WHO MAKES/MADE central neutral density filters?

"WHO MAKES/MADE/SOLD central neutral density filters?"

Here is a PDF page that offers plenty of info on "The Big Three" when it comes to CND filters -- Schneider, Rodenstock, and Heliopan. It even includes some suggestions for using these filters on Fujinon and Nikon large format lenses.

http://www.galerie-photo.com/center_filters_for_large_format_lenses.pdf

But Schneider, Rodenstock, and Heliopan are not the only manufacturers of CND filters. Far from it. Just looking at those three is similar to only looking at Nikon, Canon, and Pentax lenses -- and ignoring all of the other great lenses made by other manufacturers. Below is a more complete list of the CND filter manufacturers, distributors, marketers, and sellers of CND filters. There are probably others, as well.

This list does not include details on all of the CND filters that were made or sold by these companies. It is mainly just a place to start -- and includes what general info is easily available. It is not meant to be comprehensive, nor complete. There may be CND filters out there made by other manufacturers, or re-labeled by other distributors, such as Vivitar. Also, there will be other sizes and densities than those listed here. The CND filters from other manufacturers will be harder to find, but might meet your needs -- and they WILL save you a lot of money, if you can find them. But finding the best filter(s) for your wallet, taste, and lens(es) is basically up to you!

Another consideration that is completely up to you is what CND filter to use on what lens. The lens manufacturer might recommend a CND filter, or the CND filter might recommend a particular lens, but it's your decision to make. There is a good chance that you won't get any suggestion from the lens manufacturer OR the CND filter manufacturer -- so you will be forced to decide for yourself, or rely on others' opinions. The best approach is to run some simple tests -- see next section!

Some CND filters come with front filter threads, but some don't. Most of those that do have a front filter thread, but not all, have one that is larger than the rear thread -- frequently substantially larger, such as 77mm on the rear and 105mm on the front -- that's over an inch! This can add a complicating element when an additional filter(s) is used.

Also keep in mind that Schneider, Rodenstock, and many other CND filters are not marked with their density designation -- such as 2X or 0.3. A Schneider CND filter might be marked as "IId", a Rodenstock as "E67/86", a Fuji as "TX1", a Carl Zeiss Jena as "W 210", etc. This is not of much help if you are trying to buy a CND filter of a particular density and/or size. The seller MIGHT tell you want the density is, what lens is was designed for, what lens THEY used it with, what they think you want to hear, etc. -- but not necessarily what you need to know. So be careful, and be prepared.

Bausch & Lomb

This US company made wide-angle, aerial Metrogon lenses for the military during WWII and CND filters for them. Intended for B&W film, the filters were contrast filters, such as yellow and red.

Cambo

This Dutch company sells large format gear, including lenses, and re-labeled at least one Schneider CND filter with the Cambo name -- so there are likely others.

Carl Zeiss Jena

This company, or company arm, made (at least) three CND filters for their three wide-angle APO-GERMINAR W lenses of the 1980's -- 150mm, 210mm, and 240mm. They are all f8 optics with an 8/8 design. They had angles of coverage of 63°, 68°, and 73°, with image circles of 368mm, 567mm, and 710mm respectively. The rear filter threads were 67mm x 0.75mm, 86mm x 1mm, and 110mm x 1mm, respectively. None of them had a front filter thread. Less than 1,000 of each are reported to have been made, so these are hard to find.

Carl Zeiss Oberkochen

Here is proof that CND filters are not just for large format cameras. This western branch of Carl Zeiss made a CND filter -- for their 15mm f2.8 Distagon. The lens was made with different mounts, such as Leica M and Nikon F. It shows that any format has to deal with light fall-off with super-wide-angle, rectilinear (non-fisheye), non-retro-focus lenses -- whether it is a 47mm on a 4x5" camera, a 24mm on a medium format camera, or a 12mm on a 35mm camera. They also made a 40mm f5.6 S-Biogon and a CND filter for that.

Cosina

Yes, Cosina made some CND filters. It's unclear if these were designed for general use, or specifically for their super-, ultra-, and hyper-wide 35mm lenses. Yes, Cosina made several ultra-wide lenses, such as 10mm, 12mm, and 15mm. These were NOT fisheye lenses, just unusual rectilinear optics, sold under the Voightlander name with various 35mm lens mounts. In any event, these CND filters can be used on any lens -- if you can find one!

Fujifilm

Because they sold a few ultra-wide cameras for 120 film, Fuji made several CND filters (ex. the TX-1 and TX-2) for their own -- and other similar cameras and lenses, such as the Horseman 6x17cm, Hasselblad XPAN, etc. in different sizes and strengths. Some are marked 45mm (for the lens focal length), and some 77mm (for the filter diameter), etc. This seems especially odd given that they never made any CND filters for any of their numerous extreme wide-angle, large format lenses.

Hasselblad

Some of their XPAN super-wide lenses benefit from CND filters. As far as I know, these are the TX-1 and TX-2 from Fujifilm, but are labeled "Hasselblad".

Heliopan

Heliopan made CND filters from 49mm to 127mm (!) in two strengths, -1.5 f-stops and -3.0 f-stops. All had a larger front thread than the rear thread. They may have made others sold under other brand names.

Horseman

Horseman sold CND filters for several lenses, in various sizes and densities. Some, were made by Hoya and Rodenstock, others may have been made by Schneider and Heliopan(?). They sold 120 ultra-wide cameras, and the CND filter(s) for these might have been made by Fujifilm.

