Filter, in front or rear of lens?

[jan_eerala1]

Has it any effect on image quality if a filter is placed on the rear side of the lens? I'm imaging this to be a better place, causing less flare and to be more protected in field camera work. Searched the archives but couldn't find any answer. Sure everebody else knows.

Many thanks.

[bob_salomon3]

Yes. It can cause a focus shift = to 1/3rd the thickness of the

filter. Magnify and defects in the filter, increase the effect of

dust, dirt, fingerprints on the filter and be impossible to properly

control rotating filters like polarizers, grads, star, prisms, etc.

 

<p>

 

Flare is easily controlled by using properly coated quality filters

that are plane parallel in the front of the lens and using a good

compendium.

[jnorman1]

bob's comments are quite correct, but i would add the following -

while i now use b+w front-mount glass filters, for several years i

used gel filters on the rear of my lenses in a wide variety of

professional situations with no problems, and i know other long-time

field pros who still use this method. precautions for this process

include the use of flawless or new filters, and regular inspection

and "blow-offs." as bob cautioned, while even obvious defects on the

front element are often unnoticeable at the negative, virtually any

defect at the rear element can be all too evident on a negative.

[james___]

Is that why most large format lenses longer than 300 mm or wider than

100mm use filters between the front and rear elements? Intersting. And

you aren't supposed to put your fingers on the filter anyway. And I'm

sure that any filter manufacturer would have a few choice words for

you when you "dis" them like all the great photographers do around

here. I've got all sorts of filters by nearly all the different major

manufacturers and all my negs and prints come out just as sharp as if

I wasn't using a filter. And I enlarge 35 to 11x14 and 4x5 to 20x24.

Interesting. James

[bob_salomon3]

"Is that why most large format lenses longer than 300 mm or wider than

100mm use filters between the front and rear elements"

 

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NO LARGE FORMAT LENS USES BETWEEN THE LENS FILTERS!!!!

 

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Are you perhaps confusing photographic large format lenses with

graphic arts process lenses that are not in shutters?

 

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ALL PROCESS LENSES ARE SOLD IN NF MOUNTS THAT HAVE A FILTER SLOT>

 

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THESE ARE NOT LENSES THAT WERE RELEASED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS A VIEW

CAMERA LENS>

 

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No large format lens in a shutter has any way of inserting a filter

inside the lens.

[james___]

My 480 apo artar has a filter slot right between the front element and

the diaphram. Along with my friends 47mm SA. James

[bob_salomon3]

Your 480 is a process lens.

 

<p>

 

And where is the shutter in your friend's 47mm?

[greg_nelson2]

Bob is probably right, but could use some lithium, possibly.