I remember starting out in black and white photography, feeling like my images lacked a certain punch. Skies were washed out, and landscapes felt flat, without the dramatic separation between elements I saw in classic photographs. This problem needed a solution; otherwise, my monochrome work would remain uninspired, failing to capture the mood and depth I envisioned. I knew there had to be a way to enhance contrast and tone right there in the field, without relying solely on darkroom or digital manipulation.
- Medium red filter
- Darkens blue sky creating dramatic contrast with clouds
- 72mm diameter
What to Think About When Choosing a Filter
Before diving into a specific filter, it’s crucial to understand what filters for black and white photography are designed to do. They primarily manipulate the tonal rendition of colours, allowing you to lighten or darken objects of certain hues in the final monochrome image. If you’re someone who loves high-contrast skies, wants to make green foliage appear lighter, or is looking to experiment with infrared effects on monochrome film, then these filters are for you. Conversely, if you shoot exclusively in colour or prefer a strictly natural, low-contrast black and white look derived solely from light and shadow, you might not need these specialized contrast filters. When considering a filter, think about the filter factor (how much light it blocks, affecting exposure), the quality of the glass and threads, and, of course, the specific effect the colour provides on your subject matter.
- Includes #6, #13, & #25 Contrast Filters
- 【58mm Color Filter Kit】 This kit includes 9 pieces 58mm color filters (red, orange, blue, yellow, green, brown, purple, pink, and gray filter), 2 filter pouches, and a cleaning cloth
Introducing the Tiffen 72mm 25 Filter (Red)
The Tiffen 72mm 25 Filter (Red) is a medium red filter designed primarily to dramatically impact black and white images. It’s made from optical glass and screws onto lenses with a 72mm filter thread. When you purchase it, you typically get the filter itself in a protective case. Compared to higher-end brands like B+W or Lee, Tiffen generally offers a more budget-friendly option while aiming for respectable optical quality. This specific filter is ideal for photographers who want strong contrast effects in their monochrome work, particularly with skies and landscapes. It’s less suitable for those who need a subtle effect or plan to use it for colour photography (where it would create a strong red cast) or specific niche uses like underwater videography, where its effect is often too extreme.
Here are some pros and cons based on my experience and common feedback:
Pros:
* Creates very strong contrast in black and white images.
* Dramatically darkens blue skies and enhances clouds.
* Provides excellent separation between foliage and flowers.
* Effectively cuts light, acting as a roughly 3-stop neutral density filter for slower shutter speeds.
* Generally more affordable than competing premium brands.
Cons:
* Can sometimes show minor quality control inconsistencies (e.g., internal marks).
* Too strong for subtle contrast adjustments.
* Not suitable for colour photography without significant colour correction.
* May require exposure compensation adjustment (filter factor).
Diving Deep into What it Does
The Medium Red Effect on Monochrome
The core principle of the Tiffen 72mm 25 Filter (Red) lies in how it translates colours into grayscale tones. A red filter primarily blocks blue and green light while allowing red light to pass through. In black and white photography, colours are rendered based on their brightness. When you put a red filter in front of your lens, blue objects (like the sky) appear much darker to the film or sensor because their light is being blocked. Red objects, conversely, appear much brighter because their light passes through unimpeded. Green foliage, which contains both green and some yellow light (closer to red than blue), also appears lighter than it would without the filter. This deliberate manipulation of how colours are recorded as tones is why contrast filters are so powerful in monochrome work. It gives the photographer immense control over the final look of the image right at the point of capture.
Creating Dramatic Skies
One of the most popular uses for a medium red filter like the Tiffen 72mm 25 Filter (Red) is enhancing skies. Blue skies, especially those with fluffy white clouds, are transformed. Without a filter, a blue sky often renders as a medium gray, sometimes blending in with the clouds or the rest of the scene. By blocking blue light, the red filter turns the sky into a deep, dark gray, sometimes almost black, depending on the intensity of the blue. The white clouds, which reflect all colours of light and aren’t blocked by the filter, remain bright white. The result is a dramatic, graphic look with stark contrast between the dark sky and the luminous clouds. This effect is reminiscent of classic landscape photography and can turn an ordinary sky into a focal point of the image. It’s a capability that’s hard to replicate as effectively in post-processing, as the tonal separation is captured directly.
