by Joerg Polzfusz Added links 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Polzfusz Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 Filters for their 35mm cameras are mentioned here: https://ia800102.us.archive.org/11/items/TNM_Arriflex_35mm_cameras_price_list_1965_-_Braun_20171019_0065/TNM_Arriflex_35mm_cameras_price_list_1965_-_Braun_20171019_0065_djvu.txt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Eader Posted March 14, 2023 Author Share Posted March 14, 2023 Joerg, Thank you for the info!! The 35mm list confirmed seller's photos relative to filter type. Now is there anyone who can point me toward a pamphlet or book that shows "Spectrophotometric Absorption Curves" of Arri B&W filters? Kodak (Wratten), Harrison, and Agfa published curves for their filters, so maybe Arri did this as well? It turns out that my little Agfa book was published in Soviet Occupied Germany (1954), and although I don't speak or read German, internet translation gets me close to understanding what was written, and the charts are definitely understandable. Thanks again, Joerg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Polzfusz Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 (edited) Hello Eric, maybe I’m wrong, but there shouldn’t be any difference between the filters from different companies. E.g. a „green filter for b&w“ from Arri should have the same impact as one from Meopta/Tiffen/Lomo/Kodak/Hoya/Zeiss/Schneider-Kreuznach/whatever. And when the filter is older than 20years, then I doubt that the original curves are still 100% valid due to some aging effects. IMHO, there are only a few aspects that differ between the brands or models: * Light loss (older/cheaper filters might cause more loss and hence have a different „filter factor“) * Thickness (older/cheaper filters might have a thicker optical element and a thicker mount and hence might differ in terms of vignetting) * Coating (newer filters might have a anti-reflection coating and might be protected better against scratches) * Optical elements (whether it’s glass, plastic or gelatin should not matter in terms of optical impact, but in price, quality, weight and reaction to heat) * Price (higher prices usually equals to better quality and better quality control) * Filter mounts (plastic vs. metal, precision of the threading) But of course, that’s just my opinion. BTW: When your „Agfa“ list got printed in the GDR, then it’s very, very likely in fact an „ORWO“ list: After the second WW, the Soviet troops confiscated the Agfa plant in Wolfen (near Bitterfeld), turning it into a separate company. In the beginning, the „capitalistic“ Agfa in the FRG cooperated with the „communistic“ Agfa in the GDR. And both companies continued to sell their products under the same brand name. But later, the „communistic“ Agfa in the GDR was forced to rename itself to „ORiginal WOlfen“ (ORWO). So be careful when applying your list to „Agfa“-branded filters. ? Edited March 15, 2023 by Joerg Polzfusz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dunn Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 (edited) B/W( contrast) filters are in solid colours- red, green, blue, yellow and orange. Red, green and yellow contrast filters look nothing like colour conversion filters. A CC blue is much paler than a contrast blue filter, and a CC orange filter is more of a brown colour. You should be able to tell by comparing the seller's images with images from a search on, say, the Tiffen or Lee websites. Edited March 15, 2023 by Mark Dunn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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