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Tiffen 46R25 46mm Red Filter for Black and White Photography — main product image
Tiffen 46R25 46mm Red Filter for Black and White Photography
Tiffen 46R25 46mm Red Filter for Black and White Photography
Tiffen 46R25 46mm Red Filter for Black and White Photography
Tiffen

Tiffen 46R25 46mm Red Filter for Black and White Photography

★★★★★4.6 (442 reviews)

A 46mm red contrast filter that transforms black and white photography with dramatic skies and bold tonal separation.

$15.99*$19.99Save 20%
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 07, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Tiffen 46mm Red #25 filter is a specialized contrast-enhancement tool for black and white photography. By transmitting red wavelengths and blocking blue and green light, it fundamentally alters how a monochrome image renders tonal relationships. Blue skies are rendered nearly black, creating powerful contrast against white or light-colored clouds. Green foliage darkens significantly, while red and orange subjects — such as flowers, brick, and skin tones — are rendered lighter. The result is a dramatic, high-contrast look that has been a staple of black and white landscape and architectural photography for decades.

Built from optical glass with a standard 46mm thread mount, the filter attaches directly to compatible lenses and introduces minimal optical degradation. The 8x filter factor (3-stop reduction) means you will need to compensate exposure either through a wider aperture, slower shutter speed, or higher ISO, which is worth considering when shooting handheld or in dimmer conditions. For photographers working in bright daylight — where this filter performs best — the exposure trade-off is easily managed. The Red #25 sits at the strong end of the contrast filter spectrum, beyond yellow and orange alternatives, making it the go-to choice when you want the most pronounced separation between tones in a black and white frame.

Key Features

Enhances Black & White Contrast: Builds strong tonal separation for high‑contrast black and white photography.

Dramatic Sky Effects: Darkens skies, cuts through fog and haze, and can simulate moonlit scenes when slightly underexposed

Infrared Performance: Produces extreme contrast with infrared film, turning skies deep and foliage bright white

Exposure Compensation: Filter factor of 8 requires a +3 stop exposure increase

ColorCore Technology: Laminated optical glass construction, precision‑ground and polished, mounted in a durable metal ring

Specifications

Brand
Tiffen
Model
46R25
Filter Size
46mm
Filter Color
Red (#25)
Material
Optical Glass
Filter Factor
8x (3-stop exposure compensation)
Primary Use
Black and White Photography
Effect
Contrast Enhancement, Sky Darkening, Tonal Separation
Mount Type
Threaded

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Produces dramatic sky-to-cloud contrast that is difficult to replicate in post-processing
  • Produces dramatic contrast between blue skies and white clouds that is difficult to replicate in post-processing
  • Produces dramatic sky-to-cloud contrast that is difficult to replicate in post-processing
  • Optical glass construction maintains image sharpness across the entire frame
  • Enhances tonal separation between red and green subjects, such as flowers against foliage
  • Optical glass construction delivers consistent color density across the full frame
  • Standard 46mm thread mounts directly without adapters on compatible lenses
  • Optical glass construction maintains image sharpness across the frame
  • Standard 46mm thread mount attaches and removes quickly without adapters
  • Creates strong tonal separation between foliage and flowers for landscape work
  • Simple screw-on design requires no special adapters or holders
  • Enhances tonal separation between green foliage and red or warm-toned flowers
  • 3-stop filter factor is straightforward to compensate for with modern metering systems
  • Lightweight and slim profile that does not add significant bulk to the lens

👎 Cons

  • Requires a 3-stop exposure increase, which may necessitate slower shutter speeds or wider apertures
  • Limited to black and white photography, making it a single-purpose accessory
  • Requires 3 stops of exposure compensation, which can limit use in low-light situations
  • Only useful for black and white photography, making it a single-purpose accessory
  • The strong 3-stop light reduction makes it unsuitable for low-light or indoor shooting
  • Effect is essentially single-purpose, limited to black and white contrast work
  • 46mm is a less common filter size, so it may not fit most modern lenses without step-up rings
  • 46mm thread size fits a relatively narrow range of lenses compared to more common sizes like 52mm or 58mm
  • 46mm thread size fits a limited range of lenses compared to more common 52mm or 58mm filters
  • Effect is not adjustable — you get full red filtration or none
  • The dramatic effect cannot be dialed back — lighter red, orange, or yellow filters offer more moderate alternatives
  • Does not include a protective case or pouch

Frequently Asked Questions

It strongly darkens blue skies, making clouds stand out with high contrast, and increases tonal separation between foliage and flowers for more striking compositions.
It is designed for black and white photography, where it dramatically darkens blue skies, increases contrast between clouds and sky, and enhances tonal separation between subjects like flowers and foliage.
It dramatically darkens blue skies to near-black, making white clouds stand out with striking contrast. It also lightens red and orange tones while deepening greens, creating bold tonal separation between foliage, flowers, and sky.
The Red #25 has a filter factor of 8x, which means you need to add approximately 3 stops of exposure compensation to maintain proper brightness.
The Red #25 has a filter factor of 8x, which means you need to add 3 stops of additional exposure to compensate for the light it absorbs. Most cameras with through-the-lens metering handle this automatically.
The filter has a factor of 8x, meaning you need to increase exposure by approximately 3 stops to compensate for the light it absorbs.
While it physically fits any 46mm lens, it casts a strong red tint over the entire image. It is designed primarily for black and white work where that tint translates into tonal contrast rather than a color cast.
While it physically fits any lens with 46mm threads, the deep red tint produces a strong red color cast that makes it impractical for standard color work. It is intended specifically for black and white shooting.
While physically possible, the filter applies a strong red cast to color images. It is designed primarily for black and white photography where that red transmission translates into contrast and tonal effects rather than a color shift.
It threads directly onto any lens with a 46mm front filter thread. Check your lens cap or front element ring for the diameter marking to confirm compatibility.
It fits lenses with a 46mm filter thread. Check your lens cap or lens barrel for the thread size marking, often indicated by the ⌀ symbol followed by the diameter in millimeters.
It threads onto any lens with a 46mm front filter thread.
It is made from optical glass, which provides consistent color density and durable scratch resistance.
The Red #25 produces a much stronger effect than orange or yellow filters, delivering more dramatic sky darkening and higher contrast. Yellow and orange filters provide subtler, more natural-looking contrast enhancement.
The Red #25 produces the most dramatic contrast effect of the three. Yellow filters provide a subtle, natural enhancement, orange filters offer moderate contrast, and the red filter delivers the strongest sky darkening and tonal separation.

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