Any tips for using filters and tripod with Ercona II?

Steve Goldstein · Mar 23, 2019

A very nice Ercona II with a 3.5/105 Tessar showed up on my doorstep today . The front of the lens isn't threaded for a filter. The diameter of the knurled outer rim (used for focusing) is 40mm; there's a thin recessed slit inside this with another edge that's 37mm across. I guess either a 37mm or 40mm push-on Series VI adapter would be appropriate. Any other ideas for using a filter with this camera with fewer than 3 hands?

The tripod mounts are much bigger than 1/4-20 - are they 3/8-16, or some metric size? I don't have any 3/8-16 hardware or tripod mount reducing adapters so I can't answer this question for myself.

Thanks for any insights.

MattKing · Mar 23, 2019

If you have a Mamiya C330 or RB67, you may actually have a 3/8-16 to 1/4-20 adapter already installed there - and they come out easily .

DWThomas · Mar 23, 2019

Steve Goldstein said:
A very nice Ercona II with a 3.5/105 Tessar showed up on my doorstep today . The front of the lens isn't threaded for a filter. The diameter of the knurled outer rim (used for focusing) is 40mm; there's a thin recessed slit inside this with another edge that's 37mm across. I guess either a 37mm or 40mm push-on Series VI adapter would be appropriate. Any other ideas for using a filter with this camera with fewer than 3 hands?

The tripod mounts are much bigger than 1/4-20 - are they 3/8-16, or some metric size? I don't have any 3/8-16 hardware or tripod mount reducing adapters so I can't answer this question for myself.

Thanks for any insights.

A 37mm push-on fits in that groove, but can possibly hang up on one setscrew that impinges in that area. I modified a push-on Series VI adapter and use Series VI filters and sunshade. I do worry that it's not as totally locked on as I might like. (3 rows down this gallery)

The truth is, the outside of that lens barrel, which appears to be knurled, is actually, threaded! I believe at one time there were filters with a female (40.5 mm) thread that screwed down over the outside. Alas, they are as common as hen's teeth. I tried using a section of the 40.5 mm female thread of a step-up ring to couple a male filter/shade/adapter. It sorta works, but more thread would be better.

Yes, the tripod mount is 3/8-16 -- the "other" standard. Adapters are available for a few dollars.

Anyway, a cool camera, have fun with it!

Steve Goldstein · Mar 23, 2019

Thanks Dave, that's great news! I just snagged a 37mm Series VI adapter on eBay and will see about modifying it so I can use the hood and filters that I use on my Perkeo II (with a 32mm adapter). I'll have to test the hood for vignetting but that's not rocket science. And I'll add a couple of bushings to my next B&H order.

DWThomas · Mar 23, 2019

Steve Goldstein said:
Thanks Dave, that's great news! I just snagged a 37mm Series VI adapter on eBay and will see about modifying it so I can use the hood and filters that I use on my Perkeo II (with a 32mm adapter). I'll have to test the hood for vignetting but that's not rocket science. And I'll add a couple of bushings to my next B&H order.

Just one caution -- the modifying I did included turning down the thickness of the tabs a bit on that adapter. I suppose the need for that could vary depending on who made the adapter. It wasn't a lot, I suppose a patient person could accomplish it with file and sandpaper.

It's weird, the Voigtländer Bessa II, and maybe others in that series of 6x9 folders, take a 37 mm push-on, but the official ones are priced as though they're made of gold -- collector value I guess. Whenever I contemplate paying 60, 70, 80 dollars for a push-on shade I get these visions of the shade spiraling off into some 200 foot waterfall! I found a made in China look-alike of the Voigtländer shade on eBay which I bought for a more reasonable amount, but again, its tabs were too thick. I may eventually machine the tabs down, but it's so beautifully made I hate to carve it up (I should just buy a Bessa II!)

I wish I had access to a metric thread cutting lathe so I could make an internally threaded sleeve to couple standard stuff to the outside knurled thread on the lens barrel.

