Nikon 75mm f4.5 - CF necessary?

[Paul O]

Hi. Just wondered if anyone out there finds a centre filter necessary on a Nikon 75mm 4.5 shooting 5x4 transparency film? TIA Paul

[IanG]

Well some say you need to use a centre filter on a 90mm. There is slight fall off with my 75mm on 6x17, and I'm sure there would be a little on 5x4 too.

With B&W I have no problem dodging the corners but I would buy a centre filter if I was going to shoot transparencies.

Ian

[Ron Marshall]

I have the Rodenstock 75mm f4.5. For color neg, and of course b+W no problem, but for transparencies I would want a CF.

[Walter Calahan]

Depends on your esthetics.

Some like the drama that comes from the fall off. Others can't live with it.

If it doesn't work for you, get a center filter.

[RDKirk]

Agree with Walter. For what I shoot, I'd darken the corners anyway.

[Brian Ellis]

Try making some photographs without a CF and see what you think.

[Paul O]

Thanks for the replies - I'll give it a try without and see what happens

If I find the darkening objectionable can anyone recommend a particular brand/model CF to use?

Thanks Paul

[Scott Rosenberg]

paul,

i had a nikon 75/4.5 for a while and never found the need for a CF with any film. fantastic lens, btw.

[anchored]

For what those filters cost ($500-ish)... definitely try and see if you like or can live with the vignetting. One benefit of NOT using a centering filter is the heavy loss of light... my filter requires 2.5-stops more exposure when it's used.

As for brands... I don't believe there's a lot of choices... Rodenstock, Schneider, and Marusu (sp?) are the ones I know of. I use a Rodenstock centering filter because my lens is a Rodenstock. If Nikon makes a centering filter for their lenses, I would lean towards matching the lens and filter brand.

I use a centering filter all the time on my Rodenstock 75mm f4.5 with Velvia 50... if vignetting is wanted on an image I prefer to add it myself and control the effect.

[Bob Salomon]

For what those filters cost ($500-ish)... definitely try and see if you like or can live with the vignetting. One benefit of NOT using a centering filter is the heavy loss of light... my filter requires 2.5-stops more exposure when it's used.

As for brands... I don't believe there's a lot of choices... Rodenstock, Schneider, and Marusu (sp?) are the ones I know of. I use a Rodenstock centering filter because my lens is a Rodenstock. If Nikon makes a centering filter for their lenses, I would lean towards matching the lens and filter brand.

I use a centering filter all the time on my Rodenstock 75mm f4.5 with Velvia 50... if vignetting is wanted on an image I prefer to add it myself and control the effect.

Heliopan makes excellent center filters.