I have a 77mm B+W Kasseman(sp??)Circular Polarizer is there a cool adapter that will let me use it on a M camera ala the heliopan filter???? This is such a nice filter I would like to be able to use it....

-- Jason Eitelbach (JEitelbach@aol.com), May 04, 2002

Answers

I have one of THESE and it works great with the Leica M. It uses 77mm polarizers (or any other 77mm filter for that matter), is set up for E60 lenses, and comes with adapters for E39, E46 and E55 lenses. Costs about $90.

Cheers,

-- J Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), May 04, 2002.

i tried to order one of those but they are out of stock, darn!

-- Tristan (emulsion71@hotmail.com), May 04, 2002.

Bear in mind that you do not NEED a circular polarizer on the M - since it has no semi-silvered mirrors in the metering system, a regular linear polarizer works just as well..

...but if you're just trying to use a filter you already have, well, that makes sense, too.

Beyond suggesting step-up rings I can't help with the mechanism search, though.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 04, 2002.

Thanks for the url, Jay. It looks like a very convenient device: since 77mm is the standard size for my EOS lenses, I've got two polarizers in that size already.

-- Mark Ciccarello (mark@ciccarello.com), May 04, 2002.

I made step up rings to use 77 mm filters on any lens taking filters 39mm and up by cutting off (with a Dremel) the rear thread of a 77/62 (the smallest available) step-up ring (BW) and gluing what is left with cyanocrylate (spelling?) on a Cokin universal adapter (basically a circular plate with a screw at the rear) of the right diameter for the lens. You may use Cokin P or A system adapters but have to check for size compatibility between the A adapters and your step-up ring, there must be a little overlap for the glue to hold everything together. I guess you could cut out a window for the finder (drill and saw, or otherwise). One window should be enough if you have only one lens of each size and locate it properly. Otherwise you will have to open more than one window as the angular position of the adapter will vary from lens to lens.

The advantage of the do it yourself system is that the window you cut can go from the lens thread to the filter thread (leave some metal to hold everything together) while the ready made systems rely on step-up rings that block a larger part of the viewfinder.

On the other hand, ready made products can be rotated to adjust the position of the window to register properly with the viewfinder.

You may want to improve the looks of the adapter with a little black paint, of course you cannot bake it (cyanocrylate does not like heat), appearance will not be up to Leica standards but it works.

-- Jean-Christophe Barnoud (jean-christophe@barnoud.net), May 05, 2002.

JCB:

FWIW, B&H sells a 55 to 77 step-up ring for $6.95 that would make a simpler starting point for your adapter: B&H# GBSUR5577. (They also have a 60-77 for any of you that want to make one of these to fit your Noct or 75 'Lux...)

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), May 05, 2002.