GND for Rolleiflex TLRs

[jasonjoo]

I recently picked up my second Rolleiflex 3.5E (man, buying cameras is quite the addiction!). It needs a CLA badly, but I digress (already!).

Back to the point - Do any of you use a GND with your Rolleiflex? I'm finding that I'll need to use filters when shooting, but I'm not quite sure how to go about using one.

I want to invest in a soft GND (2 or 3 stops) but the gradient is fairly gradual and the Rolleiflex lens is fairly small. I guess a hard GND would work better in this case, but I prefer a soft GND over a hard.

I'm looking into using rectangular filters to hand hold in front of the lens. Is a hard GND my only option? Also, how do you guys know where to place the filter? Do you first place the filter over the viewing lens, make a rough estimate as to where the filter divides and then try to do the same with the taking lens?

This seems rather simple, but it's not working out clearly in my head :X

Thanks for your help,

Jason

 

[dpurdy]

I have never seen an old stock gradated filter from Rollei, but you can find adapters for the 3.5 (bay 2). The adapter can take you from bay 2 to 49 or 52mm. Whatever you do you will have to establish the filter position on the viewing lens and then transfer that to the taking lens. Maybe not the best camera type for using those filters as you can't do a depth of field preview either.

 

[Ray Heath]

g'day Jason

what is a GND?

 

[BrianShaw]

It's a secret.

If you need to ask, you don't need to know.

I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.


Graduated
Neutral
Density

(as in filter).


Please don't let anyone know I told you!

 

[Uncle Goose]

Please don't let anyone know I told you!

You told the secret ya biatch! Now I have to kill you!

Harharhar

Just look the filter up on the net, will explain everything.

 

[Ray Heath]

It's a secret.

If you need to ask, you don't need to know.

I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.


Graduated
Neutral
Density

(as in filter).

Please don't let anyone know I told you!

ha ha!!

oh you mean a neutral density grad!

may be that such a filter can't be used on a TLR, mayhap you need to learn other techniques

 

[Dave Miller]

I'm not saying it's impossible to use a graduated filter on a TLR, but I will say that you will find it very difficult to set one up correctly. So what more can I say but good luck, and let us know how you get on.

 

[Uhner]

I'm not saying it's impossible to use a graduated filter on a TLR, but I will say that you will find it very difficult to set one up correctly. So what more can I say but good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Yes, I agree.

I believe that the best way to do this is to have the camera mounted on a tripod (of course), place and adjust the GND in front of the focusing lens and make some notes on the placement. Then raise the camera so the taking lens is in the same previous position of the focusing lens and arrange the filter accordingly.

Or use an SLR…

 

[jasonjoo]

It seems like this process would be a lot easier with a hard GND rather than a soft, but I really rather shoot with a soft than hard. Oh well.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Rolleijoe]

I have never seen an old stock gradated filter from Rollei, but you can find adapters for the 3.5 (bay 2). Maybe not the best camera type for using those filters as you can't do a depth of field preview either.

The DoF scale is built right into the focusing knob. Set your aperture/ shutter speed, look to your left, and it shows you exactly what's in focus. That's your DoF preview, and I check it before every shot.

Rolleijoe

 

[dpurdy]

The DoF scale is built right into the focusing knob. Set your aperture/ shutter speed, look to your left, and it shows you exactly what's in focus. That's your DoF preview, and I check it before every shot.

Rolleijoe

Yes but that won't help you to see the affects of a graduated filter in advance.

I actually made a depth of field precheck from a lens cap. I drilled an appoximate f11 hole in it and put it over the viewing lens. However that probably wouldn't help much with a GND filter either.

Dennis