Manual asa rating and filters...

[-Benjamin-]

Hello everybody,

As the happy owner of a Leicina Special, I don't have to worry about carts' notches, and that's a good thing...

However, I got confused about rating the film speed when using filters. I pretty much convinced myself that I have to rate E64 at 64 if I use an external 85B, since the loss of light happens in front of the lens, so the camera meter should take that in consideration according to the "real" film speed. Anyone, please correct me if I'm wrong.

And the thing I just can't sort out by myself is : how should I rate any tungsten film when using the internal filter ? Again the "real" film speed or the EI indicated for daylight shooting ? (for example, 40 asa with E64 ?)

Thanks a lot.

Cheers.
B.

[MIKI-814]

how should I rate any tungsten film when using the internal filter ? Again the "real" film speed or the EI indicated for daylight shooting ? (for example, 40 asa with E64 ?)

Every film has actually two numbers: for Tungsten and for Daylight. Ektachrome 64T is 64T/40D, so if you're going to shoot outdoors with the filter, you have ASA 40. Kodachrome 40 is 40T/25D, etc.

[-Benjamin-]

Thanks for the reply Miki, but I think that doesn't really answer my question.

Remember that the Leicina doesn't have those pins to read the cartridge notches, so it doesn't have a clue about the film speed or its type (T or D). There's a knob, like on Beaulieu cameras, to manually set the film speed.
Hence my belief that with an external 85B filter, E64 is still a 64 asa film that only gets 2/3rd of a stop less light than it would without the filter. But then, the camera meter should give a correct exposure with the film speed knob set to 64. This is what I came to believe anyway, but again, for whatever reason I'm not aware of, I could be wrong.

And where it totally confuses me is with the internal filter. Could it stand in the way of the meter like an external filter ? Or is it not taken into account by the meter, and then I should rate tungsten films to their D EI ? (My instinct tells me it's the second solution but I'd like to know for sure...)

Does any of that make sense ?

Thank you guys.
B.

[MIKI-814]

Then what you need to know is if the internal filter of the Leicina automatically makes the lightmeter compensate for it, or not. I don't know, but if you have to set manually all those things, I guess the answer is no and I would set ASA 40 when the filter is in. Sure anyone will be more helpful than me on this 8)

[-Benjamin-]

Hey Miki and thanks again.

Yes I'm sure there some Leicina Specialists on the board.

I just hope they're not on vacation.

Cheers.
B.

[filmjockey]

Hi,

Don't know if this'll be any help but I'll give it a shot. I own a Beaulieu, which may have a similar setup to the Leicina. On the Beaulieu, the internal meter has no way of knowing whether or not the internal filter is in place. In other words the meter does not "see" if the filter is in use or not. This is why a Beaulieu owner must adjust the ASA setting on the filmspeed dial in combination with setting the internal filter. For example using K40 under tungten, the filter is removed from the light path and the ASA is set on the filmspeed dial to 40. Using K40 under daylight the 85 filter is placed in the light path, and the ASA is set on the filmspeed dial to 25 to compensate.

Now assume that I have the internal filtration system removed from the Beaulieu altogether. This is a pretty popular thing to do I've learned. Now, to use K40 under daylight I must add an 85 filter to the front of the lens, but now the meter sees the decrease in light transmission, so I leave the ASA setting at 40 to obtain proper exposure.

[-Benjamin-]

Thanks for the input Filmjockey.

I suspect the Leicina should behave like the Bealieu. I wish I could know for sure.
The best thing would probably to use only external filters. That would be a no brainer and probably a better thing to do since these old gelatin internal filters age badly anyway.

When I can afford it, I'll maybe sacrifice a cart and do some tests.
Or I'll just go buy an external 85...

Well, thanks again.

Cheers.
B.