Using filters on the Rollei 50mm Schneider lens

Dave Krueger · May 20, 2021

I am planning to buy some filters for to fit on the 50mm f2.8 lens for my Hy6. I often use red with a polarizer. This lens has a very large (95mm) front filter ring, but I'm not sure that means I can get away with using two standard thickness filters without vignetting. Since 95mm filters are pricy, I'd rather not find out I guessed wrong after shelling out the cash. I prefer using B+W filters, but their thin polarizer is very expensive. They don't have thin red filters. 50mm isn't really all that wide on a 6x6 camera, so...

Anyone have any experience using two filters on this lens?

grain elevator · May 20, 2021

Google "hoodcalc", it's an excel sheet to calculate lens hood dimensions, can just as well be used to calculate if any other object vignettes.

Pieter12 · May 20, 2021

I use a standard thickness B+W Orange filter on this lens all the time with no problem. I would hesitate to use 2 filters stacked. And why?

Dave Krueger · May 20, 2021

grain elevator said:
Google "hoodcalc", it's an excel sheet to calculate lens hood dimensions, can just as well be used to calculate if any other object vignettes.

Found it. Thanks for that link. I hadn't heard of that spread sheet before and it looks like it could be pretty handy. In fact, it is quite encouraging. If the mount for the 95mm B+W filters is similar to the mount for my 77mm filters, standard thickness filters should work. Of course a polarizer is usually a bit thicker than a standard filter, but the calculator suggests that I should still be safe. The angle of view for the 50mm is wider than I thought. It's actually 76 degrees where I was thinking it was more like 65-70.

I'd still feel better if someone can actually confirm that they've used two filters with no vignetting.

Dave Krueger · May 20, 2021

Pieter12 said:
And why?

I like dark dramatic skies.

Pieter12 · May 20, 2021

Dave Krueger said:
I like dark dramatic skies.

Red filter?

Anaxagore · May 20, 2021

On most occasions I do have two filters on my 50mm: the protective UV filter (either B+W, Heliopan or Rollei) + either a Kolari hot mirror or B+W 486 (due to wide spectrum back; I remove that other filter when using film or a back that has the UV/IR filter integrated).
On the image, I do not see any hint of vignetting. Maybe when using film and therefore the whole 56x56 surface it becomes more apparent but have never noticed anything either.

Dave Krueger · May 21, 2021

Anaxagore said:
On most occasions I do have two filters on my 50mm: the protective UV filter (either B+W, Heliopan or Rollei) + either a Kolari hot mirror or B+W 486 (due to wide spectrum back, I remove that other filter when using film or a back that has the UV/IR filter integrated).
On the image, I do not see any hint of vignetting. Maybe when using film and therefore the whole 56x56 surface it becomes more apparent but have never noticed anything either.
View attachment 274926

Thank you for the info. I shoot only film, but the filters extend so far past the edge of the glass on on this lens, it's hard to imagine that two filters would cause vignetting. In fact, that huge filter ring around the front is the most prominent characteristic of the lens appearance. In any case, I ordered a standard red B+W red filter and a slim (7mm thick) Nikon polarizer with front threads. I also got a 77mm to 95mm step up adapter to allow the big filters to be mounted on the 40mm which, from what I've read, is understandably susceptible to vignetting.

Dave Krueger · May 21, 2021

Pieter12 said:
Red filter?

Adding a polarizer together with a red just increases the effect.

Pieter12 · May 21, 2021

To each his own. I would think a red filter plus a polarizer would give you a very dim viewfinder image (I know the 50 is f2.8, but even then) and possible unpredictable results depending on how certain colors might be affected. I find the orange filter plus split-grade printing and burning the sky can give me dark enough skies. This is with the 40mm.

Dave Krueger · May 21, 2021

Pieter12 said:
To each his own. I would think a red filter plus a polarizer would give you a very dim viewfinder image (I know the 50 is f2.8, but even then) and possible unpredictable results depending on how certain colors might be affected. I find the orange filter plus split-grade printing and burning the sky can give me dark enough skies. This is with the 40mm.

View attachment 274967

Very nice picture. I prefer not to dodge and burn the sky around complex shapes. I don't always use both, but I like having the option. I don't expect the darker viewfinder image to be a problem because I often (mostly) use these filters with lenses that are slower than f2.8. It hadn't occurred to me that it could be a problem with this lens and camera. I'll know soon enough, I guess.

ic-racer · May 21, 2021

I don't use filters much at all. Mostly because where I live the sky is white not blue. Sometimes there is some blue when the clouds go away but not much that can be seen through the trees anyway.

Otherwise I'm with Pieter, I do a lot when printing.

Dave Krueger · May 22, 2021

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'm not enthusiastic about dodging/burning around complex shapes to burn in the sky, but lightening slightly vignetted corners of a picture might be an easier task. In any case, the filters are on the way, so I should be able to do some experimentation with the 50mm soon.

ic-racer · May 22, 2021

In art school (many years ago) I was a big follower of Lee Friedlander and am still locked into a similar style. This is an example of his work, not mine, but I don't see much indication he is filtering the sky.

When I got my first 6008i (the one now broken) in 2013, it came with a complete set of B&W brand filters and the bayonet to screw adapter, but I must say I have never used the filters.

ic-racer · May 22, 2021

This is my own print of a camper with its typical white sky. Compare to #10 above.

Dave Krueger · May 22, 2021

ic-racer said:
This is my own print of a camper with its typical white sky. Compare to #10 above.
View attachment 275047

I like the pictures you posted, but I tend to prefer a sky with more going on. I am not looking for fidelity.

I went on a photo expedition to Montreal and Quebec City in 2016. The sky was overcast and textureless almost the entire time. I hated it. I had the same issue for about a week during a 2019 trip to Italy. I came to the conclusion that I just don't know how to shoot in those conditions. I like fog, but I just don't do well with flat skies. It's a mental block or something. Definitely something I need to work on.

Using filters on the Rollei 50mm Schneider lens

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