Ilford Multigrade Under Lens Filter Kit - limited for certain film formats?

Todd Barlow

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Hello all:
Is there a lens focal length limitation for this type of Ilford under the lens Multigrade filters?
ie is this kit limited to 35mm film and 50mm lens? Or is it designed for use with 35mm, 6x6, 4x5 film and associated lens'?
I see some on-line that people are mounting 6"x6" MultiGrade filters under the lens and I am wondering is their a format which the kit shown is no longer suitable?
Thanks
Todd


 

Mal Paso

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The optical grade filters like you show can be used below any focal length lens.

6x6" filters are usually not optical grade and are designed to go between the light and the negative.
 

Paul Howell

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In the old days when I used the Kodak version, the only problem I had was that finding a holder that would fit my Wollensake 162MM.
 

koraks

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Todd Barlow said:
Is there a lens focal length limitation
Click to expand...

The filters can be used on any lens as long as the edges of the filter don't interfere with the projected image. In practice, with a filter mounted close to the lens, as long as the filter is a little larger than the lens' front element, it'll be fine.
 

xkaes

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As mentioned, the small filters are designed to go UNDER the lens -- and as long as it is fitted correctly, any filter will work with any film format.

The BIG filters (usually gelatin sheets) are designed to go ABOVE the negative -- and as long as it is CUT to fit correctly, any filter will work with any film format.
 

GregY

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Under the lens Todd. Beseler enlargers for example had a swing-out holder..... so the filter was not attached to the lens..... & you could use any lens
 

Sirius Glass

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Basically the filters can go under any lenses as long as the filter is large enough and the size of the format does not matter.
 

peoplemerge

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What they said. I have a Componon 360/5.6 for 11x14. It has a monster front element about 4" in diameter. I would go with larger square filter sheets in the condenser tray for that use, though I've never used it.
 

Joel_L

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I use those filters and have had no problems with prints from a 4x5. I'm using a 135mm lens.
 

Hilo

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Yes, the answer to your question is enlarger related. My Focomat IIc does 135mm to 6x9, using a 60mm and a 100mm that slide from left to right, depending on the negative I print. This enlarger has a filter tray between the bulb and the condenser which uses the large size multigrade filters.
However, this enlarger often comes without the filter tray, as it was optional in those days because it was meant for those who printed color. Standard for b/w photographers, the IIc came without the tray and the slot was covered by a metal plate.

These days Kienzle makes an under the lens filter holder that comes in place of the redfilter. It is small and takes the smaller size multigrade filters . . . but it works with both lenses.

I prefer the tray, mostly because it is a cleaner situation inside the lamphead.
 
Last edited:

Dusty Negative

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I use the under-the-lens filters for both 135 and 120 film (and, of course, their corresponding lenses and boards). Your boards do need a fork (or whatever the engineering term is) to be able to mount the holder, like so:

 

GregY

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Dusty Negative said:
I use the under-the-lens filters for both 135 and 120 film (and, of course, their corresponding lenses and boards). Your boards do need a fork (or whatever the engineering term is) to be able to mount the holder, like so:

View attachment 326010
Click to expand...

there are any number of ways to add a filter holder to an enlarger. I ditched the one on my Beseler MXT when I got my Zone VI VC head....
 

ic-racer

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Here is an example of a filter holder I made for a 300mm lens. It takes the 6x6" Ilford filters.
 

btaylor

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ic-racer said:
Here is an example of a filter holder I made for a 300mm lens. It takes the 6x6" Ilford filters. View attachment 326184
Click to expand...

Oh no! Those are the wrong filters! Only for above the negative use. They are not made of the same filter material as the under the lens sets,
Okay, my attempt at humor here. I do the same thing with my 300mm Schneider enlarger lens. It works perfectly. I have the standard under the lens kit as well as the 6”x6”. They look the same. When you think about it, does it make sense for Ilford to engineer and manufacture two different filter materials? I think not. I also got a set of unmounted 3x3 filters- no different from the mounted ones.
Nice holder BTW, I need to come up with something like that. What materials did you use?
 

mshchem

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This is like the Kodak color printing filters. The CC filters (YMC) only to be used above the lens and the CP filters (RGB) to be used below the lens.

The filters don't care where they are.
 

ic-racer

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I had a thread on the construction of that holder, but the images are gone. I did find them on my hard drive from 2008. The holder is made from a kitchen cutting board:


 

Dani

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Ilford says that the 6x6 or smaller filters can be used either above of bellow the lens, from the pdf, page 2.

"Filters are available in sets of filters 8.9x8.9cm
(31/2x31/2 inches) and 15.2x15.2cm (6x6 inches). They can be used above or below the lens and can be cut to fit the enlarger filter drawer. Filter sizes 30x30cm (11.8x11.8 inches) are available to special order.
A filter kit is available for below the lens use. The kit comprises 12 mounted contrast filters, a mounted safelight filter and a filter holder."

 

eli griggs

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Mal Paso said:
The optical grade filters like you show can be used below any focal length lens.

6x6" filters are usually not optical grade and are designed to go between the light and the negative.
Click to expand...

My Omega 5" x 7" enlarger, which came from a photographer long lived studio, came with a large yellow gel in the lamp housing of the Omegaron circle light, light head.

It prints well, despite the bad lay up of the filter, so I keep it in place and use an Omega filter turret with gels without removing the lamp house filter and am fine with those results.y
 

eli griggs

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Is a filter drawer gel frame, available for use as a ridged holder with your enlarger?

Did Omega ever offer one?

I prefer Ilford enlargement filters over Kodak, whatever brand paper I'm using.
 
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