Hinged IR Filter Holder for Infrared Photography

LJSLATER · Aug 1, 2012

Has this been invented yet? Or something like it? I'm tired of unscrewing the IR filter and hood every time I want to recompose. Does anyone have a different work-around?

DWThomas · Aug 1, 2012

I feel your pain ... I thought I was going to wear out the threads of my Bronica mounting and removing filters a year or so back.

There were some folders in the 1930s that had a yellow filter hinged to the lens mount. For my latest IR foray I used a TLR, an easy solution.

Any chance you could find a push-on filter adapter for your camera of choice? Admittedly they are becoming rare, but I see a few go by on ePrey.

anikin · Aug 1, 2012

How about something like Mamiya 7 polarizer? I suppose you can buy one and replace the glass. Not a cheap option, mind you.

LJSLATER · Aug 1, 2012

I use Nikon so most of my lenses have a 52mm filter thread, which is nice.

I was thinking maybe an inexpensive rangefinder would make a decent camera to dedicate to IR since I wouldn't need a meter. I didn't think about a TLR though, that's a good idea. I would want one with interchangeable lenses, preferably with an ultrawide option.

I had never seen the Mamiya 7 polarizer; I googled it and that's almost exactly what I had in mind! Tiffen or Hoya should copy that idea to make an IR filter for SLRs; just swing it out of the way until you're ready to take the shot. I guess there might not be much of a market though.

nsurit · Aug 1, 2012

The old (1936) Voigtlander Bessa RF had a hinged yellow filter. Pretty nice, however my guess with IR is there would be ample opportunities for minor light leaks with this type of arrangement. Bill Barber

Toffle · Aug 1, 2012

Hm... I don't seem to have any problem with my Rolleiflex.

This actually, is one of my big pet-peeves with my SLRs... I keep thinking, "This is my most expensive filter, and I am handling it for every exposure I make" (or in the the case of my Cokin gel filter, "this is one of my most fragile filters and that waterfall is ruining my day! ")

Let us know what works for you.

Cheers,
Tom

Craig Swensson · Aug 2, 2012

With SLR and rangefinder I use an accessory viewfinder from Petri lens kit, the lines give 35mm and 85mm.

frobozz · Aug 2, 2012

Can't you just use a standard 4-inch filter holder like they use in movies/TV? Of course the filters are pricier, but if it's just for the one filter for IR work...

Gee, even Nikon seems to make one:

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Duncan

LJSLATER · Aug 6, 2012

frobozz said:
Can't you just use a standard 4-inch filter holder like they use in movies/TV? Of course the filters are pricier, but if it's just for the one filter for IR work...

Gee, even Nikon seems to make one:

Dead Link Removed

Duncan

I honestly didn't know Nikon made those!

I like the idea of using an accessory viewfinder. The old turret finders are pretty awesome.

glbeas · Aug 6, 2012

Has nobody discussed the gel filter between the film rails? This was a common subject in many IR articles I've read and quite good for SLR shooting. The only thing better I've seen is a twin lens camera, It only needs the filter on the taking lens.

ambaker · Aug 6, 2012

I've been using a Yashica Electro 35. The filter doesn't affect the range finder, and it doesn't affect the light meter as that is mounted outside the lens area.

LJSLATER · Apr 7, 2013

glbeas said:
Has nobody discussed the gel filter between the film rails? This was a common subject in many IR articles I've read and quite good for SLR shooting. The only thing better I've seen is a twin lens camera, It only needs the filter on the taking lens.

I'd not heard of this idea. Inspired, I went to Freestyle and asked for an IR gel filter, and they sold me a Lee 87C. After I got home, I did some research and decided that the 87C's cutoff is way to high for the Efke film I was using, and gave up on the idea.... This was several months ago, back before I knew Efke was no longer going to make the darn film.

Anyway, the point of this post is that during my internet travels, I came across http://www.xumeadapters.com/. Seems like a winner. They don't come in 52mm yet though.

Newt_on_Swings · Apr 7, 2013

The filter on the inside rails is something I never thought of either. Rangefinders and tlr's would be easiest as other have pointed out. I have the Nikon AF-1 gel filter holder. It's an old piece of gear, it has a 52mm male thread, a foam lined interior (which I had to replace) and a odd outer female thread which I had to look up just now which is 60mm. You can use it for an ir filter two ways, find an IR gel that's not ridiculously expensive and tape it to the flip out side or use a step down or step up filter converter and a seperate IR screw on filter. This will let you compose and focus with it open, and shoot by closing and locking down. Remember to adjust your focus for IR.

Alex Muir · Apr 7, 2013

I've only just noticed this thread. I used to use a Nikon FE for IR work. The lens I used had a 52mm thread. It was the 28mm E series. I found an Optech lens cap which screwed in and was hinged. I don't know if they are still made. I drilled out the soft plastic cap and screwed a Hoya R72 into it. There is no thread, but the filter cut its own thread into the plastic. It's easy if you can find the Optech cap. It doesn't work with my 24mm, but is ok with 28mm and above. Alex

John Koehrer · Apr 7, 2013

Looking at the XUME adapter, it could be used with a 52-58mm step-up adapter ring.

AgX · Apr 7, 2013

This had been done. In the 80's/90's there had been marketed by US company a square, conical kind of lens-shade, which planes actually existed of/incorporated each of hinged filter/filterholder.
I'm not sure whether the offer included an IR filter, but installing one should not have been that problem.

AgX · Apr 7, 2013

OP offered a hinged lens-cap (hinged to a ring screwd into the filter-thread). Installing a filter into that cap should be a simple DIY task.

Renato Tonelli · Apr 10, 2013

I will chime in on the side of using a rangefinder. They are available at all price ranges and as has been pointed out, the filter can stay in place for composing the image.
I have a little Rollei 35 (very sharp lens!) always loaded with HIE. I bought a step-up ring and a B+W 87 filter (37mm).

Hinged IR Filter Holder for Infrared Photography

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