Series filter thread sizes

[davet]

Can someone enlighten me on series filter thread sizes? Are there standard thread sizes, or can different mfrs have different threads for a given series? More specifically, I'm looking for a series VII to metric (looks like 55mm should do it, 58 certainly will) adapter for a Kodak WF Ektar. The local camera shop has all sorts of metric-> series VII, series V/VI/VIII to series VII, and hermaphroditic series VII (retaining rings, I'm guessing) but of course no series VII -> metric. The more I look at these things, the less sense they make, but I'm sure I'm overlooking something obvious...

 

[Chaska]

This might help depending on the Ektar you have:

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/kodakektar/kodakektar.html

 

[Paul Sorensen]

My understanding is that all lenses need an adapter ring to take series filters. I was under the impression (I read somewhere, actually) that they were designed so that you could get one set of filters and adapters to attach them to all of your lenses. Some lenses do not have internal filter threads and need a slip on filter, but that would still need an adapter to fit a series filter on them. I have sold plenty of series filters and none have had any threads, the series number indicated the diameter size of the filter.

it is also my understanding that it is common to use gels with LF lenses so I suspect that there may not be too much thought given to screw in filter issues.

Edit:

I just found this thread on LF info, according to it, at least the 12" Ektar took a slip on adapter to hold the series filter.

 

[phfitz]

Hi there,

davet: the Kodak series adapter you need is a slip-on type, not threaded into the lens. Just measure the outside diameter of the front lens cell and ask for an adapter that size. Kodak Ektars were made in the U.S.A., they are definitely NOT metric size, they are Kodak size.

Have fun with it.

 

[John Koehrer]

Davet,
Quite a few series adapters are(were) available as direst thread in sizes. Equally as many in slip on. Best bet seems to be the junk drawer at camera shows or OLD camera shops. Take the lens with you.
One interesting thing I found is that series 8 retaining rings thread directly into 67mm filter rings.

 

[davet]

Perhaps I should have mentioned that the lens in question is a 135 wide field. It does have filter threads (for series VII), and I can find adapters of just about every sort except series VII to metric! Even really strange ones like 46mm to series VII. Well, I haven't found any slip-ons in a VII either ...

Quite a few series adapters are(were) available as direst thread in sizes. Equally as many in slip on ... One interesting thing I found is that series 8 retaining rings thread directly into 67mm filter rings.

Now there's an idea. If I can find a series VII to VIII I can just use my 67mm filters on it. But I still don't understand the underlying rationale of series filters.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Perhaps I should have mentioned that the lens in question is a 135 wide field. It does have filter threads (for series VII), and I can find adapters of just about every sort except series VII to metric! Even really strange ones like 46mm to series VII. Well, I haven't found any slip-ons in a VII either ...

According to this page from the above linked site

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/kodakektar/ektar58.html

there is supposed to be an insert ring that came with the lens. This insert ring would hold in the series VII filter, which is not threaded. I imagine you are going to have to try to hunt this down to use series VII filters and that there may not be a way to adapt that to a metric size without some hacking. Actually, I can see creating an adapter out of a step up ring and the insert ring for your lens, but you will still have to find that ring or something else with the same threads. One thing to try is to get a Series VII adapter with a retaining ring, or perhaps just the retaining ring, to see if it has the same threads as your lens, it just might. I am not certain that the retaining rings are all that standardized and whether it would fit your lens, however.

 

[Monophoto]

Let me make sure I understand what you are trying to do. I think I understand that you have a lens that has a series VI front thread, and you want to be able to attach a metric-thread filter. Is that correct?

I've seen lots of male metric to female series adaptors, but I don't recall ever seeing a series male to metric female orientation. Here's a link to a listing of current-production adaptor rings from Tiffen: http://www.tiffen.com/Tiffen adapter rings 100302LIST.PDF

Series rings were invented as a form of "universal" filter ring - a couple of generations before Cokin came along with their ubiquitous filter adaptor design. Generally, if one had a metric threaded filter, then either it would screw directly into the lens or else attach using a metric-thread adaptor (usually step-up - but I do have a step-down in my camera bag). If the intention was to use multiple filters, the metric threaded filters would be closest to the lens, and then a series adaptor would be used to convert to the series system.

As one responder noted, most series filters were actually unthreaded - the intention was that they would fit into the series adaptor and be held in place by a retaining ring that had a male series thread on one side, and a female series thread on the opposite side. By using multiple retaining rings, it was possible to attach multiple series filters to the lens. I do recall a very few filters that had legitimate series thread - but they were speciality items, usually filters that involved a rotating mount (polarizers, multiple-image prisms, etc).

 

[RichSBV]

The Series filters were themselves unthreaded, but the adapters were almost always threaded so something else could be screwed into the front of the adapter.

I have series adapters here in Series VI and VII, with screw-in adapters that allow me to use filters up to 72mm. The adapter rings used to be quite common...

This came up a while back and I still don't remember, but certain Series threads were 'standard' filter threads. I believe Series VIII was 67mm. Series VII may have been 52 or so... I don't remember any more...

But calling some of the older photo store may help. Adapter rings do exist...