Rear Filter for older Takumar 55mm f/3.5 ?

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Ken Smith - 27 Oct 2004 15:29 GMT

I'm considering trying to land an affordable older 55mm f/3.5. Can any
users tell me if there is any possibility of positioning a gel filter
to the rear element, or is it a millimeter from the mirror? I guess
gels up front would be cheaper than glass. I only need a med.yellow.
and a warming filter for color.

Thanks, KAS

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jjs - 27 Oct 2004 16:17 GMT

> I'm considering trying to land an affordable older 55mm f/3.5. Can any
> users tell me if there is any possibility of positioning a gel filter
> to the rear element, or is it a millimeter from the mirror? I guess
> gels up front would be cheaper than glass. I only need a med.yellow.
> and a warming filter for color.

I had that lens and it was surprisingly good, although more prone to flare
than I liked before I got a good shade. Spend the bucks on a lens hood and
two good filters. Seriously, that's all you need to be happy. I forget
whether they were 100mm or 105mm filters.

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Bob Monaghan - 27 Oct 2004 23:19 GMT

see http://medfmt.8k.com/bronfilters.html#homebrew for tips on larger
filters (over 80mm etc.) at low cost; see also surplus shed surplus
filters in 100+ mm sizes; and notes on rear mounted filters (one issue,
focus shift ~= 1/3rd thickness of filters, so gel warming filter would be
best as thinnest etc.

hth bobm

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* Robert Monaghan POB 752182 Southern Methodist Univ. Dallas Tx 75275 *
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jjs - 28 Oct 2004 00:59 GMT

> see http://medfmt.8k.com/bronfilters.html#homebrew for tips on larger
> filters (over 80mm etc.) at low cost; see also surplus shed surplus
> filters in 100+ mm sizes; and notes on rear mounted filters (one issue,
> focus shift ~= 1/3rd thickness of filters, so gel warming filter would be
> best as thinnest etc.

Adding to Bob's good information - the site is www.surplusshed.com where
they had, last time I purchased, a set of filters of 4.25" diameter in red,
yellow and clear, in a wooden case for $15. They are military-spec. - very
good and also very thick.

If someone needs a filter larger than that, there is a long-established
optical glass cutter in England who will make a filter for you. They did it
for me when I needed a special 145.5mm contrast filter - something you can't
even buy at any price, at a price approximately 15% of the clear-glass
similar thing made by Pentax. Schott glass. You can't do better.

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Helge Nareid - 27 Oct 2004 23:38 GMT

>> I'm considering trying to land an affordable older 55mm f/3.5. Can any
>> users tell me if there is any possibility of positioning a gel filter
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>two good filters. Seriously, that's all you need to be happy. I forget
>whether they were 100mm or 105mm filters.

I used to have that lens as well. The filter size was 100mm, which is
not an easy size to find filters for, so I got myself a step-up ring
to use 105mm filters, which are somewhat easier to find (but quite
expensive). I changed the lens for a later 55mm f/4 lens which
according to my limited testing has less flare and less distortion,
and which takes 82mm filters. Still not cheap, but both cheaper and
easier to find than 100mm or 105mm filters.

Pentax used to have a gel-filter holder for the old 100mm filter size,
which would take a 3" inch square gelatin filter. It was prone to
scratching even with a gelatin filter, and would only accept the
thickness of a gelatin filter foil, which means that the new plastic
filters by Cokin, Lee and others can't be used with the holder.

I can't think of a way to attach any filter - even a thin gelatin
filter - to the rear of the lens.

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- Helge Nareid
Nordmann i utlendighet, Aberdeen, Scotland
For e-mail, please use my initials with the same domain as the posted address

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Helge Nareid - 28 Oct 2004 20:43 GMT

> I changed the lens for a later 55mm f/4 lens which
>according to my limited testing has less flare and less distortion,
>and which takes 82mm filters.

Sorry, it's too long since I've used that lens. It takes 77mm filters.

Signature

- Helge Nareid
Nordmann i utlendighet, Aberdeen, Scotland
For e-mail, please use my initials with the same domain as the posted address

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Ken Smith - 29 Oct 2004 21:13 GMT

> > I changed the lens for a later 55mm f/4 lens which
> >according to my limited testing has less flare and less distortion,
> >and which takes 82mm filters.
>
> Sorry, it's too long since I've used that lens. It takes 77mm filters.

Helge!! You need to go use that lens. Its made for Scotland.

Thanks, Ken Smith in Wyoming

P.S. dump Bush !!!

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Warren - 30 Oct 2004 00:47 GMT

I believe that Olympus made a 100mm UV filter for their big
telephotos, ie. 250/2 and 350/2.8. They turn up about once a year on
Oboy.
Warren

> I'm considering trying to land an affordable older 55mm f/3.5. Can any
> users tell me if there is any possibility of positioning a gel filter
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks, KAS

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