What is the best yellow filter for Super Ikonta?

darinwc · Dec 12, 2015

I have a Super Ikonta.. I really really like it.

But I would like to get more contrast in the skys.. Problem is that it does not take any standard filters.
And any original filter would be 50+years old and likely to be not in very good shape.

So what are the other options? I was thinking about trimming down a new gel filter. Or attaching a magnet to a new hoya filter or something.

Any other ideas?

Alan9940 · Dec 12, 2015

I just hold whatever gel filter I need in front of the lens; same as I do with my LF lenses.

Kind regards,
Alan

DWThomas · Dec 12, 2015

You might be able to find a suitable push-on adapter, either to a series filter (which are admittedly a bit thin on the ground of late) or adapt to a standard filter thread large enough to work. I have a rig that adapts my Ercona II (East German Ikonta) for Series VI filters. And I've no idea how old some of the filters I've seen actually are, but some relatively old ones are still in decent shape; I think it depends a lot on type of filter and also how it was stored.

mike c · Dec 12, 2015

I have a Bessa 1 folder with the same problem, I found a yellow 1/8 thick glass filter that is made to fit in the slip on lens shade. I want more modern filters , thought about cutting up the slip on shade and gluing a modern step up ring with threads the size for modern filters,.. but I'd have to find another lens shade.

Hatchetman · Dec 12, 2015

I use Kodak Series filters and they work great.

AgX · Dec 12, 2015

In case the push-on filter at hand is too wide, an inserted plastic strip, tape, or such should work.

BobMarvin · Dec 12, 2015

I've managed to get perfectly good yellow, green. orange, and red filters on eBay for my Super Ikonta A. They're old, but immaculate and fit in the groves around the rim of the lens. The "A" model takes A32 filters; I don't know about the B or C. My filters come from UK and German dealers on eBay

darinwc · Dec 12, 2015

Mine takes the 32mm push on filters as well.

DWThomas · Dec 12, 2015

My Voigtländer Perkeo II takes 32mm push-ons, and (circa 2008) I was able to come up with a lens hood and a number of the same brand filters, via ePrey, that looked near-new. They weren't even too outrageous price-wise. Alas, the Ercona mentioned upthread wants a 37mm which is the size that fits the Voigtländer Bessa II, and besides being pretty rare, they sell for pretty big bucks; apparently the Bessa is fairly hot as a collector item. Since I actually intend to use the doggone things, I get a little nervous about the idea of paying $90 for a lens hood that could pop off easily and plummet to the depths of a waterfall or some such mess. :alien:

Sirius Glass · Dec 13, 2015

I use push on filter holders and series filters for my Voitlander Vito II, Pacemaker Speed Graphic, and Graflex Model D. When I sold cameras the slip on series filters were the go to solution for earlier lenses before lenses were made to take threaded filters.

NedL · Dec 13, 2015

DWThomas said:
.... I have a rig that adapts my Ercona II (East German Ikonta) for Series VI filters.

Homemade? That looks like a good idea. The lens seems a little prone to flaring, and I sometimes like to use a yellow filter. Series vi filters are a lot easier to find!

pbromaghin · Dec 13, 2015

The best one is the one you have in your hands before you trip the shutter.

jimjm · Dec 13, 2015

I found a set of the original Zeiss Ikon clip-on filters for my Super Ikonta B - yellow, red and green in 37mm. They weren't too hard to find on eBay.

R.Gould · Dec 13, 2015

Do what I do, I have a large collection of Folders, and 2 filters, round glass, and I just use Blu tac, and carefully stick the filter to the lens mount, or to the inside of a lens hood, otherwise I would need a seperate filter for every camera, and the cost would be prohibitive

guangong · Dec 13, 2015

Filter kit

Zeiss made a filter kit with a complete set of push on filters including uv filter along with a lens shade，all fitted into a clear plastic case. While many years old they are made of glass， which is pretty inert so age should not really be a factor. Besides the smooth metal hood that came with the set i also have one with a crackle finish. My advice is to just be on the lookout for the filters and get them when you can. Of course，with the disappearance of camera stores we can no longer buy camera equipment unless its actually made for d$@$= cameras.

