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View Full Version : 37mm Push-On filter adapter - cheap & strong solution?


DaveP
9th August 2011, 12:15 PM
Hi all

I've got a 203mm kodak ektar that I'm using for 4x5. Its the British made "Mount 370" type that has no filter thread but supposedly takes a 37mm push on filter.

Now the problem I have to overcome is that I need to be able to use this with normal screw-in filters, ideally stepped up to a Lee system ring so its the same as all my other lenses. At the moment I've got a Lee ring on a step up ring down to about 40.5mm if I remember correctly, and this has an interior diameter of about 39mm and is just sat round the front portion of the lens and held in place with blutack. Ugly but it works, except not very confidence inspiring when you're hanging a Lee holder and a 105mm polariser from the front of it, and the blutack is softening in the summer heat....

So to get a better solution, it seems I could try and get hold of any old 37mm push-on filter from ebay, take the glass out and glue it onto a step-up ring. But I'm not sure how strong this would be - some of the push-on filters on ebay do look a bit flimsy.

Similarly I could try one of the more stubstantial 37mm push-on hoods on ebay and just saw off all the hood section. They look like you'd get a stronger connection but they're not cheap.

Another more drastic option is to find an appropriately sized step-up ring or empty filter thread and just glue it onto the front of the lens permanently. My lens isn't cosmetically perfect so I might just go down this route.

So before I reach for the epoxy and dremel, does anyone have any better ideas? Please don't say "just get a Nikkor 200mm M".:slap:

Jon Butler
9th August 2011, 12:31 PM
I've in the past used tha universal filter adaptor BluTac, many pro's aways keep some in their bag.
J.

Alan Clark
9th August 2011, 02:31 PM
Dave,
You might try getting hold of a piece of good quality plywood about 6mm thick - or M.D.F. Cut it into a disc of appropriate diameter, araldite a stepping ring to it, and cut a 37mm diameter hole in it so it pushes onto your lens. As I have the tools to do this easily and also have a 203mm Kodak Ektar lens to try it on, I could do this for you if you get stuck. But I would need to know the overall diameter of the stepping ring.
I have a Kodak filter holder and lens hood with my Ektar, along with yellow, green and red filters. (No orange unfortunately) These filters are mounted in a metal ring (no thread) of about 42mm dia. You push the filter holder onto the lens, pop a filter in it, and screw the lens hood to the internal thread of the filter holder. The hood holds the filter in place. Very neat!

Alan

DaveP
9th August 2011, 02:43 PM
Thanks for the offer Alan, very kind. I did think of doing soemthing similar myself, but I'd have to make sure the fit was tight enough to keep everything secure.

Your filter holder sounds intriguing - is that one of the fabled Series VI(?) holders?

One thing to bear in mind is I understand the front portion of the US-made Ektars and the British ones are different diameters. Does yours say "MOUNT 370" on the front Alan?

Neil Smith
9th August 2011, 03:10 PM
I can support the blu-tac approach I have used this in the past when I didn't have the correct filter size.

Neil

DaveP
9th August 2011, 03:23 PM
Don't get me wrong, I'm all about the blutac usually, but a lee holder with say a couple of grads and a polariser not only weighs a fair bit but if broken would cost a lot of cheddar to replace. Would be good to get a more concrete setup.

Alan Clark
9th August 2011, 04:22 PM
Dave, not sure about the "fabled Series V1" but the lens says MOUNT 370 on the front. And the filter holder and hood both say KODAK 370 MADE IN ENGLAND ON THEM.
I got the lens with a Kodak half plate Specialist camera. It's a nice outfit, with original Kodak film holders, carrying case and instruction book. The camera is a pleasure to use, with mostly geared movements. Great for landscape photography; but only if you can arrange for a Pickfords low loader to follow you around!

Alan

Richard Gould
9th August 2011, 04:50 PM
I've in the past used tha universal filter adaptor BluTac, many pro's aways keep some in their bag.
J.

I use blu tac for all of my filters, works a treat and saves the expense of buying different filters for all of my growing collection of classic cameras, the only cameras I do not use blu tac are my 2 rolleis as both my cord and flex take the B1 and I was lucky enough to get some rollei filters and a hood for them.
Richard:)

Dave miller
10th August 2011, 06:56 AM
Don't get me wrong, I'm all about the blutac usually, but a lee holder with say a couple of grads and a polariser not only weighs a fair bit but if broken would cost a lot of cheddar to replace. Would be good to get a more concrete setup.

Keep them away from concrete. :eek:

DaveP
12th August 2011, 01:26 PM
Well having failed to think of any better ideas I'm going to give Alan's wood suggestion a try. Might try to lay my hands on a 35 or 36mm flat wood drill bit, a sheet of sandpaper and take it from there.

photomi7ch
12th August 2011, 01:38 PM
You could do the same thing with a bit of plastic. then there is no wood dust to get on the lens.

Alan Clark
12th August 2011, 07:54 PM
Wood dust? There should be non with wood if you paint it matt black before use.
Dave, good to see you are having a go! If you glue a thin disc of ply in front of the first, with ac entral hole of slightly smaller diameter than the lens barrell, it will act as a stop when you push it on. If its outer diameter is such that it just fits inside the stepping ring it will create a rebate to glue the stepping ring more securely into.

Alan

DaveP
12th August 2011, 08:15 PM
Ah yes I see what you mean, good advice. I'll have to see what scrap ply/mdf/plastic I can find in the cellar or scrounge from work.

CreativeDave
29th August 2011, 09:32 PM
You can find 370 filters but maybe not the ones you want.
How about this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dach_art/4959716163/in/set-72157623749201048
You only need to find one and all your problems are solved.

DaveP
30th August 2011, 08:29 AM
I think I may go down that route if I fail to fashion something out of this bit of plastic I liberated from work. One way or another I'll get there. But for the time being its back to the blu-tack.

DaveP
27th October 2011, 08:26 AM
Just to update on this, in the end I got a 370 push to series VI adaptor for a couple of quid from some guy in the US via ebay, and glued it onto a stepping ring. Seems to handle even my heaviest combination of filters ok.

oldNfeeble
12th June 2012, 03:42 PM
If the front cell outer diameter of your Mount 370 is the same as a USA version then what you need is a 38mm slip-on to Series VI adapter. (37mm is slightly undersized) Then you'll need to get an adapter from Series six to whatever metric size you want.

ETA: Oops... Old thread and already answer. I neglected to click on the second page.:o