Filter Mounting for Non-Filter Cameras?

[BobClack]

Many "Toy" and other inexpensive cameras were designed without a built in way to mount filters on them.

Does anyone have a DIY system that enables them to mount filters across many different non-filter cameras?

I've been making/using different DIY rigs depending on the camera, but I was wondering if someone had a "single system" that works for them on all/many cameras.

From box cameras to 1960s point-and-shoots.

Thanks in advance!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

My first choice is the clip-on Voss gel holder with two barn doors.

Second choice is the Lee Gel Snap.

Third choice: Gaffer's tape.

 

[jp498]

You could also glue/melt/gaffer tape a step up ring to the front of the plastic lens tube. Then you'll have the threads needed for normal round filters.

 

[AgX]

Make a narrow cylinder, add three threads and three plastic screws and glue this to an empty filter-ring of your most common size.

 

[BrianShaw]

Series filters and adapters. Not DIY but quite effective.

 

[Kc2edh]

Wish I remember where I saw it, but there's an article (probably on the lomography site) about using magnetic strips. Magnetic strips can be bought at craft stores, cut and glue them around your lens area (if there's space- works well on box cameras). Then take a filter gel or whatever material you're using for the filter, and mount magnetic strips so it can line up and "stick" in front of the lens. It's not a permanent modification to your camera, and you can make multiple interchangeable filters as well. If you settle on a standardized setup, might even be able to use it on a variety of cameras.

 

[eddie]

For dianas/holgas, I've used a Kodak poly filter holder ( from the darkroom) before. Just tighten the 3 screws, and make sure the opening is facing up.

 

[David Allen]

Bluetack works every time.

Bests,

david.
www.dsallen.de

 

[Xmas]

Many "Toy" and other inexpensive cameras were designed without a built in way to mount filters on them.

Does anyone have a DIY system that enables them to mount filters across many different non-filter cameras?

I've been making/using different DIY rigs depending on the camera, but I was wondering if someone had a "single system" that works for them on all/many cameras.

From box cameras to 1960s point-and-shoots.

Thanks in advance!

Most had optional push on hoods and filters.
LTM Elmars on Leicas were up market they had clamp on filters and hoods.

Today many people take photos with reversed hoods on their Dcameras.

 

[gone]

I didn't want to pay for a factory filter for my Retina !b because it would have cost more than I paid for the camera. A push on series adapter would have worked, but I would have had to take it on and off every time I folded the camera up. So I simply glued on a series V yellow filter onto the front of the lens w/ rubber cement. I'm selling the camera now and it was very easy to get the filter off, and the dried rubber cement, which is pretty flexible, simply came off w/ my fingernail. But it was enough adhesive to securely hold the filter on when I was shooting it, and I was able to close the camera fully w/ the filter on it. Silicone caulk in a tube would have worked the same way.

 

[R.Gould]

Bluetack works every time.

Bests,

david.
www.dsallen.de

Always carry blu tak in your photo bag works a treat

 

[horacekenneth]

I use electrical tape to tape around the barrel of my holga lens so that the electrical tape forms a lip over the edge. I put the filter on top of it so that the lip is between the lens and the plastic to prevent scratching. Then I tape around the edge of the filter and lens to hold the filter on.

 

[BobClack]

Thank you to all for the replies.

While I've been chasing one filter rig that might work for all non-filter cameras, it now seems that having several approaches to all possible filter mounts is probably the more realistic pursuit.

Blue Tak, magnetic strips, various tape, tubes and gels are all in the hopper now and a few approaches will certainly shake out.

AgX, per your response, I've been partially using a 55mm adapter tube cut down and fitted with a filter. It's worked well in many cases but is not adaptable to many others.

Right now on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400341951565?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

is a clamp-on adapter that's given me an idea. Take the adapter tube, cut it down to about 1 inch in length, drill 2 opposing holes in it, and place a set screw in either side of the adapter. Theoretically this should be able to grab the lens muzzle of quite a few cameras and position the filter at a desireable distance from the lens.

Thanks once again to all for your replies/info sharing.

 

[bimaneg]

or you can try with step up ring, for example i use one with holga camera, 46mm to 52mm and this give me the oppurtunity to use 52mm filter

 

[BobClack]

Thanks bimaneg! Yes, I just started doing the same with a 46mm to 55mm step up on the 120N, 120PAN and the 135BC. The small exacto knife mod was definitely worth it. Bob