Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What is the purpose of using 80A and 80B filters in photography?

1. To enhance color saturation

2. To balance tungsten lighting to daylight

3. To reduce glare from the sun

4. To add creative effects

The correct answer is: To balance tungsten lighting to daylight

The use of 80A and 80B filters in photography is primarily aimed at balancing tungsten lighting to daylight. Tungsten lighting, which emits a warm color temperature (approximately 3200K), can cause photographs to have an overly orange or yellow cast. When photography is performed in environments lit by tungsten bulbs, a color correction filter such as the 80A or 80B adjusts the color temperature of the light to match daylight, which is around 5500K to 6500K. The 80A filter is designed to reduce the temperature from tungsten to daylight by approximately one full stop, while the 80B filter shifts it further, allowing for more accurate color reproduction when shooting under incandescent lighting. This adjustment is crucial in achieving true-to-life skin tones and vibrant imagery when shooting with film or from a camera sensor sensitive to various color temperatures. Using these filters not only improves the color balance in images but also enhances the overall quality and aesthetic of the photographs captured under artificial lighting. The use of these filters is a common practice among photographers who are looking to achieve specific looks and ensure color fidelity in their work.