How to use filter on Rolleiflex TLR

anta40 · May 4, 2017

I saw at a local shop a Rolleiflex 3.5 Xenar being sold for a relativey cheap. I'd like to use this for landscape photography.

I'd like to use ND/CPL filters. On medium format SLRs, you can practically slap any kind of filters, both ring filters and square filters.
But what about TLR? A quick Google search told me Rollei made their own filters: 2 and 4 stops.
I think that's kinda limiting. Is there any way to use 3rd party filters?

R.Gould · May 4, 2017

In Rollei B1 most other tlr's such as the Yaschica and autocord Ect used the B1 fitting and most indipendant filter makers made filters in B1 fitting and all of them could be used on rollei B1 fitting cameras,also there were converting rings to make screw fitting filters fit rollei B1, so if you have B1 then filters should not be a problem, yoh just need to search them out,
Richard

Frank53 · May 4, 2017

I have an adapter for normal filters on a Rolleiflex. I think it is bajonet II to 49mm, but have to check that.
You can find them on ebay.
Regards,
Frank

Frank53 · May 4, 2017

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=231987850753&globalID=EBAY-NL

Suppose you find them for bay I as well

Regards,
Frank

mooseontheloose · May 4, 2017

So, you can get bay 1 (or 2 or whatever it is for that Rollei) adapters. Since most of my filters are 52mm, I have a Bay 1 to 52mm adapter. I don't use bigger filters because they interfere with the shutter release (especially if using a cable release) and they can block the viewing lens which can affect your focusing. With a circular polariser I will adjust it to my eye (or the viewing lens), and then, trying to keep it in the same position, (re)attach it to the taking lens. For ND filters, no worries. If you are using a big stopper (10 stops) or something similar, don't forget to cover up most of the camera to prevent light leaks. If you use a grad ND (!) you'd have to do your best guess. There is a TLR ND grad filter (I have it), but the grad is yellow, so it has limited use (and I usually forget to bring it anyway).

Sometimes I just hold the filter in front of the lens.

Ian Grant · May 4, 2017

As Rachelle says a Bay 1 adapter is the way to go, in my case I'll get a Bay 1 to 49mm adapter, I have quite a bot of Ilford SFX 120 film and that's the only way to use my IR filter with one of my TLR's

Ian

mike c · May 4, 2017

His camera might be a bay 2 if its a RollieFLEX , I have a Rollie f75 bayonet type 2 adopter to a 38mm screw type filter thread, it also lets me use the lens shade at the same time.

Ian Grant · May 4, 2017

mike c said:
His camera might be a bay 2 if its a RollieFLEX , I have a Rollie f75 bayonet type 2 adopter to a 38mm screw type filter thread, it also lets me use the lens shade at the same time.

The Rolleiflex cameras with the 75mm f3.5 Xenar nor Tessar are all Bay 1, the f3.5 75mm Xenotar or Planar is Bay 2. My dilemna is having 4 TLR's that use Bay 1 (Microcord, Rolleiflex Automat, Yashicamat 124 and a yet to be fixed Rolleicord II) alongside my best Rolleiflex 3.5 E3 with a Xenotar which is Bay 2. Sheer weight of numbers means it's better to get a Bay 1/M49 adapter.

Ian

Kodachromeguy · May 4, 2017

Anta, you are getting a lot of confusing information. If your Rolleiflex has a Xenar lens, then it uses filters that are Rollei Bayonet I (also known as Bay 1 or R1) size.
1. The easiest way to use filters is to buy the Bay I Rollei, Yashica, or third party filters. Then the Bay I hood will fit over the filters when it clips on the external bayonet mount.
2. Because many TLR cameras used Bay I, the filters are readily available (at least in USA). Companies like Tiffen made Bay I filters.
3. If you want to use other size filters, you need a Bay I - size xxx adapter.
4. An inexpensive option for filters is to use Series V or Series VI filters. Few people use them now, so they are cheap. You would need a Bay I - Series V or VI adapter.
5. If you want to use a polarizer, you can use a normal linear polarizer. You do not need a CPL or circular polarizer. Rollei and other companies made Bay I polarizers, but they are hard to find and, because of age, many have delamination problems.
Have fun. The Rolleiflex is a great camera.

JPD · May 5, 2017

You can buy new high-quality Heliopan filters in Bayonet 1. They have a big range of ND filters. http://www.fotofilterversand.de

Adapters and screw-in filters are cheaper, but if no one buys new filters in bayonet mounts they will disappear from the market.

John Koehrer · May 6, 2017

Well, now you know how to make 'em fit.
The odd ball will be the polarizer 'cuz you can't see through it.
So, the way it's done is to look through the filter and note where the mark is on the filter.
Install it and rotate until the mark is at the same position as when you looked through it.

jgoody · May 8, 2017

I have gotten a bunch of Bay 1 filters from filterfind.net . They have the various Bay filters sizes as well as adapters from Bay to series filters. The Bay 1 to series 5 essentially mounts the series 5 in a Bay 1 holder. I had a few questions and they seemed knowledgeable, and the website lists which cameras take which Bay #.

How to use filter on Rolleiflex TLR

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