Filters for big old lenses?

[MenacingTourist]

I have a few of these lovely barrel lenses that I mostly use for portraiture and the occasional landscape. I'm never happy with my rock and tree photos and I would like to try getting the sky darker with an orange or red filter.

Shooting details:
I'm using Efke 100 film (I have a nice little stash) and shooting with some large RR type lenses on a 2D with 8x10 and 5x7 backs. Film developed in Rollo Pyro and printing on Forte multigrade FB in Dektol.

I'm assuming I will need square filters that attach with an adaptor.

What other info do I need to think about and does anyone have suggestions on what would work?

Thanks,

Alan.

 

[Nick Zentena]

I assume no threads?

How big is the barrel? Less then 4" shouldn't be too hard. Less then the size of the Lee snap on real easy. I think the Lee goes up to 82mm? Or is it 75mm? Bigger then 4"? Going to get expensive I think. Those 6" filters aren't cheap.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The easiest to use are clip-on adapters with square filters. I have a 3x3" adapter with barn doors and a simple spring clip made by Voss that I found at KEH for $15. I also have a 4x4" Lee Gel Snap, which uses a rubber band, also fairly inexpensive and simple. You don't need anything with threaded adapters.

On my Sinar, I use the swing-away 4" square filter holder. I think the one I have has a Kenko gel holder epoxied to the Sinar round holder for the polarizer. It works even for my portrait lenses.

On the Linhof Tech V, I use the compendium which has a slot for 4" gels on the rear standard.

Lee makes a set of 4" ND gels, which are handy for portrait lenses, so you can choose the aperture for the best effect, even if you have only one shutter speed.

 

[David H. Bebbington]

Cokin make filter holders in both P and X-pro sizes which attach by 3 thumbscrews and will thus work with any lens.

 

[MenacingTourist]

I love how rubber bands add that extra touch of class to these old cameras
Plus, low-tech is just how I roll.

 

[Pinholemaster]

I don't own this, but have looked at it from time to time as a good way to mount 4x4 filters on big glass.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=162980&is=REG

 

[Brook]

I use 4" wrattan filters with a bit of black masking tape to hold in place, filters taped on the rear lens element. Crude but effective.

 

[Steve Smith]

You may be able to get away with a smaller (= cheaper) filter on the rear of the lens. It depends on how non-symmetrical it's design is.


Steve.

 

[Shmoo]

I use 4" wrattan filters with a bit of black masking tape to hold in place, filters taped on the rear lens element. Crude but effective.

I do something similar. I roll a piece of photo tape into a tube (sticky side out). I put a couple of these around the edge of the lens and tack a 4" Wrattan filter on. It works in all except the most windy situations. Just make sure you handle the filter by the edges.

S

 

[doughowk]

I get a step-up ring with the smaller size the inside dimensions of the lens front. Then use Gorilla glue ( tried welders glue but its hard to remove if decide otherwise). I've done this with my older lenses & sure makes it easy to use a 77mm filter which I'm trying to standardize on..

 

[Christopher D. Keth]

Filters for movie cameras are made in 4'x4', 4'x5.65', and 6'x6' sizes. They aren't cheap but a solution is possible.

 

[Robert Hall]

check with surplus stores. I find optical glass in orange, yellow, and red used for aerial cameras for sale up to 5 inches.

I have several, measure your lens, let me know, I may have something for you.

 

[Silverhead]

I would consider going with the Lee Gel-Snap system. It'll fit on pretty much any kind of lens barrel, plus there's a wide variety of mounted filters available (no tearing, yay!), including standard B&W, daylight-flourescent, tungsten-flourescent, ND, infrared, soft, warming...you get the idea. You can find it at Freestyle and other major dealers.

 

[roodpe]

The Lee Gel Snap holder is fine if your lenses are less than 4" (100mm) in diameter. The Cokin X system is best for larger lenses. As mentioned, you can use a 4- point screw type mount for adjustability for different size barrels. The filters are 170mmx130mm so they cover most big lenses. B&W filters are ~$60 each. This is very reasonable since filters tend to be expensive in sizes bigger than 4x4.

 

[phfitz]

Hi there,

Ilford made Multigrade filters up tp 6x6in

Roscolux filters

Either could be internal mounted, out of the wind and clean.

Have fun with it.