I believe movie directors use an instrument like a monocular that allows one to view the scene in monochrome. Does any one know the name of this or where I can buy one?

-- William O'Brien (wjobrien@home.com), January 22, 2001

Answers

Calumet sells the Zone VI viewing filters which converts colors to tonal values. I have one for 4x5...they come in a variety of sizes for different film formats. www.calumet.com...type viewing filter in the speed search blank.

-- Don Sparks (Harleyman7@aol.com), January 22, 2001.

The thing that you see dangling round movie directors' necks is a zoom viewing device. It enables them to see the framing of the camera in use, or to decide which lens to use. It's had nothing to do with B&W viewing since Technicolor was invented.
The monochrome preview filter is just a dark brown piece of gel. IMHO a useless gimmick. Get a pair of those old, unfashionable, dark amber sunglasses, cheaper and having the same effect.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), January 22, 2001.

The filter used to simulate a monochrome is the Kodak Wratten 90 (or 80 -- for some reason I can't ever remember which, even though I've bought a couple of them) It's a geletin filter that comes in 3x3 or 4x4 inch sizes. I cut it up and mount the pieces in 35mm slide holders inbetween two layers of glass. Much cheaper solution than the Zone VI item.

You have to bring it to your eye quickly and observe quickly, as the eye and brain rapidly adjusts back to polychromatic mode. It doesn't really show you "monochrome". The filter shows you the difference in tones as they might appear in grey. I've found it quite useful. Easy to carry and use

-- Jeff Polaski (polaski@acm.org), January 22, 2001.

Thanks to all for the good advice.

-- William O'Brien (wjobrien@home.com), January 23, 2001.