series filters?

I was looking at a list of available lenses for the Bronica ETR line of cameras, and most of the primes use 62mm filters. The later Tamron era zooms (45-90 and 100-220) use 95mm filters, but the other zooms, made by Schneider-Kreuznach )70-140, 125-250), use something listed as "Series 9a".

I've never heard of them, so Google led me to a page that, if I understand correctly, says that these are basically clamp in. Some sort of retaining ring screws off the front of the lens, the filter drops in and the retaining ring screws back into place, holding the filter in place. Or alternatively the base and retaining ring are separate from the lens, but in that case I assume that the base would have to screw into the lens in some way.

Do I understand this correctly? This brings up the question of how that would work with polarizers? And if I was going to buy a square filter holder for the system like a Lee or Cokin, can these be attached? I would guess that the retaining ring could be removed to expose threads, but I have no idea if those threads would match any filter standard.

You correctly understand how series filters work. There are slip on polarizer which are dedicated for only the polarizers.

Lee and Cokin filters are somewhat fragile so I recommend avoiding them.

Well, I don't know if I'll go Lee, Cokin, Nisi, or cheap Chinese clone (probably not), but I will be getting a square 100mm filter holder for the camera, and I'm curious if there is any way to make them work with a lens designed for a series 9 filter?

First, the lens should have a retaining ring that comes with it. The base itself is not removable.
Series 9's are 82.6mm diameter and are drop in as you said in your post. That means the actual diameter
of the drop in ring is around 83-84mm.
I think the problem you may have is adapting a square filter holder to the lens because that would be an unusual
thread size. SK Grimes can help you($$$).

Series drop-ins are the way to go with the Schneiders.

Another nice feature of series filters is that the holders were made in many sizes both as slip-on and screw-in types and the retaining rings can be replaced with lens hoods that are threaded the same (as the retaining ring) so they act as retaining ring and lens hood at the same time.

Very handy system. I'm not 100% sure why they fell out of favor. I use a whole bunch of series V and VI filters for my various folders (usually with the retaining ring/lens shade). Each camera just needs the appropriate holder and I can use the same set of filters for everything.

One thing to be careful of if you seek out vintage series filters: some of the very early filters have issues with the coatings delaminating or fading. Most are fine. Just be sure of what you're getting.

I use series filters for my LF lenses. Screw in filters will not work for many of them.

abruzzi said:

I was looking at a list of available lenses for the Bronica ETR line of cameras, and most of the primes use 62mm filters. The later Tamron era zooms (45-90 and 100-220) use 95mm filters, but the other zooms, made by Schneider-Kreuznach )70-140, 125-250), use something listed as "Series 9a".

.

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I have the Schneider-Kreuznach 125-250mm lens and it uses a standard 86mm thread .
As it doesn't have a built in hood I use an 86mm to 95mm step up ring so it can use a hood I have and can also share the same 95mm polarizer and Skylight filter or Cokin Z-Pro filters with the Bronica 45-90mm lens .

abruzzi said:

Well, I don't know if I'll go Lee, Cokin, Nisi, or cheap Chinese clone (probably not), but I will be getting a square 100mm filter holder for the camera, and I'm curious if there is any way to make them work with a lens designed for a series 9 filter?

Click to expand...

Ignore the series 9 filter thing .
The series filters are a circular version of a slot in filter system , you have a screw in adapter the size you need for your lens , then the filter holder holds the filter in place , with several holders the filters could be stacked .
A different lens adapter is needed for each size of lens filter thread you had .
Same idea as the square slot in system , except you couldn't have an adjustable position for an ND grad .
The main advantage the series system had was that you had glass ( rather than optical resin) filters that could be used on lenses with different size filter threads .

The Cokin Z-Pro system replaces the Series type if you want to use slot in filters rather than circular .
A converter isn't needed , it's not like the lens has a bayonet fitting and no filter thread like some Hasselblad lenses .

86mm Z-pro adapter ;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000FS21FE/ref=twister_B01CYASD5C?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
95mm Z-Pro adapter ;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000TX6RZ0/ref=twister_B01CYASD5C?_encoding=UTF8&th=1
Cokin Z-Pro 100mm filter holder ;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cokin-BZ-1...1531213015&sr=1-2&keywords=cokin+z-pro+holder

Or a kit with three Z-Pro ND-Grads and Filter holder , this includes a case/bag to keep your filters clean so they don't get scratched .
Holds about 6 filters . The holder and adapters are best kept separate as being an odd shape if packed in a bag together could possible do damage ;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Gradua..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=ECE6KX65H8RDXJSMY57V

With this system I have the Polarizer , the circular Infrared filter , a set of ND filters , ND grads , a warm up filter and Skylight for colour work , and Yellow , Orange , Green and Red for black and white film .

