Zuiko 18mm - modified hood advice

[mr. cooper]

Hi all,

I have the 18 3.5 but, like many, do not have the 49-72 step up ring. I have heard that some people use modified step up rings as a replacement. Can anyone offer specific details on how to improvise a step up ring for this lens? Especially if someone knows how to put together a step up ring that can actually be used to attach filters that allow shooting without serious vignetting, as opposed to just using the ring to attach a filter for protection. I'm thinking maybe the singh ray step up rings (which are very thin) with a singh ray ultra thin filter (expensive, I know). I have heard of people modifying step up rings and attaching uv filters, but these have to be removed during actual shooting to avoid serious vignetting. How about modifying a step up ring that allows use of the Lee filter system? Any experience with that around here? I would love to be able to use GND's with this lens.

Thanks ahead of time for any advice, it is much appreciated!

 

[plummerl]

Before I was able to finally get the actual 18/3.5 hood, I had looked at the step-up approach. The most important factor is the thickness of the threaded portion of the first ring. The gap where the ring attaches is thinner than most rings. Otherwise, just do the math on the angles required for the series of rings. Using a filter with my 18/3.5 is not something I would think about trying!

 

[mr. cooper]

Thank you plummerl. I am curious, why would you not want to use a filter with the 18?

 

[plummerl]

With regards to filters, I seldom use them to begin with. The 18mm would most likely require an exceedingly thin filter to work. Sounds like the singh ray might do the trick.

With regards to the 49->72mm hood, if you want, I can take some micrometer measurements of the hood, to give you some numbers to try and match. I'll do it this weekend.

By the way, the 18mm is probably my favorite Oly of all time, although it seems to have a front element that is waiting for an accident to happpen.

 

[plummerl]

Here is a diagram that shows the dimensions of the elusive 49->72mm Adapter/Hood:

 

[mr. cooper]

Wow thanks a lot! I agree it is probably foolish to use filters with this lens, as it already vignettes with large apertures even without a filter! But that can actually be taken care of fairly easily with software. But it would really be nice to be able to use a lens cap and/or filter to protect that front element.

What are the male threads like on the 49 mm end of the step up ring? Is the threading on the front element of the lens and the 49 mm end of the step up ring some type of special threading specific to this setup? For example, will any old step up ring be able to screw into the lens or will a standard step up ring require some type of modification to attach it to the lens? I read somewhere that a dremel tool needs to be used to modify the step up ring, but the poster was not specific about what needed to be modified.

Thanks again.

 

[plummerl]

The threading on the male, 49mm end, is a standard thread (same as filters). The important issue is that the gap it is going into is much more narrow than standard filters. The measurement that I'm showing (1.05mm) is the thickness of the ring, including the threads. The gap that it is threading into, is next to the front glass element. They may have been describing using a Dremel to thin the ring down.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

Any one knowing where its possible to find a Genuine Original Olympus OM 49-72 ring?
I have a fake, but its real hard to thread it on and it only goes in about 1/2 or 1 turn.

 

[plummerl]

olympususa (not official Olympus) has two of them, but at a price that will make you gasp:

http://tinyurl.com/44ato2j

The seller, olympususa, is well known on the zuiko list, not in a nice way.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

Found this just before I read your post, good price for a ring!

 

[mr. cooper]

Wow that price is crazy, but if I had a spare 200 I would probably spring for it! Unfortunately I don't have the spare $.

I think you are right about the use of the dremel...now that I realize that the issue is the thickness of the slot I can see how I might be able to figure this out.

 

[ZeissFan]

Maybe Kevin's Cameras has the hood. He always has things.

But with an 18mm lens, the hood might be so large that it might not be that useful. I have an 18mm Distagon and gave up trying to find a hood for it.

 

[Bill58]

Kevin's prices are pretty crazy too.

 

[miketombeur]

zuiko 18mm f3.5 filter

zuiko 18mm f3.5 filter

Hi all,
i also have this problem, would like to protect my beloved 18mm...
anyone found a cheap option to do so ? I deally with a uv filter of some sort and step up rings (not the oly one tho !!)

Hi all,

I have the 18 3.5 but, like many, do not have the 49-72 step up ring. I have heard that some people use modified step up rings as a replacement. Can anyone offer specific details on how to improvise a step up ring for this lens? Especially if someone knows how to put together a step up ring that can actually be used to attach filters that allow shooting without serious vignetting, as opposed to just using the ring to attach a filter for protection. I'm thinking maybe the singh ray step up rings (which are very thin) with a singh ray ultra thin filter (expensive, I know). I have heard of people modifying step up rings and attaching uv filters, but these have to be removed during actual shooting to avoid serious vignetting. How about modifying a step up ring that allows use of the Lee filter system? Any experience with that around here? I would love to be able to use GND's with this lens.

Thanks ahead of time for any advice, it is much appreciated!

 

[dtcls100]

Zuiko 18mm step up ring

Zuiko 18mm step up ring

There is someone selling 2 of these right now at the fredmiranda.com classifieds for $125 each. Better rush and get it!

 

[Dirk]

I have the Olympus OM 18mm 3.5. I use a generic 49-62mm step-up ring and attach a Nikon HK-14 slip-on hood for the Nikkor 20mm 2.8 AI-S. Works like a charm.