R72 Filter with SLRs

ColdEye · Jan 18, 2022

So before I just used a bessa R or leica CL when shooting IR film with an R72 filter, and it was very easy to shoot with. Now I have an F100 and F5, and it is a pain when removing and putting back the filter again after focusing/composing. I can still faintly see something, but this is with a bright f1.4 lens. Are there brighter screens for the f100 or f5? Would something like an F3 be brighter? I just need it to be a little brighter, and I dont want to go into an RF system again right now.

Sirius Glass · Jan 18, 2022

No, you need to mount your camera on a tripod, set it up, frame and focus, if the lens has a red mark for focus offset adjust*, use the film box speed to take a light reading, adjust the the light reading by the filter correction value of 5, attach the R72 filter and take the photograph, remove the R72 filter and repeat the process. It is too hard to see through the R72 filter and align the composition.

* It may not be necessary for very wide angle lenses.

woodlandSerenade · Jan 18, 2022

Another option could be a magnetic filter holder like Manfrotto's XUME system. While it doesn't get rid of having to remove the filter for every shot, it may make it far more bearable. I have no personal experience with them though, so they may be less helpful than I'm imagining.
Edit: Looks like the XUME system was recently discontinued. There seems to be a similar, albeit cheaper system from UUrig

AgX · Jan 18, 2022

Long time ago there was a filter holder to swing on/off filters.

A further solution, if handheld using a IR with filter is possible, is to use an accessory finder.

grat · Jan 22, 2022

I use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Homyl-Adapter-Release-Bracket-Install/dp/B099MSRKDY

Compose and focus normally (because most IR film these days doesn't get far enough into the IR to alter focus), meter, subtract 6 stops (for the Hoya R72), swing the filter closed, and shoot.

Don't forget that swing part. You get a really, really dark negative when you do that.

Sirius Glass · Jan 23, 2022

grat said:
I use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Homyl-Adapter-Release-Bracket-Install/dp/B099MSRKDY

Compose and focus normally (because most IR film these days doesn't get far enough into the IR to alter focus), meter, subtract 6 stops (for the Hoya R72), swing the filter closed, and shoot.

Don't forget that swing part. You get a really, really dark negative when you do that.

T*H*A*N*K Y*O*U!! I ordered on which I will have to attach to the B60 to 67mm adapter for the Hasselblad and the 58mm to 67mm.

AgX · Jan 23, 2022

grat said:
I use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Homyl-Adapter-Release-Bracket-Install/dp/B099MSRKDY

I do not see an arrest. Seemingly that thing works just by friction. Are you pleased with the operation of your model?

The location of the hinge, and thus position of the flap is accidential. This may be annoying.

grat · Jan 24, 2022

AgX said:
I do not see an arrest. Seemingly that thing works just by friction. Are you pleased with the operation of your model?

The location of the hinge, and thus position of the flap is accidential. This may be annoying.

The friction is adjustable, although by default, it's enough that it won't flop about, but it doesn't require any particular strength either.

The location of the hinge is entirely up to you-- the hinged portion is held in place by a retaining ring that screws into the filter thread. For storage, the retaining ring conveniently threads into the holder, so they don't easily get separated, and that's how it's shown in the photos. But in use, the thinner ring with the two flaps is placed against the lens, the knurled ring is threaded into the filter threads, and the actual filter you want to use is threaded into the larger ring with the single tab (It's correctly attached to the camera in the photos).

I've used it for both IR photography, and to attach a Cokin style filter holder (with filters)-- although I'm not sure of the benefit there, unless you're doing before/after filter comparisons.

AgX · Jan 24, 2022

Thank you. At second sight it may well be that such retaining ring is screwed into the flap-ring in that photo from that ad, and at the photo of the mounted state is screwed on top of the static ring instead.

