Polariser for TLR

Firecrest Formatt Hitech vs B+W MRC vs Marumi.

I am looking for a polariser for my Mamiyaflex. My aim is to compose with the viewing lens and then mark the top of the filter when its rotated enough and then screw into onto the taking lens and rotate until the mark is at top.

I am looking at two options. The first is to screw the filter onto the lens, probably getting the filter for the largest thread for the mamiya lenses which is 49mm and then using step up rings on the smaller threads. This option also allows for the use of lens hood.

The second option (using the firecrest, although the filter can be used independently) is getting the firecrest holder with polariser. Having the holder then allows me to use ND grads. The polariser will be used the same as option one but with the benefit of the holder for extra filters.

My question is if i went with option two is does the size of the polariser matter in relation to the lens size? The firecrest is 82mm. Will this have any impact on using it on 49mm thread lens in terms of the effect? Is it better to use a polariser closer to the thread size?

Also thoughts on the three filters?

Polarizer lens distance shouldn't matter.

If you splurge on B+W, get a Kaesemann (65 Euro) it lets a bit more light through.

How are you going to mount the vented lens hood for the 55mm on a 49mm filter?

Sorry, I have no polarizer on TLR experience. - I got my filters (B+W for B&W) in 46mm, mounted bargain bin UVs and skylights on my viewing lenses and was happy I could still use the Mamiya caps.

I tried my very best to Dremel parts of a 49mm filter mount away but still didn't make enough room to use stock 49mm filters on my 250mm taking lens.

I am not at all eager to step up ring a giant system filter holder in front of my camera. I am pretty sure it will render your viewing lens close to unusable in shooting position. - Try it out with a pack of cigarettes (or chocolate pressed against the lens and see yourself. IMHO Mamiya TLRs are the same as Canikon's monster DSLRs: Their bulk and weight gets justified by swift operation. If you want to use ND grads polarizers and stuff from a tripod; bring a ground glass focused folder. - It should safe a ton of weight if you add up viewing lenses camera and tripod head weight.

If you want system filters badly; get at least your jigsaw going and cobble a snap on clamp contraption, that permits sliding the rotating holder from one lens down to the other together.

Upon the brands: B+W are probably decent. IDK the others. Plastic filters might work well until you scratch them? - The bigger the filter the bigger the risk to damage it?

Drawback of threaded 46mm filters: You can't store them between screw in front- & rear cap "containers" / stack caps. - Correction: There are some! - Thanks a lot for getting me into this! - They'll be my next purchase.

Thanks for the reply. The lens hood I believe fits over the lens barrel (if it is like the hood on my 105mm lens) so should slip over the filter. But I would look at screw on hoods that attach to the threaded front of the filter.

With the firecrest system, the holder would be attached to the polariser when it is attached to the taking lens. It would block the viewing lens but the shot would be composed already so wouldn't matter.

I am just wondering whether a larger polariser on a smaller lens would work just as well as a polariser closer to the lens diameter.

The issue with using a larger filter and holder is that you may not be able to mount the filter as close to the lens as a native screw-in filter. That means any dust on the filter may show up on the image as dark spots, whereas a closer filter will render dust too far out of focus to be seen.

 

There's also the question of whether a square resin filter system will have the same optical quality and durability as a round glass filter. Given the choice I'd choose round glass every time.

 

49mm linear polar filters aren't too expensive. So could I suggest buying two; one for each viewing and taking lens? That way you only have to set the filter on the taking lens to the same orientation as on the viewing lens. This may require adding a spot of paint or an adhesive sticker to one of the filter rims to ensure duplicate alignment.

 

"I am just wondering whether a larger polariser on a smaller lens would work just as well as a polariser closer to the lens diameter."

 

As long as the distance from filter to lens is the same, then there should be no difference between small and large diameters. However, as I said, I'm doubtful that a square filter system will fit as close to the lens as a round filter.

Edited July 24, 2017 by rodeo_joe|1

I agree with Joe. - Only issue: You can't mount two 49mm filters on Mamiya, so maybe get two 46mms instead.

I hadnt thought of having a polariser on both the viewing lens and taking lens. If i did, how would i make sure the bottom filter was the same as the top? One thought maybe stack them, making sure they are lined up and then mark them so the markings are in the same place on both filters? Any thoughts about this?

Regarding the square filters, the firecrest (and others such as lee and Wine Country) use circular polarisers infront of or behind the holders. The firecrest polariser attaches to the lens and the holder onto the filter. The polariser works with or without the holder. Square filters slide into the holder in front of the polariser. One reason i had considered the holder system is i would be using B&W filters (yellow etc) and i am not quite sure about stacking filters.

Any thoughts on brands?

"One thought maybe stack them, making sure they are lined up and then mark them so the markings are in the same place on both filters? Any thoughts about this?"

 

That would do the job, hence my mention of paint or a sticky label. Stack the filters and adjust to maximum transparency to align the polarisation planes.

 

In fact most decent polarisers come with an index mark on the rim, but I'm not sure if this is an absolute reference across filters, or just a random angle marker.

 

I've found Hoya filters to be as good as any other brand optically. They're arguably the market leader, and as such economies of scale filter (sorry!) down to the consumer in terms of value for money.

I just hold a 82mm diameter polariser over the front of my TLR. It's big enough to cover both viewing and taking lenses.

I think i have made my decision. I think i will get a 49mm polariser (the max thread size on Mamiya TLR lens is 49mm - covering myself if i was ever to buy the 65mm lens) and get step up rings for my 55mm lens (46mm thread) and my 105mm lens (40.5mm thread). I will also buy black and white curcular filters 49mm also and probably keep these attached to step up rings. I am going to forget about filter holders, firstly as they are too large and fiddly really for the set up, and secondly, glass ND filters are very expensive (resin are cheaper bu get covered in scratches) so i have decided on circular ND's which are cheaper (looking at Firecrest from Hitech which are made from the same schott glass as their square filters - supporting the local company!).