what is this lens-related accessory ring?

**sholtzma** · 02-27-2014, 08:53 AM

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As I have been culling unused equipment to put on the marketplace, I came across this ring, which I cannot identify for the life of me. It is not a coupling ring, a lens adapter ring, a Cokin-related ring (as far as I can tell). Aside from the photos below, here's a description: black, plastic, looks to be 49mm threaded on the side that screws onto a lens (?) but does not appear to be threaded on the other end. It's almost as if it is designed for something to rest inside the other end. There are no identifying marks at all. I'm sure I knew at one time what this was....

Help! Does anyone know the name of this creature? I'd like to sell it, along with some other equipment but don't know how to list it.

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**TER-OR** · 02-27-2014, 09:02 AM

Half of a polarizing filter is my guess. The free-spinning polarizer ring is missing.

Woolcott · 02-27-2014, 09:06 AM

Looks like a filter which has had the lens removed to me...

**THoog** · 02-27-2014, 09:17 AM

Lens hood for a really, really wide-angle lens?

stevebrot · 02-27-2014, 09:35 AM

Prime candidate for metal recycling.

Steve

**sholtzma** · 02-27-2014, 10:09 AM

Let me repeat: this is plastic. I have never owned (nor would I ever have owned) a filter with a plastic ring. No, this is something else.

Wired · 02-27-2014, 10:14 AM

Stepper ring? to go from a 56-58mm threading?

narual · 02-27-2014, 10:39 AM

Possibly part of something like this?

Matin M5930 Plastic Camera Lens Hood 49mm Can Be Equiiped Backwards | eBay

**sholtzma** · 02-27-2014, 10:53 AM

Not a step-up or step-down ring (which I keep separately from this item), since one side is not threaded. Also, I have never owned a plastic step ring, only metal (such as some I will soon be selling on the Marketplace).

I considered the possibility that this was part of a lens hood but dismissed it for these reasons: I do not remember owning a plastic-ringed lens hood (the one I am presently selling on the Marketplace has a metal ring), the outside of the ring is ribbed instead of notched for a hood to attach, there is no evidence of glue or any other way of attaching a hood to this ring, and I have the vaguest of memories that this ring was one separable part of some equipment. I can't rule out lens-hood-part completely, but I'm fairly sure it's not that.

I also considered that it might have something to do with reversing a lens, but all I can ever remember using there was a male-male coupling ring (also all metal).

Could it somehow be part of a bellows set? I had one years ago in film days....

**monochrome** · 02-27-2014, 11:54 AM

Are you certain it is camera related - it might just be a decorative trim element for the end of any kind of a tube. It might be a default trim piece that is removed and replaced by hood or extension lens, such as on the end of a VHS-era Video Camera (remember the shoulder-mounted Sony and Panansonic cameras we had in the 80's?).

**sholtzma** · 02-27-2014, 02:11 PM

While I cannot be certain it is photographic equipment, it was with my camera stuff, it has a 49mm thread on one side, it is flat black, and my admittedly vague memory is that it was in some way connected with a piece of photographic equipment.

No to bellows?

narual · 02-27-2014, 02:15 PM

part of a slide or film holder? I'd think a bellows would have had something to grip so it doesn't slide off, no?

colourful64 · 04-07-2014, 12:32 PM

At one time you could purchase these rings in a set of two and they were used to make your own filters out of black construction paper and the like... I remember using them for a soft focus filter with a pair of panty hose stretched across them.. With a hole in the middle.

Al_Kahollick · 04-08-2014, 05:36 AM

Looks like a broken filter. Doubt you'd be able to sell it as it appears to have absolutely no purpose. Just chuck it!

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02-27-2014, 09:02 AM	#2
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Half of a polarizing filter is my guess. The free-spinning polarizer ring is missing.

02-27-2014, 09:06 AM	#3
Woolcott Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: London Posts: 79	Looks like a filter which has had the lens removed to me...

02-27-2014, 09:17 AM	#4
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Lens hood for a really, really wide-angle lens?

02-27-2014, 09:35 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Prime candidate for metal recycling. Steve

02-27-2014, 10:09 AM	#6
sholtzma Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Salisbury, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,043 Original Poster	Let me repeat: this is plastic. I have never owned (nor would I ever have owned) a filter with a plastic ring. No, this is something else.

02-27-2014, 10:14 AM	#7
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519	Stepper ring? to go from a 56-58mm threading?

02-27-2014, 10:39 AM	#8
narual Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Bend (Notre Dame), Indiana Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,988	Possibly part of something like this? Matin M5930 Plastic Camera Lens Hood 49mm Can Be Equiiped Backwards \| eBay

02-27-2014, 10:53 AM	#9
sholtzma Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Salisbury, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,043 Original Poster	Not a step-up or step-down ring (which I keep separately from this item), since one side is not threaded. Also, I have never owned a plastic step ring, only metal (such as some I will soon be selling on the Marketplace). I considered the possibility that this was part of a lens hood but dismissed it for these reasons: I do not remember owning a plastic-ringed lens hood (the one I am presently selling on the Marketplace has a metal ring), the outside of the ring is ribbed instead of notched for a hood to attach, there is no evidence of glue or any other way of attaching a hood to this ring, and I have the vaguest of memories that this ring was one separable part of some equipment. I can't rule out lens-hood-part completely, but I'm fairly sure it's not that. I also considered that it might have something to do with reversing a lens, but all I can ever remember using there was a male-male coupling ring (also all metal). Could it somehow be part of a bellows set? I had one years ago in film days....

02-27-2014, 11:54 AM	#10
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Are you certain it is camera related - it might just be a decorative trim element for the end of any kind of a tube. It might be a default trim piece that is removed and replaced by hood or extension lens, such as on the end of a VHS-era Video Camera (remember the shoulder-mounted Sony and Panansonic cameras we had in the 80's?).

02-27-2014, 02:11 PM	#11
sholtzma Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Salisbury, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,043 Original Poster	While I cannot be certain it is photographic equipment, it was with my camera stuff, it has a 49mm thread on one side, it is flat black, and my admittedly vague memory is that it was in some way connected with a piece of photographic equipment. No to bellows?

02-27-2014, 02:15 PM	#12
narual Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Bend (Notre Dame), Indiana Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,988	part of a slide or film holder? I'd think a bellows would have had something to grip so it doesn't slide off, no?

04-07-2014, 12:32 PM	#13
colourful64 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 49	At one time you could purchase these rings in a set of two and they were used to make your own filters out of black construction paper and the like... I remember using them for a soft focus filter with a pair of panty hose stretched across them.. With a hole in the middle.

04-08-2014, 05:36 AM	#14
Al_Kahollick Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 390	Looks like a broken filter. Doubt you'd be able to sell it as it appears to have absolutely no purpose. Just chuck it!