Filters for my Contaflex?

Hi there,

I AM A REAL NOVICE

I just purchased my first Zeiss.

It's a Contaflex Super (New Style).

It came with two lenses: 50mm f2.8 Tessar and 115 f4 Pro-Tessar.

Now I would like to purchase some filters, red green, yellow, blue ...

How do know what fits what?

There are a lot of filters out there on ebay and I am really confused.

What do all the designations stand for??

 

For example:

Zeiss Ikon green filter GR 2x ~ 353 ~ S 35.5 or ZEISS IKON 352 S27 R 8x Red Filter

or ZEISS IKON Ikolar B 2.5x S27 382 Blue Filter

 

Can somebody please please explain?

 

Thank you so much.

Alister

Hi Alister, welcome to photo.net!

 

Sorry I can't help you with the details of the filter sizes, but you should really get a book that explains, in depth, the use of b+w filters. Roger Hicks, also a PN member and an accommplished writer has written an excellent book called "The Black and White Handbook". It is not very expensive, and will make a good reference for your library. Your questions are very basic, but some reading at your leisure will be time very well spent. To get you started, the designation 2x, or 8x, is the filter factor, or how much exposure compensation you'll have to add due to the filter blocking visible light. (A red filter darkens blue skies by blocking blue wavelenghts, causing the sky to appear darker in b+w photos. It also causes a loss of detail in shadows, which are predominitly lite by blue light.) An 8x red is very very dark, skies will come out very dark even in bright sun.

 

Now, your assignment:

 

How many F stops does an 8x filter equal in exposure compensation?

 

Break out the books and have fun.

 

But these old machines also take excellent color photogra2phs. There seems to be a habit among us classic camera users to only shoot b+w, but you may also like color, try a roll of Kodak 400UC for starters.

 

Welcome and we're looking forward to seeing your work!

 

~md

My Zeiss Ikon Contaflex super ith Carl Zeiss Tessar 50mm/2.8 lens uses Zeiss Ikon 27mm thread filter or 28.5mm snap on filter

Martin, I have a feeling that Alister became a PN member solely to ask that question. I'll bet you a sixer of good beer he never returns, or posts a photo.

Thanks for the tip. I just picked up Rogers book. Even though Ive been a pro for over 30 years , I still have stuff to learn. (and refresh) Been a long time since I needed to use on camera filters. But having my dad's Super and collecting accessories for it has inspired me again to play with some artsy B&W technics ....

There'S plenty of online info regarding filters and compensation. While I like the approach of a the homework assignment.... you are being a bit unfair by predicting he won't return. (self fulfilling prophesy )

 

MTC has given the filter size requirements.

 

This is a reference that will help in answering a lot of your questions. Filters in Black and White Photography

 

Since the Super (new) and the Super B have a meter it's important to note that you will always need to "compensate" by either adjusting the DIN/ASA or using manual settings... ie what you see in the view finder is not what the light meter has measured. When using filters you will always need to make exposure compensation.

Frankly a green or a yellow filter for B&W typically take 1-2 stops compensation and the effect can be good..ie more contrast etc. Orange or even red filters are too exaggerated unless you are specifically going for say the infra-red look. A daylight filter (practically clear) or a polarizing filter can help color films reduce haze etc.

Other colored filters used with color film are not recommended unless you want weird off color results. Most of which can be better added digitally in post processing. Depending on the light source, a light blue filter can somewhat color correct for interior lighting.

The orange or G filter fits nicely between the light or dark yellow & red (25A) filters. Sky tones are not rendered "inky" like the 25A sometimes does. My current collection of FSU 35mm or 1950's folders do not carry a yellow filter set but all have a G or 25A. The G requires +1.5f compensation, the 25A, +3.0f. Aloha, Bill