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A filters and lens swapping dilemma

pallo

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This isnt really a rangefinder specific issue, but the specifics do depend on the camera I use (M2 with VC meter on top)

Yesterday I was out shooting with a 50mm and yellow filter mounted. Even though 50 is my main lens, I noticed that I was reluctant to change to a 35 even when this would’ve made sense. And this simply because swapping lenses would require many steps (and it was freezing). Either moving the filter from one lens to the other and back, or changing the iso on the lichtmeter to compensate exposure between filter and no filter.

How do others handle this? I never thought of having yellow filters on each lens, but now that would’ve been the best option.
 

gbroadbridge

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Easy for me.

I only ever leave the house with one lens and only shoot what works with that lens.
Discipline brings clarity is my thought.
 

Jesper

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I think this is what some use to justify buying a second body (and filter).
 
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pallo

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gbroadbridge said:
Easy for me.

I only ever leave the house with one lens and only shoot what works with that lens.
Discipline brings clarity is my thought.
Click to expand...

one lens is my normal state of, and something I want to escape for now. The only alternative would be to leave the house with the one lens I’m less familiar with, namely the 35.
 
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pallo

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Jesper said:
I think this is what some use to justify buying a second body (and filter).
Click to expand...

I’m actually tempted to go for a seconf filter. I’m just surprised that the need never occurred to me before (even though I’ve had yellow/orange/red filters for 30 years).
 

Sirius Glass

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Not a problem for me. I change lenses whenever I want to, with or without filters.
 

Paul Howell

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I have a set of filters in all sizes from SV to 72mm. I bring sets for each of the lens I am using. As Minolta A mount is my usually means 49 and 55, if using my G lens then 77. Nikon 52mm Konica 55mm. I memorized the filter factors chart from Hoya a long time ago and compentate as needed, although my Minolta 800, 9Xi and 9 in program do a good job filtering with filters.
 

Alan Edward Klein

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When I went to LF, I wound up using the 77mm filters for my Mamiya RB67 lenses, which are all 77mm. I just bought converters sized up to 77 and leave them on each LF lens. I wrote the filter factor on each filter holder, which reminds me of the compensating factor setting when I use them.
 

Paul Howell

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I have a few converters for 49 to 40 and SVII to SVI, at the current price of filters not a bad idea at all.
 

loccdor

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I keep a filter on just about every lens by default - Hoya HMC UV(0) if it's not anything else. This filter doesn't degrade image quality. They're nice because they also function somewhat like a lens cap if you put your camera in a coat pocket. Then when you take it out, it's already ready to shoot.

But when I go on long trips with the intent to take lots of photos I've usually got a compact wide angle camera in a pants pocket in addition to a longer lens camera in a waist-mounted camera bag.
 

Pieter12

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loccdor said:
They're nice because they also function somewhat like a lens cap if you put your camera in a coat pocket. Then when you take it out, it's already ready to shoot.
Click to expand...
As long as your pockets aren't linty. Helps if you have a lens hood on it too.
 

GregY

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I only shoot B/W. I have several yellow &. orange filters. I Iike to have the same filters mounted on @ lens.
 

gbroadbridge

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RalphLambrecht said:
I wish, I were that self-disciplined.
Click to expand...

Four weeks in Europe / four countries last year. 35mm lens.
Two countries in Asia this year. 35mm lens.

Once one gets past the FOMO/must carry every focal length just in case, it gets easy.
Getting past the FOMO is the difficult bit...
 

GregY

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gbroadbridge said:
Four weeks in Europe / four countries last year. 35mm lens.
Two countries in Asia this year. 35mm lens.

Once one gets past the FOMO/must carry every focal length just in case, it gets easy.
Getting past the FOMO is the difficult bit...
Click to expand...

GB.....I'm with you.....it makes life easy...
my best photos were made while carrying one camera/one lens
...but if i'm carrying more than one lens.... both (sic) have a filter..... i'm not changing both lenses and filters.
 

xkaes

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I have a few yellow filters, but all but one are on cameras with fixed lenses. When I use a camera with interchangeable lenses, it's either a zoom lens, or I bring more than one lens -- and that means I bring more than one filter -- of different colors, if I'm shooting B&W.
 

GregY

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exactly.....
 

JerseyDoug

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No need to change the ISO on the VC meter - a fiddly job even under good conditions - when switching the lenses. Just close the lens aperture one stop more than what the meter says when using the lens that doesn't have the filter.
 

David R Williams

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I do like having a yellow filter pre-mounted (one for each lens) on the lenses I'm out shooting with, especially on a rangefinder where you're not "seeing" through the filter that you may - or may not be - expecting is on your lens. I tend to shoot with a yellow filter pretty much all the time anyway, so I most often am doing exactly what you describe with an 022 yellow on a 21, 35, and 50 for easy switching.

For the minimal cost of an extra yellow filter for the 35/50 combo (21mm is a 46mm, 35 and 50's are 43's), it's a nice thing to be able to switch between any of these lenses without having to fuss with filter changes.
 
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Ardpatrick

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I’m the same. For walkabout photography - which means Mamiya 7 for me, I keep a yellow filter on each lens, even if both (it’s usually 2) lenses are the same size filter rings. For rangefinders it’s a no brainer.

For LF, it’s more dependent on what I’m shooting and when. I rarely go out with a LF kit without knowing exactly what I intend to shoot, and the appropriate range of lenses for the job. Again I usually opt to have a yellow filter pre-threaded onto each lens if I have enough filters to cover each lens, unless I’m shooting in low light where I need all the light I can get when composing & focussing.
 
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