Optar & Ektar lens hoods, filters and adapters

Hi group,

 

I'm looking for more experience than I have to solve and adapt to

this filter/hood/adapter circumstance.

 

I have assembled a kit of lenses for my Graflex Crown Graphic 4x5

camera that include a 254mm Tele-Optar, 203mm Ektar f7.7, 135mm

Schneider, and a 90mm Graflex Optar f6.8. All working very well.

 

I have sucessfully screwed in step-up rings to the 135 and 254 lenses

to 58mm. This permits me to use my 58mm filters and hoods from my MF

rig. But the 203mm and 90mm lenses are more of a challenge. Neither

have front element threading. A Series VI push-on adapter ring is

slightly too big for the 90mm lens and slightly too small for the

203mm. My questions are: Bend the tangs in slightly to fit the 90mm

lens and another get another ring to fit the 203mm lens and bend them

out slightly? That being done - Is is better to step-up ring the push-

on adapters to accept the 58mm filters and shades OR use Series

VI filters and original style hoods for these lenses.

 

Thanks very much. - Steve

A slip on design adapter to receive your 58mm filters is the most direct way of doing this. See pictures of my design at: <a href="http://www.skgrimes.com/slipon/index.htm"> this page.</a> It may be just what you need. You would need a different adapter for each lens.

 

SKG

I'm glad Steve has already posted with a link to his web site, so I don't have to look it up. These adapters are the first thing that came to my mind for this situation. I had Steve make a filter adapter/lens hood to adapt 52mm filters to the tiny Optar 101mm of my Century Graphic. (I have 52mm and 58mm filters from my 35mm equipment.) I have been quite pleased with the result.

the Series push on filter holders/lens hood holders come in a range of different diamater for each Series and different lenses - not sure about the Optar, but I think the Ektar is series VI 1 5/16" or 33mm (just measure the optar).

 

You can usually find the correct diameter one on ebay failry quickly.

 

If you have a bunch of series filters, it's then pretty easy to switch them between lenses.

 

I've also seen series to filter size step up rings - say Series VI to 58mm - but I can't remeber where...!

Steve I shoot with a series of filters comprising series VI and

regular screw in filters plus rubber hoods. I have the series VI for

the 203 ektar and 135 Optar. I find that there's just too many

filters in my pack and I'd rather have one set that will fit

everything. I do like having a series VI set up for yellow tho since

that is a standard B&W filter I always use. Since you already

have a couple of screw in's, try for a complete set with a adapter.

It just makes life easier to have three or four filters that fit all your

lenses.

These people make the step up rings.

 

http://www.tiffen.com/

Another option is to use Cokin-style square filters. There is a universal adapter (Cokin A275) that attaches to the outside of any lens/lenshood up to, I think, about 68mm with little pressure screws. I've got an Ilex Paragon 215 and an Ilex-Caltar 90mm that don't have threads, and that's the method I use (I put camera tape around the ends of the screws to keep from marking the lens barrel.) A lot of people object to the square lens systems, mainly because they're a bit unwieldy and vignette on some lenses. But I've never had a complaint with mine, and it beat searching trade shows for the right Series adapters.

 

However, for a little more $, Steve Grimes's solution is definitely the most professional and elegant, as with all his work.