Chrismat · Dec 13, 2015

Kodak Series adapters may be the way to go. For my Perkeo II folder I use a Kodak Series VI adapter ring over the lens. The adapter ring has a 44mm outer thread, but there are not many 44 filters out there. I found a 44-49mm step up ring so I can use modern 49mm filters.

John51 · Dec 13, 2015

The Ikontas that have what looks like a knurl on the outside of the lens is actually a thread. In the case of my 521 and my 6x6 Mess Ikonta, they take 35.5mm screw on filters. My 1934 Super Ikonta C takes A37 push on filters.

By chance I found out that my A37 push on filter will fit my other 2 Ikontas if I first screw on an empty 35.5mm filter holder.

The threaded piece that holds the glass in place on my A37 filter measures 37mm. So I ordered a cheap 37mm to 49mm step up adapter from China, just in case it fits. Not here yet but assuming it does fit, I'll get a brand name adapter and use my OM filters on the Ikontas.

DWThomas · Dec 13, 2015

NedL said:
Homemade? That looks like a good idea. The lens seems a little prone to flaring, and I sometimes like to use a yellow filter. Series vi filters are a lot easier to find!

Actually not homemade; it's a genuine "Kodak Series VI Adapter Ring 1 15/32 In. - 37mm" push-on device that I had to machine the tabs down a little in thickness to fit in the groove, as well as create a notch to clear the top of a pesky setscrew that pokes into that groove. There's some shots in the 3rd row in my Ercona II gallery that show the handiwork such as it is.

A question in another thread has me wondering about something to screw on the outside and adapt to standard filters, but it's not a priority, as I don't use that camera a lot to begin with.

Funny, upthread I mentioned the 37mm push-ons get into Bessa collector territory. A while back I found a guy in China on ePrey who offers newly manufactured lens shades in the near-exact style of the Voigländers for about $25. I bought one and found the edge that has to push into the groove in the Ercona is a bit too thick to fit. I may eventually do it, but the part, brand new, is so gorgeous I hate to apply cutting tools to it!

jmccl@yahoo.com · Dec 13, 2015

I have a 524/2 6X9 Mess Iconta with 105 Tessar and it takes a 40.5mm threaded filter, the female side threading over the knurled focus ring. I've also got Walz 37mm push in filters that fit into the recess of the lens barrel.

NedL · Dec 13, 2015

DWThomas said:
Actually not homemade; it's a genuine "Kodak Series VI Adapter Ring 1 15/32 In. - 37mm" push-on device that I had to machine the tabs down a little in thickness to fit in the groove, as well as create a notch to clear the top of a pesky setscrew that pokes into that groove. There's some shots in the 3rd row in my Ercona II gallery that show the handiwork such as it is.

Thanks Dave, I'll have a look. I'm using mine quite a lot, more than any other camera right now. Just finished off another roll today

pbromaghin · Dec 14, 2015

John51 said:
The Ikontas that have what looks like a knurl on the outside of the lens is actually a thread. In the case of my 521 and my 6x6 Mess Ikonta, they take 35.5mm screw on filters.

Are you sure about this? I just measured my 1952 523/16 to 35.5 outside measurement, but my 1948 521/16 (both with the Novar) takes the Series VI and has no screw in the knurl. The 523 also has the little Series-style circular notch, but it is just a tiny bit bigger than the Series VI and the filter adaptor from the 521 will not fit.

John51 · Dec 14, 2015

The 35.5mm filter holders fit on mine. My Mess Ikonta has a coated 75mm f=3.5 Tessar and the 521 the same except that it is not coated. The knurls on mine looks like they aren't a thread. I was a bit surprised when the filter holder started to screw on.

BobMarvin · Dec 14, 2015

On my Super Ikonta A 531 (and Ikonta A 521) the 32 mm filters (and lens shade) have thin fittings that fit into a groove inside the lens mount. The filters have a similar groove that will accept the shade. The outside diameter is a bit larger.

What is the best yellow filter for Super Ikonta?

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