Before putting them back in the pouch , make sure you blow any dust / sand off otherwise they could get scratched .

Be a clot by just laying them down anywhere , either on your camera bag or the ground (!) and your just asking for them to get scratched .
Look after them and they will last many years .

Filter holders can be bought cheaper , http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/2014Bin...9257016&_sid=1232518176&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322 ,
but never buy cheap filters . All the money you spend on cameras , lenses , film and developing cost's and the time taken to take the pictures are easily ruined by sticking a turd on your lens !
Cokin , HiTech and Lee slot in filters re the ones to go for , others might either add a colour cast to the pictures or might not be optically flat or have other defects that ruin your pictures .

Other than Cokin and HiTech the only other filters I use are screw in Minolta , B+W and some Hoya ones , depending on what lens I'm using and doing .

I've used the Lee 100mm system for years and can highly recommend it. Formatt-HiTech are also making some very high quality filters these days, by all accounts. As I understand it Cokin NDs & grads are not at all netural, especially if you stack them. No such issue with the Lee filters I use (at least until you get into the 10+ stop NDs).

GLS said:

I've used the Lee 100mm system for years and can highly recommend it. Formatt-HiTech are also making some very high quality filters these days, by all accounts. As I understand it Cokin NDs & grads are not at all netural, especially if you stack them. No such issue with the Lee filters I use (at least until you get into the 10+ stop NDs).

Click to expand...

The old Cokin ND's used to have a magenta cast which is why all my ND's and ND grads are HiTech ones .
I belive the newer Cokin ND's and grafs are much more neutral these days though .

Thanks. There is a spreadsheet floating around the web that lists all the ETR lenses, and that's where I got the idea that the Schneider lenses for the ETR have series filters. I was hoping that I could just leave off the retaining ring and use whatever thread the retaining ring uses. It sounds like either it doesn't really have the series filter built in, or you're missing the retaining ring--either way if they both have 86mm thread that means that either I can find a direct adapter ring, or like you have, a step up followed by a 95mm adapter, which I'll want because I already have a 45-90 with a 95mm thread.

I haven't settled on brand, but I imagine that I could buy an adapter from whoever makes an adapter I like, and filters could be mixed and matched. Thats assuming that they are the same thickness and 100mm is the same for Cokin, Nisi, Lee, and others.

I think one of the reasons the industry got rid of series type filters is that they can sell more filters, which by the way are more expensive because they're screw-on. I have a set of series VI filters and hoods that are shared between four cameras. All I had to buy, lens-specific, were a few adapter rings.

abruzzi said:

Thanks. There is a spreadsheet floating around the web that lists all the ETR lenses, and that's where I got the idea that the Schneider lenses for the ETR have series filters. I was hoping that I could just leave off the retaining ring and use whatever thread the retaining ring uses. It sounds like either it doesn't really have the series filter built in, or you're missing the retaining ring--either way if they both have 86mm thread that means that either I can find a direct adapter ring, or like you have, a step up followed by a 95mm adapter, which I'll want because I already have a 45-90 with a 95mm thread.

I haven't settled on brand, but I imagine that I could buy an adapter from whoever makes an adapter I like, and filters could be mixed and matched. Thats assuming that they are the same thickness and 100mm is the same for Cokin, Nisi, Lee, and others.

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Abruzzi,

You're in New Mexico. Camera & Darkroom in Albuquerque has a big drawer full of hundreds of series adapters, hoods, and filters. It's on Washington just south of Menaul. (I don't know if they have any in their Santa Fe store - much smaller location.)

Thanks! I'll look them up next time I'm in Albuquerque with time to spare. I'm in the Las Cruces area (no real camera shops down here), and I'll be speeding through Albuquerque at 75mph on Saturday, but no time to stop.

abruzzi said:

Thanks! I'll look them up next time I'm in Albuquerque with time to spare. I'm in the Las Cruces area (no real camera shops down here), and I'll be speeding through Albuquerque at 75mph on Saturday, but no time to stop.

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Art, the owner of Camera & Darkroom can be a little gruff and doesn't tolerate fools very well, but he's a really good guy once you get to know him. He has almost anything you can imagine in terms of older cameras and accessories.

But please, please don't go in there, find the size you need, and then order it on eBay to save a couple bucks.

I went in there with my Pressman and went through the drawer to find what I needed. Good people.

Have a look at Filterfind.net. Tim has an enormous selection of both Series and screw-in filters, plus lens hoods, Series adapters, etc. H has both NOS and gently used gear, and his prices are reasonable.
Tim really knows his stuff! As an example I have a lovely Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35. the jewel-like folder. Its 50 mm f2.8 Tessar has threads on the OUTSIDE of the lens!! Tim found an Endalite adapter, plus the appropriate Series filters, a lens hood, and a little filter safe to hold everything.

Check out these two sources: