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Bay III filter on Planar 1:2.8, Photo Ferdi Stutterheim
Bayonet III filter on Planar 1:2.8. Filters are mounted on to the inner bayonet of the lens. The original Rollei filter shows its inner bayonet. Filters can be stacked. When a filter is mounted the lens hood can still be mounted on to the outer bayonet.
Photo ©2014  F.W. Stutterheim

Page Index

  1. Rolleiflex Filters for monochrome photography
  2. Rolleiflex Filters for colour photography
  3. Rolleipol Polarisation Filter
  4. Filters Rolleiflex 2.8 FX, 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW
  1. Rolleisoft Soft Focus Lenses
  2. Third party filters in Rolleiflex bayonet mount
  3. Mount adaptors
  4. Third party suppliers
  1. Notes
  2. References

Rolleiflex Filters for monochrome photography

A huge number of filters for monochrome photography were made in Bayonet sizes I (from 1938), II (from 1949) and III (from 1954). A smaller selection was made for the Wide-angle Rolleiflex in Bayonet IV from 1961 until 1967. Original filters in size IV are rare.

Some filters are labeled ‘For panchromatic emulsions’. From the early 1900s orthochromatic and panchromatic films were available. Orthochromatic films were insensitive to red rays hence could be developed under red light and were much cheaper than pan films. Panchromatic films are sensible to all visible rays so they have to be developed in total darkness. The change from ortho to pan films happened very gradually. Today all black and white film is of the panchromatic type. Caused by the difference in spectral sensitivity some filters are less suitable for orthochromatic films.

The yellow, orange and red filters are quite common in black and white photography others are unusual. The light yellow ‘Sport’ filter for pan film was marketed while another light yellow filter already existed. A typical Rolleiflex filter was the ‘H1’. It corrects blue colour casts with early Tessar and Xenar lenses. It resembles a UV filter but cuts a little bit more blue I presume. Many early lenses transmitted an excess of blue and UV light. In black and white exposures it meant a washed out sky and in colour photography a cool image. It made the use of a correction filter advisable. Rollei offered the H1 filter. Later lenses like Planars and Xenotars had that problem solved by using a UV blocking lens cement. The Rolleiflex T of 1958 was equipped with a recomputed Tessar with the UV blocking cement.

Rolleicord III with Rolleinar and filters 1490, Photo F.W. Stutterheim
Photograph of Ferdi’s Rolleicord III with 1:3.5 Xenar lens fitted with a light yellow filter in Bayonet I. Leather case for 2 Bay I filters and the lens hood. Pre-1964 Bay 1 Medium yellow filter labeled ‘Franke & Heidecke’ and a Roleinar 3 set also in Bay I. Note the red dot on the viewing lens that should be on top when mounted.
Photo ©2020  F.W. Stutterheim

Rolleiflex Filters for monochrome photography

Filter in leather case Bay I Bay II Bay III Bay IV EV Correction1 Filter Factor Application, effect
Light Yellow 1938 - 1981 1949 - 1981 1954 - 1981 1961 - 1967 -1 2× Landscapes, snow, clouds. Renders yellow and green lighter, blue darker.
Medium Yellow 1938 - 1981 1949 - 1981 1954 - 1981 1961 - 1967 -1.5 3×
Sport 1940 - 1952 1949 - 1952 not available not available -1 2× Light yellow filter for universal use with panchromatic emulsions.
Light Green 1941 - 1981 1949 - 1981 1954 - 1981 1961 - 1967 -1 2× Landscapes, snow, clouds. Renders green lighter, red (complexion) and blue darker.
For panchromatic emulsions.
Green 1938 - 1981 1949 - 1981 1954 - 1981 1961 - 1967 -1.5 3×
Orange 1939-1981 1949-1981 1954-1981 1961-1967 -1.5 3-7× Hazy distant views. Renders yellow-red lighter, blue darker, distant objects clearer.
Light Red 1938 - 1981 1949 - 1981 1954 - 1981 1961 - 1967 -2 4-10× Hazy distant views. Renders red lighter, blue-green darker. Gives stronger effects than orange filter.
Light Blue 1939 - 1981 1949 - 1981 1954 - 1981 1961 - 1967 -0.5 1.5× Artificial light. Renders red darker.
For ultra-panchromatic emulsions.
Grey 2 1959 - 1966 1959 - 1966 1959 - 1966 1961 - 1967 -2 2 stops Neutral Grey filter.
Can also be used for colour exposures.
Grey 4 1959 - 1966 1959 - 1966 1959 - 1966 1961 - 1967 -4 4 stops Neutral Grey filter.
Can also be used for colour exposures.
Ultra-Violet 1938 - 1981 1949 - 1981 1954 - 1981 1961 - 1967 -0.5 1.5× Hight altitudes over 2000 m (6000 ft). Sea-scapes.
Eliminates ultra-violet rays which reduce contrast.
H1 1950 - 1978 1956 - 1972 1952 - 1958 not available2 -0.5 1.5× Distant landscapes. Corrects blue colour cast with early Tessars or Xenars. Planars, Xenotars and recomputed Tessar and Xenars have built‑in correction.
Can also be used for colour exposures.
Infrared 1951 - 1981 1956 - 1981 1952 - 1981 1961 - 1967 Exposure depends on the type of emulsion used and must be determined by tests. Special filter for infrared emulsions. Transmits dark
red above 700 nm and infrared.

Rolleiflex Filters for colour photography

A nearly as great number of filters was made for colour photography in all bayonet sizes. They were sold as R(ed-brown) and B(lue) colour correction filters of 2, 5 and 11 decamired from 1956. The filters are meant to be stacked to reach the desired value. Higher values were used when exposing day-light film with artificial light or the other way around. The factory provide tables with the native colour temperatures (in K) of films and the expected colour temperature of some scenes so the photographer could estimate the difference and could read the needed filter for compensation. From 1958 B1 and R1 were added to the list. Production ended around 1966. From 1967 until 1981 a more common R1.5 ‘Sky-Light Filter’ was offered. The R1, R1.5, R2 and B1, B2 are now seen as colour compensating filters rather than conversion filters. With the Rolleiflex 4.0 FW a small number of new Rolleiflex filters was offered in size IV.

Filter set BIII 1487, Photo F.W. Stutterheim
Set in Bayonet III. Leather case for 2 filters and a lens hood. A pre-1964 light green filter on the front labeled ‘Franke & Heidecke’, without bayonet size indication. The second filter is a later R1.5 filter with additional front bayonet for stacking filters. The front bayonet adds to the hight of the filter, it does not fit in this case.
Photo ©2020  F.W. Stutterheim

Rolleiflex Filters for colour photography

Filter in leather
case		 Bay I Bay II Bay III Bay IV EV Correction1 Filter Factor Application, effect
R1 1958 - 1969 1958 - 1969 1958 - 1969 not available 0 1× Corrects blue colour cast.
R1.5 1967 - 1981 1967 - 1981 1967 - 1981 not available 0 1×
R2 1956 - 1969 1956 - 1969 1956 - 1969 1961 - 1966 -0.5 1.5×
R5 1956 - 1966 1956 - 1966 1956 - 1966 1961 - 1966 -0.5 1.5×
R11 1956 - 1966 1956 - 1966 1956 - 1966 1961 - 1966 -1 2×
B1 1958 - 1969 1958 - 1969 1958 - 1969 1961 - 1966 0 1× Corrects red colour cast (when using Daylight film with artificial light).
B2 1956 - 1969 1956 - 1969 1956 - 1969 1961 - 1966 -0.5 1.5×
B5 1956 - 1966 1956 - 1966 1956 - 1966 1961 - 1966 -0.5 1.5×
B11 1956 - 1966 1956 - 1966 1956 - 1966 1961 - 1966 -1 2×

Rolleipol Polarisation Filters

The polarisation filter for photographic purposes was invented by Prof Ferdinand Bernauer in 1935 and marketed by Carl Zeiss Jena as Herapathit filter in 1936. It based on a crystal of a Quinine-Iodine compound. The Rolleiflex company - Franke & Heidecke - ordered the new filter right away. Their focusing screen was already fit to use the polariser. It was offered as ‘Herotar’ but later renamed ‘Bernotar’ in honour of its inventor. It was replaced for the more advanced polariser from Käsemann in 1952. It was sold under the name Rolleipol. In order to find the desired polarisation the filter needs te be rotatable preferably while being mounted to the lens. The first Rolleipol was a two part filter. The second model was in one part with a rotatable front ring.

Even today filters made by/after Käsemann are state of he art in polarisers. I use a Heliopan polariser in Bayonet III with twin lens reflexes.

Rolleipol Polarisation Filters

Filter in leather
case		 Bay I (28.5∅) Bay II (34∅) Bay III (38∅) Bay IV EV Correction Filter Factor Application, effect
Rolleipol 1952 not available not available not available -1.5 3× Elimination or subduing of disturbing reflections from shiny, non-metallic objects or surfaces.
Two parts.
Rolleipol 1951 - 1981 1956 - 1981 1953 - 1981 1961 - 1967 -1.5 3× Elimination or subduing of disturbing reflections from shiny, non-metallic objects or surfaces.
One part with rotatable front ring.

Early Rolleipol filters were engraved with the diameter in mm, later ones carry the size in Roman numbers as usual.

Modern filters for the Rolleiflex 2.8 FX, 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW

In the modern era of the Rolleiflex 2.8 GX the factory offered a limited choice of filters in Bayonet III. With the advent of the Rolleiflex 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW filters in Bayonet IV were re-introduced.

Filters for the Rolleiflex 2.8 FX, 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW

Filter Bay III Bay IV Application
Ultra-Violet
Infrared
Light red
Red 29
Orange
R 1.5		 FX FT, FW Filter sets with 6 filters in either Bayonet III or IV in wooden boxes.
Ultra-Violet FX FT, FW Single filter in either Bayonet III or IV
R 1.5 FX - Single filter in Bayonet III

Rolleisoft Soft Focus Lenses

The Carl Zeiss and Schneider Kreuznach lenses of the Rolleiflex and Rolleicord are high definition optics. In some circumstances a bitingly sharp image is less desirable. Anyway in the hay-days of the Rolleiflex slightly soft portraits were still fashionable. The remedy was a diffusion filter also called softening filter or a soft-focus lens like the Rodenstock Imagon. For the SL 66 with exchangeable lenses the Imagons were offered. Diffusion filters for the TLRs were named Rolleisoft.

The basis of the Rolleisoft is the Duto-filter. It is a flat glass with a number of concentric circles etched into the glass. The flat glass parts allow the sharp image while the circles take care of diffusion. More circles means a greater effect. Two Rolleisoft filters were on offer 0 and 1. The general idea is a sharp but diffused image. The downside of Duto-filters is they work best at open aperture which means a soft and possibly unsharp image anyway. A later more sophisticated solution were the Zeiss Softars. No concentric circles but scattered circular structures on the flat glass. Carl Zeiss Softars were available only in Bayonet VI for SL 66 and System 6000.

Rolleisoft 0 and 1

Filter in leather
case		 Bay I (28.5∅) Bay II (34∅) Bay III (38∅) Bay IV EV Correction Filter Factor Application, effect
Rolleisoft 0 1951 - 1981 1956 - 1981 1953 - 1981 not available 0 1× Soft-Focus Lens. Moderate softening of super‑critical definition producing striking fluffy halo-effects especially with back-lighting and open aperture.
Two parts.
Rolleisoft 1 1951 - 1981 1956 - 1981 1953 - 1981 not available 0 1× Soft Focus Lens. Stronger softening of super-critical definition producing striking fluffy halo-effects especially with back-lighting. Can be stopped down to f=5.6
One part with rotatable front ring.

Rolleisoft lenses are based on the Duto-Lens with concentric circles. For the SL 66 and System 6000 Carl Zeiss Softars were available. Softars have scattered circular glass structures and can also be used with smaller apertures.

Third party filters in Rolleiflex bayonet mount

Heliopan

Although lens filters seem to have regained in popularity filters in Rolleiflex bayonets are made by few manufacturers. An impressive line of top quality bayonet I, II, III filters is available from Heliopan. The filters have better and scratch resistant multi-coating. The warming-up filters (KR.. or 81.. series), cooling down filters (KB..), soft focus and some other filters are being phased out. Heliopan glass filters are of excellent quality and made of raw glass obtained from SCHOTT AG. The modern mounts are not as fine as the classic chrome Rolleiflex filters.

SRB Photographic and Camera-Depot

Classic Rolleiflex Bay I and III filters are readily available from auction sites but Bay II filters are hard to get. I understand bayonet mount filters can be made to order by SRB Photographic in the U.K. Another address is Camera-Depot.

B+W, Hoya and Tiffen

Schneider Kreuznach have totally stopped making B+W filters in Rolleiflex bayonet mounts. Hoya and Tiffen offer no bayonet mount filters.

Heliopan filters for monochrome, colour and digital photography

Product
code		 Description Bay I size code Bay II size code Bay III size code
2021 Protection coated 3010 3020 3030
2020 Protection SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
2022 UV blocking coated 3010 3020 3030
2023 UV blocking SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
2030 Neutral grey light (2× ND 0.3) coated 3010 3020 3030
2530 Neutral grey light (2× ND 0.3) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
2060 Neutral grey medium (4× ND 0.6) coated 3010 3020 3030
2560 Neutral grey medium (4× ND 0.6) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
2090 Neutral grey dark (8× ND 0.9) coated 3010 3020 3030
2012 Neutral grey ND 1.2 3010 3020 3030
2015 Neutral grey ND 1.5 3010 3020 3030
2018 Neutral grey ND 1.8 3010 3020 3030
2092 Neutral grey ND 2.0 3010 3020 3030
2093 Neutral grey ND 3.0 3010 3020 3030

Particulars: Heliopan products can only be obtained from qualified dealers.
Order number is product code followed by size code (20203030 for instance).

Heliopan filters for monochrome photography

Product
code		 Description Bay I size code Bay II size code Bay III size code
1005 Light Yellow (5) coated 3010 3020 3030
1055 Light Yellow (5) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
1008 Medium Yellow (8) coated 3010 3020 3030
1058 Medium Yellow (8) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
1012 Medium Dark Yellow (12) coated 3010 3020 3030
1062 Medium Dark Yellow (12) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
1015 Dark Yellow (15) coated 3010 3020 3030
1065 Dark Yellow (15) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
1022 Orange (22) coated 3010 3020 3030
1072 Orange (22) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
1025 Light Red (25) coated 3010 3020 3030
1075 Light Red (25) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030
1029 Red (29) coated 3010 3020 3030
1079 Red (29) SH-PMC coated 3010 3020 3030

Heliopan polarisation filters

Product
code		 Description Bay I size code Bay II size code Bay III size code
8005 Linear polarisation - - 3030
8015 Linear polarisation SH-PMC coated - - 3030
8008 Circular polarisation - - 3030
8018 Circular polarisation SH-PMC coated - - 3030

Heliopan filters for infrared film

Product
code		 Description Bay I size code Bay II size code Bay III size code
5610 RG610 Infrared passes from 610 nm 3010 3020 3030
5645 RG645 Infrared passes from 645 nm 3010 3020 3030
5665 RG665 Infrared passes from 665 nm 3010 3020 3030
5695 RG695 Infrared passes from 695 nm 3010 3020 3030
5715 RG715 Infrared passes from 715 nm 3010 3020 3030
5780 RG780 Infrared passes from 780 nm 3010 3020 3030
5830 RG830 Infrared passes from 830 nm 3010 3020 3030
5850 RG850 Infrared passes from 850 nm 3010 3020 3030
5100 RG1000 Infrared passes from 1000 nm 3010 3020 3030

Mount adaptors

Using thread mount filters with an adaptor ring on a Rolleiflex is becoming a necessary option. Adaptor rings are still made for Rollei bayonet sizes I, II and II by Heliopan. Fotodiox offers step up rings for bayonet sizes II, III and IV(!). When choosing a mount adaptor pay attention not only to proper bayonet size but also to the intended filter size.

DHW

In the era of the Rolleiflex 2.8 FX, 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW the Rolleiflex factory (DHW) offered two mount adaptors: Bayonet III and Bayonet IV. I have no further information on these products.

Fotodiox

Rollei bayonet II, III, IV step up adapter rings. Unless you live is the USA their shipping costs are outrageous. Try ordering through a local dealer. I purchased my Fotodiox step up ring Bay IV to 49 mm from Amazon USA.

Fotodiox step up adapter rings

Product description SKU UPC Lens mount Filter mount (mm)
Rollei f75 39mm SUR-Rol-B2-39 812759010984 Bay II 39×0.753
Rollei f80/f135 43mm SUR-Rol-B3-43 812759010977 Bay III 43×0.75
Rollei f55/f50 49mm SUR-Rol-B4-49 812759010991 Bay IV 49×0.75

Heliopan

Heliopan adaptors are made to take filters close in size but that size may not be a very current one. Of course Heliopan will sell that size. Other mount adaptors are intended for more common filter sizes like 49 or 52 mm but the assembly looks a bit over-sized.

Heliopan mount adaptors

Product code Size code Filter mount (mm) Lens mount
91000 305 30.5×0.5 Bay I / 3.4
91000 306 35.5×0.5 Bay II / 3.5
91000 307 40.5×0.5 Bay III / 2.8
91000 308 49×0.75 Bay III / 2.8

Particulars: Heliopan products can only be obtained from qualified dealers.
Order number is product code followed by size code (91000307 for instance).

Third Party Suppliers

Notes

[1]
The Exposure Value (EV) is described here. Back
[2]
The Wide-Angle Rolleiflex from 1961 - at that time the only one with Bayonet IV - has UV protected optics from the start. There was no point in offering an H1 filter in Bay IV. Back
[3]
This information is from the fotodioxpro.com website. I wonder if this is correct. It can be, but please check before buying. Filters with a diameter of 39 mm are available with a pitch of 0.5 mm or 0.75 mm. 39×0.5 mm is the common thread. Back

References