Which are preferable above or below the lens Ilford multigrade filters. Can I use above the lens filters below the lens?

-- Robert Carew (rcarew@melbpc.org.au), May 04, 1999

Answers

If you believe the results from tests performed by Ctein, there is no difference in filter placement as long as the filters placed under the lens are clean and unscratched.

-- steve (swines@egginc.com), May 05, 1999.

Unless you keep below the lens filters immaculate they will degrade the image. ABOVE THE NEGATIVE filters are a safer bet. A dichroic or VC head is better still (more convenient).

-- Tim Brown (bronwt@ase.com), May 06, 1999.

Although you will see no (or little) difference in contrast between having the filter above or below the lens, why would you pay hundreds of dollars for a lens and then place a $5.00 piece of plastic under that lens ?

-- jim megargee (jim@mvlabs.com), May 08, 1999.

I've heard all the arguments about having the filtes above the lens, but from a pragmatic POV... You can definitely hang filters under the lens; if they're clean and dust-free, there'll be no appreciable image degradation. We've been doing it this way ever since we began using VC papers in the 70s, and we've never seen any evidence of the filtration damaging the image in any way.

-- Michael Goldfarb (mgoldfar@mobius-inc.com), May 12, 1999.

I recall reading in a Kodak publication that 1/4 inch below the lens is optimal. If filter is clean and dustfree, I don't believe image degredation is an issue, although above-the-lens is much easier to work with.

-- Standish Lawder (sdl@sni.net), November 20, 1999.

If you attempt split filter printing to have greater individual control over the shadow detail as well as the highlights, below the lens filters are much easier to use. Changing filters above the lens during split filter printing can cause image shift/focus problems if you are not extremely careful. That said, In my non-permanent, non-dust free (despite all attempts) darkroom, I do much less spotting with above lense filters.

-- Chip Coons (chip@bellsouth.net), November 22, 1999.