Heliopan Bay 60 filters - Have they always been this expensive?

logan2z · Apr 13, 2021

I was looking for a yellow and orange filter for my Hasselblad 500 C/M a few months ago and was a bit surprised at the prices being asked for them. I hemmed and hawed for a while but ended up biting the bullet and going for the Heliopan filters, despite their high price. I recently decided to pick up a protection/UV filter as well and was surprised that they are even more expensive than the contrast filters - as in nearly $200.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1138373-REG/heliopan_708800_bay_60_sh_pmc_protection.html

Were these filters historically this expensive, or is this a more recent phenomenon?

I see that Tiffen makes a far less expensive filter ($30) but it's aluminum instead of brass.

Before I capitulate and buy the Heliopan, are there any other high-quality alternatives that I might be overlooking?

Pieter12 · Apr 13, 2021

B+W filters (Schneider) seem less expensive than Heliopan.
Bay 60 filters (actually pretty much any bayonet filter) can be pricey and hard to find. You might want to look into a Bay 60 to 67mm adapter if you are going to need several different filters: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/21660-REG/Heliopan_709903_Bay_60_67mm_Step_up_Ring.html

A good source for filters is https://www.filterfind.net/Hasselblad_filters.html

logan2z · Apr 13, 2021

Pieter12 said:
B+W filters (Schneider) seem less expensive than Heliopan.
Bay 60 filters (actually pretty much any bayonet filter) can be pricey and hard to find. You might want to look into a Bay 60 to 67mm adapter if you are going to need several different filters: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/21660-REG/Heliopan_709903_Bay_60_67mm_Step_up_Ring.html

A good source for filters is https://www.filterfind.net/Hasselblad_filters.html

B+W would have been my first choice (I use them with my 35mm cameras), but couldn't find any of their Bay 60 filters for sale anywhere - apparently they are no longer in production.

I'll checkout filterfind.net, thanks.

Kodachromeguy · Apr 13, 2021

I have seen most Bay 60 filters rise in price in the last 3 or 4 years. Color filters for black and white film have become almost unobtainium.

For protection, try a used filter like this from Roberts.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hasselblad...-/203342003239?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

AgX · Apr 13, 2021

logan2z said:
I was looking for a yellow and orange filter for my Hasselblad 500 C/M a few months ago and was a bit surprised at the prices being asked for them. I hemmed and hawed for a while but ended up biting the bullet and going for the Heliopan filters, despite their high price. I recently decided to pick up a protection/UV filter as well and was surprised that they are even more expensive than the contrast filters - as in nearly $200.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1138373-REG/heliopan_708800_bay_60_sh_pmc_protection.html

The current Heliopan advised retail net-price for such contrast filters, SH-PMC-coated in Bay-60 mount is 130€.

Sirius Glass · Apr 13, 2021

When I can find use ones in good condition, I buy the used ones.

logan2z · Apr 13, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
When I can find use ones in good condition, I buy the used ones.

I'll have to keep an eye out. I'm a bit wary of used filters, but new prices are a bit nuts.

Anaxagore · Apr 13, 2021

Heliopan in the US has become very expensive. When ordering a few of these, I used a German shop. Shipping to USA and Euro-Dollar conversion was much less than what I gained by getting them from abroad... plus they still had a few Rollei Bay VI filters, which are getting more difficult to get.

logan2z · Apr 13, 2021

Anaxagore said:
Heliopan in the US has become very expensive. When ordering a few of these, I used a German shop. Shipping to USA and Euro-Dollar conversion was much less than what I gained by getting them from abroad... plus they still had a few Rollei Bay VI filters, which are getting more difficult to get.

Would you care to share the name of the shop?

Nicholas Lindan · Apr 13, 2021

One of the first things I bought for my 'blad was a filter adapter.

DREW WILEY · Apr 13, 2021

filterfind.net is just across town from me in a gated industry park. I drove there once to check out his inventory. He sought out large quantities of surplus filters and bought them up in full lots, and has a number of unusual hard-to-find things in stock at good pricing.

Kodachromeguy · Apr 13, 2021

logan2z said:
I'll have to keep an eye out. I'm a bit wary of used filters, but new prices are a bit nuts.

In my experience, used filters from the serious brands (B+W, Heliopan, Hoya, Leitz, Hasselblad, etc.) are usually fine. Consider a typical yellow, orange, or green filter. Most of its life, it sat in a case. I suppose a "protection" filter that was really used to protect a lens on a boat or at the beach might be a mess, but most are intact. Really, don't worry about them.

Heliopan Bay 60 filters - Have they always been this expensive?

Advertiser

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency