Is there an easy way to search lenses by filter thread size?

L_E_Miller · Apr 20, 2022

I recently adapted a Pictrol enlarger filter to a 58mm thread

I'm curious if anyone knows a camera* lens database that would let me sort by filter thread size -- I want to see what I can shoot this thing with.

*edit

gone · Apr 20, 2022

Do you mean enlarging lenses or camera lenses? I know of no data base that specifically is for the thread sizes, but so far I've been able to find that info by simple google searches. Some sites like the Pentax forums, the Canon Museum and Nikon lens data bases gives complete info for their many, many lenses.

xkaes · Apr 20, 2022

If you have adapted a Pictrol to a 58mm thread, it will fit on any lens -- all you need is a step-up or step-down ring.

Keep in mind that the Pictrol is only so wide, so you will get some light cut-off, but a TTL meter will compensate and you can see any vignettng in the viewfinder of an SLR.

L_E_Miller · Apr 20, 2022

xkaes said:
If you have adapted a Pictrol to a 58mm thread, it will fit on any lens -- all you need is a step-up or step-down ring.

Keep in mind that the Pictrol is only so wide, so you will get some light cut-off, but a TTL meter will compensate and you can see any vignettng in the viewfinder of an SLR.

While I could technically mount any lens to 58mm with step up/down rings it's not gonna work so well if the front element is bigger than the filter.

xkaes · Apr 20, 2022

If the filter thread of the lens is great than 58mm you just get a step-down ring. Sure, your f2.8 lens might now be an f4 lens -- unless you are stopping down the lens to f4 anyway, in which case it would make no difference. It's not a problem. It MIGHT cut out some light when used wide open, but it will still work. Try it.

L_E_Miller · Apr 20, 2022

xkaes said:
If the filter thread of the lens is great than 58mm you just get a step-down ring. Sure, your f2.8 lens might now be an f4 lens -- unless you are stopping down the lens to f4 anyway, in which case it would make no difference. It's not a problem. It MIGHT cut out some light when used wide open, but it will still work. Try it.

Yeah I have a whole mess of rings for my regular filters.

Funny enough Wikipedia lets me sort first-party lenses by filter thread!

Canon EF lens mount - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

gone · Apr 20, 2022

L_E_Miller said:
While I could technically mount any lens to 58mm with step up/down rings it's not gonna work so well if the front element is bigger than the filter.

Have you tried it? I had the same problem once so I just used the too-small step ring anyway. It worked fine, even wide open w/ a hood and filter. Maybe they tend to design the coverage on the lenses sometimes w/ a fudge factor?

It probably varies from lens to lens, and I only tried it that once, but it did work. The lens was a 90mm short tele, the wider lenses may be a different kettle of fish.

xkaes · Apr 21, 2022

L_E_Miller said:
Yeah I have a whole mess of rings for my regular filters.

Funny enough Wikipedia lets me sort first-party lenses by filter thread!

Canon EF lens mount - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Pure luck with those Canon lenses. That's just because whoever put that list together obviously did it in "spreadsheet" software and uploaded it.

There are lots of great lens lists, such as http://photocornucopia.com/1061.html but they have not been created in PHP (or whatever) so that they can be sorted as you like.

You might also be interested in:

https://deltalenses.com/

L_E_Miller · Apr 22, 2022

momus said:
Have you tried it? I had the same problem once so I just used the too-small step ring anyway. It worked fine, even wide open w/ a hood and filter. Maybe they tend to design the coverage on the lenses sometimes w/ a fudge factor?

It probably varies from lens to lens, and I only tried it that once, but it did work. The lens was a 90mm short tele, the wider lenses may be a different kettle of fish.

Yeah I've tried it. There's wiggle room but if you block too much you get heavy vignetting or even totally black corners, the wider you go the more pronounced it is.

There's a reason specific lenses have specific lens hoods.

xkaes · Apr 22, 2022

You're going to have vignetting with any lens. The more you stop down the Pictrol, the more you get. That's what it's supposed to do.

There are some REVERSE Pictrols that were made. The only difference is that they have CLEAR "fingers".

You could try to locate one of those, but you would be better off getting a "center filter" which is a soft focus lens with a hole in the middle.

It basically comes down to "What are you trying to accomplish?" Do you want DARK edges to your pictures or LIGHT edges or something completely different -- as Monty Python would say?!?!?!?!

Is there an easy way to search lenses by filter thread size?

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