John Koehrer · Mar 23, 2019

The 1/4-20 to 3/8-16 adapters are common at the auction joint

NedL · Mar 24, 2019

Late to the party. The ercona ii has a mechanism that keeps the shutter from working unless the film has been wound. If this happens, it's possible to release the shutter manually by pushing on the right lever out near the lens. A good thing to know in case you ever forget to cock the shutter. ( if you're like me, that will happen one time, and that will be enough for it to never happen again, but it's nice to know there's a remedy. I have no excuse because my other folders all have have manual cocking shutters too... )

Enjoy your camera, I love mine. I actually use the F/red dot for "sunny 16" with acros at 1/100. I don't use the "red dot" focus much ( it is NOT hyperfocal ) it leaves infinity out of focus... it's meant for taking photos of people standing 3 or 4 meters in front. It IS handy if you don't have time to think and just need to set the scale focus quickly for a snapshot of a subject in front of you.

I don't have a lens hood for mine and need to be careful about where the sun is. Does flare easily.

Steve Goldstein · Mar 24, 2019

Thanks for the reminder, Ned, I read about the lockout mechanism in the Ercona I manual I found on butkus.org and will play around a bit with the empty camera to see if there are any other interesting things. Collapsing it the first time took some thought but I got it after about 10 seconds of examination.

This camera will force me to channel my inner leftie - every camera I've ever used, LF excluded, had the shutter release on the right.

M Carter · Mar 24, 2019

I've got series filter adapters for my Brownie and Busch Pressman. I found the proper step-up rings that sorta-fit into the series thread, force-fit them with some loc-tite. I also fitted step rings to the faces of my pinhole cameras, everything steps up to 52mm. Now I can just pack one small filter wallet for all of that gear.

Alex Varas · Mar 24, 2019

I have one for your camera that I bought year ago for a lens I don't have.
PM sent.

bunip · Mar 25, 2019

One lens shade that usually is behind collector’s hungers is the agfa 37mm plastic one. They are regularly on the auction’s site at 30 euros but if you’re patient you can get them for 5-10 euros. Those needs minimal work to fit the ercona II. And obviously will fit every 6x9 voigtlander. Another one is the zeiss, there are on auction right now two one for 20 an the other for 30 euros, they are perfect. About your perkeo shade it’s much smaller than needed to prevent vignetting.

Roseha · Oct 31, 2024

Hi I see this is an old thread but wanted to mention that after reading all of the above (specifically DW Thomas' post) I was able to find a 40.5mm-40.5mm Female to Female Double Inner Lens Coupling Ring Adapter on Ebay (the seller is Yoyo camera).

It seems to fit fine on my Ercona II and I was able to add a 40.5mm to 49mm adapter.

Steve Goldstein · Oct 31, 2024

OP here.

Thank you @Roseha, I just ordered one of these adapters. I've been using Series VI filters with the turned-down adapter suggested by @DWThomas. Four filters can fit in a single jewel case, the one that takes up to 77mm filters, making them easy to carry. But I'd prefer the more robust attachment that screw-on filters would provide, even if it means larger filters; for under $10 this may provide a solution.

For anyone else looking, the seller's banner name is Yoyo Camera Accessories, but to do a seller search you need to use myorders202019. Or just search for "40.5mm + female" (no quotes needed), there aren't that many hits to sift through.

OT - I find it bothersome when sellers have one name in the big-print store name while the system-searchable name is something different. It makes searches more challenging.

DWThomas · Oct 31, 2024

Thanks @Roseha, that is a great find, I just ordered one. The slip-on fittings worry me when I'm out fumbling around in the outdoors!

Roseha · Oct 31, 2024

You're very welcome @Steve Goldstein and @DWThomas ! Thanks also to everyone in this thread for their ideas, greatly appreciated.

Any tips for using filters and tripod with Ercona II?

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