P3D Questions and suggestions regarding filters w/ Realists

[John Edmark <johnedmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I would like to start experimenting with using filters on my realist
camera,
both for color correction and for black & white.
I have a set of Realist sunshade/filter holders, but I've been having
trouble finding series-5
filters. I suspect that several of the questions I'm about to ask have
been raised
before, but I couldn't find answers to them in the photo-3d archives.

Question 1.1) What color filters are available in the slide-on Realist
size?
Question 1.2) I see people mentioning Realist filter kits that come in
leather cases.
                         Is there only one kit type (ie one set of
colors) or are there several?
Question1.3)  If there is only one kit type, does it include ALL the
Realist filter colors
                        ever made?

Question 2) What are each of these colors used for?
Question 3) Which current filter designation # do each of these filters
correspond
                    to? (eg. No. 8 yellow)

Question 4) Is it true that Series-5 filters are only available second
hand?
Question 5) Can anyone suggest a good source for series-5 filters?
Question 6) Are all the current standard filter colors available in
series-5?
                   (specifically, I'm interested in #'s
6,8,9,11,15,25,29,47,49,58,61,
                      80a,80b,80c, 81a,81b,81c)
Question 7) Do I need to be concerned about fading when buying old
filters?
                   I'm particularly concerned about the color-correction
filters such
                   as the 80's and 81's.

I have come up with what seems to be a pretty good solution for allowing
a
realist to use 46mm filters (a size still being manufactured). I bought
a readily
available 32.5-46 step-up ring, added some tape to its 32.5mm threads to

increase the diameter a bit, and then screwed it onto the
sunshade/filter holders
(which have what seems to be a 33-33.5mm diameter). When looking through

the viewfinder the 46mm filters just barely show on the sides.
The tape I used is teflon plumbing tape, and I've found that
I can screw the step-up wring on and off the filter holder
repeatedly without having to re-tape, (I'm careful to re-use the same
treads
each time) and it holds well.

I did find a series 5-52mm step-up ring that fits the sunshade/filter
holders exactly, but I found that that diameter intrudes
quite a bit  into the viewfinder; If I haden't come up with the above
solution,
I probably would have found it acceptable. In case your interested, that
step-up ring is
sold (and manufactured) by Damar Photo Supplies: Tel: 912-925-9808, web
page: http://www.midwestphotoshopper.com/page46.html

Question 8) Has anybody else tried anything like this, or have any other
suggestions
for adapting Realists to currently available filter sizes?

Question 9) Does anybody make (or did Realist ever make) a polarizing
filter set
                   for the Realist that allows you to see the polarizing
through the viewfinder?
                   If so, where might I obtain one?

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

John Edmark
New York City


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