Enhancing Foliage and Landscapes
Beyond the sky, the 72mm Red Filter also significantly impacts green and red elements in a scene. Green foliage, grasses, and trees contain chlorophyll, which reflects green light, but also other pigments. The red filter makes greens appear lighter in the final black and white image than they would otherwise. This can help separate trees from a dark sky or make fields of grass stand out. Red flowers or objects of similar hues will appear very bright, creating a striking contrast against the surrounding, less red-toned elements. This control over tonal separation allows you to guide the viewer’s eye through the scene and emphasize certain textures or shapes that might otherwise blend together. For instance, photographing a scene with red brick buildings against green trees and a blue sky becomes a masterclass in tonal variation with this filter.
Light Cutting and Exposure Compensation
A coloured filter like the Tiffen 25 Red doesn’t just affect colour translation; it also reduces the total amount of light reaching the sensor or film. Red filters block a significant portion of the visible spectrum (specifically blue and green). The “25” designation for a red filter typically indicates a filter factor, which is how many times you need to multiply the exposure time compared to shooting without the filter. For a #25 red filter, this filter factor is often around 8x, meaning you need to open your aperture by about 3 stops or use a shutter speed 8 times slower. This light reduction is actually a benefit in certain situations. For example, if you want to photograph a waterfall and create that smooth, milky effect of flowing water, you need a slow shutter speed. The light-cutting ability of this filter, effectively acting as a moderate neutral density filter (around 3 stops), helps achieve those longer exposure times even in relatively bright conditions. You’ll need to adjust your exposure settings accordingly, either manually or by using your camera’s through-the-lens metering (TTL), which usually compensates for the filter’s effect, though sometimes a slight manual adjustment is still needed based on the scene.
Construction and Handling
The Tiffen 72mm 25 Filter (Red) is constructed with optical glass and a metal ring. The 72mm size refers to the thread diameter, ensuring it fits lenses with a matching filter size. While Tiffen is known for value, it’s worth noting that sometimes minor cosmetic flaws, like tiny internal marks or inconsistencies, can occur, though these don’t always impact image quality noticeably. The filter ring itself is generally well-machined and screws smoothly onto compatible lenses. Care must always be taken when attaching or removing filters to avoid cross-threading or overtightening. Keeping the glass clean is paramount, as any dust, fingerprints, or smudges will show up clearly in your images, especially with a high-contrast filter.
Experimenting with Infrared Film
While primarily for standard black and white photography, a medium red filter like the Tiffen 72mm 25 Red Filter can also be used with infrared-sensitive film or full-spectrum digital cameras. Pure infrared filters (like R72) block almost all visible light, allowing only infrared light to pass. A red filter, however, allows red light *and* some near-infrared light to pass. When used with infrared film (like Ilford SFX 200) or on a modified digital camera, this creates a unique look. Blue skies turn very dark, just as in regular B&W, but green foliage, which reflects infrared light strongly, becomes brighter, though not the ghostly white you get with a true IR filter. This produces images with a distinctive glow in vegetation and interesting tonal shifts, offering a creative avenue beyond typical black and white. It’s a fascinating way to push the boundaries of monochrome imaging.
What Other Photographers Are Saying
Searching online reveals that many photographers appreciate this red filter for its strong effect and value. Users frequently comment on its ability to darken skies dramatically for striking black and white landscapes and its effectiveness when experimenting with infrared film. Some note that while not as premium as top-tier brands, the optical quality is more than sufficient for most uses, especially considering the price point. A few mentions pop up regarding potential minor quality control issues, like faint internal marks, and some users have found it unsuitable for niche applications like underwater GoPro videos where it results in an overly red image. Overall, the sentiment leans positive for its intended use in monochrome photography.
Final Thoughts and Recommendation
The problem this filter addresses is the lack of dynamic contrast and tonal separation in standard black and white images, especially concerning skies and landscapes. Without such a tool, your monochrome photos can lack depth and visual interest. The Tiffen 72mm 25 Filter (Red) is a great fit to solve this because it offers a potent, well-understood effect for dramatically darkening skies and enhancing greens. It provides significant creative control at the point of capture and also doubles as a moderate ND filter for longer exposures. If you shoot black and white and want to add a powerful tool to your kit for maximum contrast and drama, this filter is definitely worth considering. Click here to check it out.
Last update on 2025-07-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API