Sirius Glass · Jan 24, 2022

grat said:
I use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Homyl-Adapter-Release-Bracket-Install/dp/B099MSRKDY

Compose and focus normally (because most IR film these days doesn't get far enough into the IR to alter focus), meter, subtract 6 stops (for the Hoya R72), swing the filter closed, and shoot.

Don't forget that swing part. You get a really, really dark negative when you do that.

I also need one for 62mm but they do not have that size. I will have to stack adapters.

grat · Jan 24, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I also need one for 62mm but they do not have that size. I will have to stack adapters.

I effectively standardized on 67mm. I've only got one lens right now with a larger filter (77mm), and it doesn't vignette. But I feel your pain.

Sirius Glass · Jan 24, 2022

grat said:
I effectively standardized on 67mm. I've only got one lens right now with a larger filter (77mm), and it doesn't vignette. But I feel your pain.

I have may cameras and each camera has its lenses with its standard size filters.

pentaxuser · Jan 24, 2022

ColdEye said:
. Now I have an F100 and F5, and it is a pain when removing and putting back the filter again after focusing/composing. I can still faintly see something, but this is with a bright f1.4 lens.

This question may have an obvious answer but can I take it that the autofocus relies on a certain strength of light which is denied it with the R72 on the lens and thus fails to work?

In some cases such as wide angle lenses or even normal lenses of 50mm simple zone focusing can be used quite effectively ?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Sirius Glass · Jan 24, 2022

pentaxuser said:
This question may have an obvious answer but can I take it that the autofocus relies on a certain strength of light which is denied it with the R72 on the lens and thus fails to work?

In some cases such as wide angle lenses or even normal lenses of 50mm simple zone focusing can be used quite effectively ?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Yes

ColdEye · Jan 24, 2022

Surprisingly the AF works. It SEEMS to actually focus correctly. The rolls I will develop this Friday will be the proof. I decided to just live with the very dim image thru the VF.

pentaxuser · Jan 24, 2022

ColdEye said:
Surprisingly the AF works. It SEEMS to actually focus correctly. The rolls I will develop this Friday will be the proof. I decided to just live with the very dim image thru the VF.

Interesting and thanks . So it appears that AF is much better than the eye and can operate at light levels that the eye cannot. Can anyone explain this in relatively simple terms?

Thanks

pentaxuser

reddesert · Jan 24, 2022

That swing away filter holder is neat and a good solution to this problem, thanks for posting it. (There are also similar ones on ebay.) The selection of filter sizes is weird though. There's no 52mm or 62mm, which are sadly the sizes I have IR filters in. No-name IR filters are cheap though so maybe I'll get one to fit it.

People who have been around for a while may remember the crappy plastic hinged lens caps that were semi-popular in the 80s or so. They screwed or snapped onto the lens, and flipped open, hanging there like a little flag. You could probably cut the center out of one of those and use it to hold a filter.

reddesert · Jan 24, 2022

pentaxuser said:
Interesting and thanks . So it appears that AF is much better than the eye and can operate at light levels that the eye cannot. Can anyone explain this in relatively simple terms?

AF sensors are electronic detectors and probably have some sensitivity in the red to infrared that passes through an R72 filter. So the AF might work. Or not. Depends on the camera. The metering will also be affected.

A point of this thread is that your eye doesn't see very well at all through an R72 filter, so just leaving the filter on the camera, you can barely see through the viewfinder to compose the shot. So until they invent a camera with auto-composition sensors, people will be taking R72 filters on and off their SLRs.

Sirius Glass · Jan 24, 2022

reddesert said:
AF sensors are electronic detectors and probably have some sensitivity in the red to infrared that passes through an R72 filter. So the AF might work. Or not. Depends on the camera. The metering will also be affected.

A point of this thread is that your eye doesn't see very well at all through an R72 filter, so just leaving the filter on the camera, you can barely see through the viewfinder to compose the shot. So until they invent a camera with auto-composition sensors, people will be taking R72 filters on and off their SLRs.

I need a 62mm to 67mm swing way filter mount and I cannot find it.

R72 Filter with SLRs

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