Bay 1 vs. Bay 5 filters

cramej · Jun 15, 2020

I just received a Bay 1 filter adapter for Series V filters and a large set of filters. To my surprise, the filters are all threaded and the kit came with a Tiffen Bay 5 Series V adapter. Both the Bay 1 and "Bay 5" adapters fit perfectly on my Yashica-Mat and have exactly the same threads and space for a non-threaded filter. It's great to have threaded filters for it, but is there supposed to be some difference between Bay 1 and Bay 5?

Kodachromeguy · Jun 15, 2020

Hi, the printing on the Tiffen retaining ring is confusing. Bayonet I (1) is the size of the bayonet mount on the Rolleiflex with ƒ/3.5 Tessar or Xenar lenses as well as on Yashica-Mats and many other Japanese TLR cameras. However, Tiffen sometimes labeled this as 35 Bay (meaning approx. 35mm).

The 5 or V refers to Series V filters. Series V filters are drop in, and you use a retaining ring to hold the filter on the Tiffen or Ednalite adapter ring. In your picture, did the 25A red filter screw directly into the Ednalite adapter? Some companies made Series filters that screwed directly into an adapter and did not need the retaining ring. I have a Series VI Leitz polarizer like this because some Leitz 50mm Summicron lenses had Ser. VI threads.

cramej · Jun 15, 2020

The Tiffen adapter says Series 5 on the other side so the whole thing says "35 BAY 5 TIFFEN ADAPTER RING SERIES 5".

Yes, the entire set of Vivitar Series V filters I have are threaded front and back and fit into both adapters. This would be the first time I've seen threaded Series filters.

eli griggs · Jun 17, 2020

"This would be the first time I've seen threaded Series filters."

Which begs the question, 'What were the "Series Filter" designation suppose to indicate; threadless filters and threaded filters, or some other property unique to those filters?'.

Cheers

cramej · Jun 17, 2020

eli griggs said:
"This would be the first time I've seen threaded Series filters."

Which begs the question, 'What were the "Series Filter" designation suppose to indicate; threadless filters and threaded filters, or some other property unique to those filters?'.

Cheers

Yes. Series filters are normally considered to be threadless and held in place in the adapter by a threaded retaining ring. I have some other old Kodak Series V filters and a set of Series 8 filters that are all threadless inserts that fit in the adapter.

MattKing · Jun 17, 2020

IIRC, the threads are related to the desire to combine Series filters with accessories like lens hoods.

eli griggs · Jun 17, 2020

MattKing said:
IIRC, the threads are related to the desire to combine Series filters with accessories like lens hoods.

That makes sense, though push-on hoods were always an option, as are hoods that function as retaining rings, so, it is ONLY size that each "series" designation refers to, no the presence of either threadless or threaded rings.

Still, I consider the category of "thread-less" rings as important to knowing what type of filter I have in my kit.

Be Safe, Be well, and Godspeed to all.

BrianShaw · Jun 17, 2020

MattKing said:
IIRC, the threads are related to the desire to combine Series filters with accessories like lens hoods.

I’m not familiar with that, but quite familiar with Series lens hoods that replace the retaining ring on a Series adapter.

thuggins · Jun 25, 2020

A Series filter designates two different things that are only tangentially related, the diameter of the filter and the thread of the retaining ring. Filters typically had a plain OD, but they certainly could be mounted in a ring with threads that match the retaining ring. The drawback would be cost. Some filters were just a piece of glass with no metal ring.

eli griggs · Jun 25, 2020

Cheers

Bay 1 vs. Bay 5 filters

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