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Tiffen 55OR21 55mm Orange #21 Filter for Black & White Photography — main product image
Tiffen

Tiffen 55OR21 55mm Orange #21 Filter for Black & White Photography

Tiffen's 55mm Orange #21 filter transforms black and white photography with dramatic sky contrast and rich tonal separation.

$21.95*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Aug 29, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change — details.

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Overview

The Tiffen 55mm Orange #21 is a traditional colored contrast filter engineered specifically for black and white photography. By absorbing blue and blue-green wavelengths of light, it forces these tones to render darker on monochrome film or in digital black and white conversions. The practical result is striking: blue skies become deep and dramatic, clouds gain pronounced definition, and landscapes take on a bold, high-contrast character. It is particularly effective for outdoor subjects including landscapes, marine scenes, and aerial photography where blue tones dominate the frame.

Constructed from optical glass in a standard 55mm screw-in mount, the filter is compatible with any lens that accepts 55mm front-threaded filters, spanning all major camera brands and systems. The Orange #21 occupies a useful middle ground in the spectrum of contrast filters — it delivers a noticeably stronger effect than a Yellow #8 or #12 while remaining more natural-looking than a Red #25, which can push sky tones to near-black. This balance makes it one of the most popular choices among monochrome photographers who want a single go-to contrast filter. Photographers should account for roughly 2 to 3 stops of light loss when shooting with this filter, meaning a tripod or faster film speed may be necessary in lower-light conditions.

Key Features

Enhance Black & White Impact - Create stronger contrast and improved tonal separation in black-and-white photography. The Tiffen #21 Orange Filter helps define clouds, landscapes, architecture, and distant subjects, delivering greater depth and visual drama.

Classic Orange Filter Effect – Designed to absorb blue and blue-green wavelengths, helping darken skies, enhance cloud detail, and create stronger contrast throughout black and white images while maintaining optical clarity. Compared to a #16 Orange Filter, the#21 Orange Filter delivers a stronger contrast effect with deeper sky darkening and greater tonal separation, making it ideal for photographers seeking a more dramatic monochrome look.

Ideal For Landscape, Marine & Aerial Photography – Capture richer skies, better definition in distant scenery, and more dramatic water tones when shooting outdoors, making everyday scenes appear more striking and expressive.

Balanced Contrast For Creative Control – Stronger than a yellow filter yet more versatile than a red filter, making the #21 Orange Filter a favorite choice for photographers seeking bold contrast without an overly dramatic effect.

TRUSTED TIFFEN QUALITY | MADE IN NEW YORK – Built with high-quality optical glass mounted in a durable metal filter ring, this screw-in filter installs quickly and securely for reliable performance in the field. Manufactured in New York using Tiffen's precision ColorCore technology, photographers have relied on Tiffen filters for generations to deliver consistent image quality and dependable creative results.

Specifications

Diameter
55mm
Filter Color
Orange (#21)
Effect
Absorbs blue and blue-green colors
Intended Use
Black and white photography (landscape, marine, aerial)
Material
Optical Glass
Mount Type
Screw-in (standard thread)

Frequently Asked Questions

It absorbs blue and blue-green light, which causes blue skies to render significantly darker in monochrome. This creates strong contrast between clouds and sky and adds dramatic tonal depth to landscapes.
While physically possible, the Orange #21 is purpose-built for black and white work. In color photography it applies a heavy orange cast to the entire image, which is generally undesirable unless you are seeking a specific creative effect.
It falls between the two in intensity. A yellow filter provides subtle contrast enhancement, while a red filter creates extreme darkening of skies. The Orange #21 delivers a strong but natural-looking contrast boost that many photographers consider the most versatile option.
Yes, it threads onto any lens with a 55mm front filter thread using standard screw-in mounting, regardless of the lens brand or camera system.
Yes, like all colored contrast filters, the Orange #21 absorbs a portion of the visible spectrum. You will need to compensate with approximately 2 to 3 stops of additional exposure when using this filter.

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