Bayonet 60 - Inform Me Please

Nathan King · Dec 6, 2015

I found a mint 501CM at a price I couldn't pass up but have a few questions regarding the Bayonet 60 mounting system and accompanying filters.

Would there be any advantage to using at B60 to 77mm adapter over the B60 to 67mm adapter?
Are there any adapter brands to avoid, or a brand that is widely thought to work better than the others?
Is there a compelling reason to forego the adapter entirely and attempt to locate an entire set of B60 filters?

Thank you

bdial · Dec 6, 2015

1. Not really, unless you already have a collection of 77 or 67 mm filters, also see #3
2. The ones I've worked with are all pretty much equal, they all work, none of them fit quite as nicely as Hasselblad filters.
3. One reason would be that the lens hood uses the outer bayonet, and filters larger than the front diameter of the lens might not fit with a hood in place, but bayonet filters are fine because they use the inner bayonet. You can mount the hood without removing filters and vice-versa.

Some screw-mount filters are or may be cheaper, but used-market Hasselblad filters can often be found at reasonable prices.

Arvee · Dec 7, 2015

I went the B60-67mm adapter route and first bought a Tiffen, IIRC, aluminum adapter and it got stuck on the lens. I didn't pay much for it and I got what I paid for. I worked for more than an hour, very gently, and finally got if off. Ultimately, I ponied up the $$ for a Heliopan which I think is brass. The fit was much better and I haven't had a problem since. The Tiffen was quite tight going on and very difficult to get off, the aluminum was starting to gall. The Heliopan unit fit perfectly and goes on and off quite smoothly. You pay your money and take your chances!

Also, the aluminum adapters are skimpy/lightweight/fragile and will bend/distort quite easily.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 7, 2015

bdial answers well.

Another thing to ask yourself is how often you actually use filters. If anyone is like me they've accumulated a lot but rarely use them.

That said with a Hassy, which many including myself, rarely use without a tripod, and if that includes you, could you not just hold the larger filter over the lens during exposure? Just some other thoughts...

Nathan King · Dec 7, 2015

Interesting thoughts. I didn't think about losing the ability to mount a hood. Would the movement of a hand held filter in front of the lens distort the image on a 1-2 second exposure?

BrianShaw · Dec 7, 2015

I know with a B60-67 adapter it is possible to mount filter/hood without regard for order of operation. With a B60-77 you may have to mount the hood first and then the filter, and remove the filter before removing the hood. Not sure but suspect that will be the situation. Too much of a hassle for me, but I have other lenses with 67 filters and none with 77... so I've never had to think much about it.

Translated: I think bdial's #3 may be correct!

Sirius Glass · Dec 7, 2015

I stick to the B60 filters. I have a Skylight KR-1.5 on each lens and I have one set of filters and proxiars that work for almost all my Hasselblads and lenses. The lenses are CF lenses and only the 40mm, 350mm and 500mm do not take the B60 filters. These filters stay in place and do not interfere with the lens hoods. From previous experience I avoid filter adapters unless there is not choice.

Nathan King · Dec 9, 2015

I ended up going with the Heliopan brass B60-67mm adapter ring with some B+W filters. Thanks for your input.

Arvee · Dec 9, 2015

Nathan King said:
I ended up going with the Heliopan brass B60-67mm adapter ring with some B+W filters. Thanks for your input.

I neglected to add that the Heliopan adapter is the same diameter as the lens barrel and there are no problems with attaching the standard shade.

pgomena · Dec 11, 2015

The 50mm distagon in Bay 60 vignettes with adapters and 67mm screw-in filters. The only solution I've found is to use a 77mm filter backwards on the lens barrel with some tape to hold it in place. Not sure about vignetting with actual Hasselblad B60 filters, which are beyond my price range.

Sirius Glass · Dec 11, 2015

pgomena said:
The 50mm distagon in Bay 60 vignettes with adapters and 67mm screw-in filters. The only solution I've found is to use a 77mm filter backwards on the lens barrel with some tape to hold it in place. Not sure about vignetting with actual Hasselblad B60 filters, which are beyond my price range.

I do not have this problem because I use the Hasselblad B60 filters which lets the lens hood work without vignetting. Several companies make the B60 filters and they are available new or used so there is a range of prices for you. The B60 filters can be used on most of the CF and higher lenses so one set of filters will cover the CF 50mm, CF 60mm, CF 80mm, CF 150mm and CF 250mm lenses [I would have to look up the rest of them]

Alan Gales · Dec 12, 2015

I had a Hasselblad 500/cm with the 80mm Planar. The Bay 60 filters are the way to go if you don't all ready have a filter collection. I had both the Softar 1 and Softar 2 filters in Bay 60. I also own a collection of 77mm filters that I used with an RZ67 and now my 8x10. I bought a cheap Chinese Bay 60 to 67mm? adapter ring and then a step up ring to 77mm. They worked fine but if you don't have a filter collection the bayonet Bay 60 filters are a joy to use.

Do you optical print or scan? If you scan, you only need a Polarizing Screen and a Softar or two if you do portraits. Photoshop can take care of the rest of it.

Nathan King · Dec 13, 2015

A piece of cardboard under the enlarging lens is my Photoshop. I do use a pretty wide range of colored filters.

jk0592 · Dec 13, 2015

Larger filters are useful if you have or intend to have 350mm and higher , or 40mm lower focal lengths.

Bayonet 60 - Inform Me Please

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