Fuji FP-100C and Tiffen 812 = WOW!

[Robert Lai]

After many wasted pictures with Fuji FP-100C in my Polaroid 180, I was about to give up on this film and go purely into black and white.

I was taking pictures around the garden, using the finder from the Close-up kit for the 250 (same Zeiss finder as the 180), and a 46mm Heliopan +3 closeup lens. For the record, the Polaroid 180, 190, and 195 have a 45mm filter thread, but it is easy enough now to find a 45-46mm adapter ring (sold from Hong Kong), and use standard 46mm filters on these cameras. Since the 250 and 180 share the same Zeiss rangefinder/viewfinder, you can use the finder goggles from the portrait and close-up kits of the 250 on your 180. It's a lot cheaper than the kits made for the 180! The finders are the same, just the wierd 45mm threaded filters are rare - hence the high cost for the 180 portrait and close-up kits.

The problem with my garden images is that there is often a lot of dappled sun and shade. The short tonal scale of this film made them look like snow and coal, respectively. So, the Metz 45 handle-mount flash was brought out for fill flash duties. I usuallyl set this on "auto", about 2 stops below the shooting aperture. This evened up the lighting, but the images taken in shadow had an excess of green and blue, giving a sickly tint. Only the pictures taken in direct sunlight had a decent tone.

When my wife saw these pictures, she basically told me that I really suck as a photographer (true), and that all these Polaroid things should be thrown into the garbage (NO)!

Step one: throw away all the bad pictures!

Step two: investigate warming filters. I was using a B+W UV filter on my 180, purely for protection. I doubted that a skylight filter would give enough warming. Putting on a warming filter was going to give the sky a funny tint. So, in googling about, I discovered the Tiffen 812. It's supposed to get rid of the excess blue in shadows, and enhance skin tones.
I found that the 46mm size Tiffen 812 may be obtained brand new for about $15.

Well, it arrived today, and I must say WOW!
The color rendition seems perfect now.
I did some A/B comparisons of the same scenes shot with the UV filter, and then with the 812. I shot them one right after another, swapping filters. The 812 had the color rendition that seemed accurate to the way I remember the scene (though the UV filtered scene was probably the technically accurate one). Even in bright daylight, the colors seem "right".
The bright red poppies that always used to blob into a detail-less mass that was overexposed was subtly held back into a lower zone with detail. The filter holds back under 1/2 stop of light on average, but that little 1/3 to 1/2 of a zone is enough to prevent the highlights from blowing out. My Metz flash takes care of the shadows.

If you've always hated the Fuji FP-100C instant color film, then spend $15 and try the Tiffen 812. YOU WILL LOVE IT!
I'm sorry that I don't have a scanner for flat images (only film scanners). So, I can't really show you the proof. But, please try it!

PS: Step 3 - replace the thrown out shots with the new ones in the album. Hopefully she'll reassess the virtues of the Polaroid medium.

[Robert Lai]

I decided that the only way to show the comparison is to photograph two images side by side with my digital P&S. Given the size limits here, you can't see much detail, but the color differences should be evident.
Tiffen 812 001_01.JPG

[one90guy]

Thanks for the tip, I prefer the 812 myself. Will have to try the FP]100C again.

David

[shadowfox]

Robert, thanks for the comprehensive tip.
And I love that garden bouquet picture.

[Robert Lai]

Thanks for the feedback to Shadowfox and 190guy.

The picture was just a quick snap of something in the shade, a situation that had vexed me before with this film. The off center placement was not deliberate, only inaccurate parallax compensation with this finder (especially if the eye is not centered).

I used to hate this film, but now I love it!

[maddoc]

Thanks for the tip !! I have a loaded a pack of this film in my Polaroid back but not tested yet.

[pdexposures]

I've been using warming filters for some time now with Fuji's instant films. Without them I find something to be very lacking.

[Ezzie]

I too have struggled with FP100C and shadows. Very easy to get a (in my case) blue to magenta cast. This is a very useful tip, thanks.

[fbf]

I must admit I hated the fp-100c. I never got correct/pleasant color-balance out of the film regardless what light situation was. My favorite is still the fp3000b
I will give the warming filter a try.

polaroid 195/190/185/180 is perfect for the fuji packfilm.

[charjohncarter]

Good tip thanks.