Hoya

Hoya made CND filters for Horseman, Kenko, and perhaps others. Some were sold under the Hoya name before and after merging with Kenko (which later merged with Tokina). It is possible that these filters were sold as Kenko or Tokina, as a result. It appears that they are all HMC (Hoya Multi-Coated), and were available in 1 and 1.5 f-stop (ND2X & ND3X) densities. They were available in at least 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, and 77mm sizes, and have filter threads that are the same size on the rear and front.

Kenko

Hoya is part of Tokina-Kenko, and some of Hoya's CND filters might have been packaged as, sold as, or marketed under the Kenko label.

Leica

It might appear that Leica made a CND filter, but it is a Zeiss CND filter for their 15mm Distagon lens with a Leica M mount.

Linhof

Linhof's CND filters were made by Schneider, and perhaps others.

Marumi

Not the most common name in CND filters, but you might run across them. They are marketed by different firms in different regions under different names, such as Zomei. They came in at least 62mm, 67mm, 72mm and 77mm sizes, and might be available in different densities. At least some are multi-coated. Some appear to have front and rear filters threads of the same size, others not.

Nikon

Considering all of the large format lenses and filters that Nikon made over the years, you would think that they would have made some CND filters, as well. Unfortunately, like Fuji and other large format lens manufacturers they did not -- (OK, Fuji made some CND filters, but not for their large format lenses). But have no fear. There are plenty of CND filters that will work fine on Nikon lenses -- see above and below!

Plaubel

Similar to Cambo, while Plaubel did not make CND filters, they did sell cameras and lenses that could use them. These CND filters were made by Schneider, and carry the Plaubel name. They may or may not be exactly the same as the CND filters sold as Schneider.

Rodenstock

Rodenstock made CND filters from 58mm to 135mm in three strengths, -1.5 (ND3X), -2.0 (ND4X), and -2.5 (ND6X) f-stops. All had a larger front thread than the rear thread -- except one which had no front filter thread. Some of these were sold under other brand names.

Schneider-Kreuznach

Schneider made CND filters from 49mm to 135mm in two strengths, -1.5 f-stops and -2.0 f-stops. All had a larger front thread than the rear thread -- except one which had no front filter thread. Some of these were sold under other name brand names.

Tokina

Hoya is part of Tokina-Kenko, so some Hoya CND filters might show up labeled as, or sold under, the Tokina name.

Zeiss

Originally CARL ZEISS JENA (one German company), it was split into two entities at the end of WWII -- into "Carl Zeiss Jena" and "Carl Zeiss Oberkochen" -- but merged back together, sort of, after the reunification of Germany. Both companies made CND filters when they were together, sort of, and when they were separate firms -- and may have made others than those listed above.

Zomei

See Marumi

Others

Who knows?

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Bausch & Lomb This US company made wide-angle, aerial Metrogon lenses for the military during WWII and CND filters for them. Intended for B&W film, the filters were contrast filters, such as yellow and red.
Cambo This Dutch company sells large format gear, including lenses, and re-labeled at least one Schneider CND filter with the Cambo name -- so there are likely others.
Carl Zeiss Jena This company, or company arm, made (at least) three CND filters for their three wide-angle APO-GERMINAR W lenses of the 1980's -- 150mm, 210mm, and 240mm. They are all f8 optics with an 8/8 design. They had angles of coverage of 63°, 68°, and 73°, with image circles of 368mm, 567mm, and 710mm respectively. The rear filter threads were 67mm x 0.75mm, 86mm x 1mm, and 110mm x 1mm, respectively. None of them had a front filter thread. Less than 1,000 of each are reported to have been made, so these are hard to find.
Carl Zeiss Oberkochen Here is proof that CND filters are not just for large format cameras. This western branch of Carl Zeiss made a CND filter -- for their 15mm f2.8 Distagon. The lens was made with different mounts, such as Leica M and Nikon F. It shows that any format has to deal with light fall-off with super-wide-angle, rectilinear (non-fisheye), non-retro-focus lenses -- whether it is a 47mm on a 4x5" camera, a 24mm on a medium format camera, or a 12mm on a 35mm camera. They also made a 40mm f5.6 S-Biogon and a CND filter for that.
Cosina Yes, Cosina made some CND filters. It's unclear if these were designed for general use, or specifically for their super-, ultra-, and hyper-wide 35mm lenses. Yes, Cosina made several ultra-wide lenses, such as 10mm, 12mm, and 15mm. These were NOT fisheye lenses, just unusual rectilinear optics, sold under the Voightlander name with various 35mm lens mounts. In any event, these CND filters can be used on any lens -- if you can find one!
Fujifilm Because they sold a few ultra-wide cameras for 120 film, Fuji made several CND filters (ex. the TX-1 and TX-2) for their own -- and other similar cameras and lenses, such as the Horseman 6x17cm, Hasselblad XPAN, etc. in different sizes and strengths. Some are marked 45mm (for the lens focal length), and some 77mm (for the filter diameter), etc. This seems especially odd given that they never made any CND filters for any of their numerous extreme wide-angle, large format lenses.
Hasselblad Some of their XPAN super-wide lenses benefit from CND filters. As far as I know, these are the TX-1 and TX-2 from Fujifilm, but are labeled "Hasselblad".
Heliopan Heliopan made CND filters from 49mm to 127mm (!) in two strengths, -1.5 f-stops and -3.0 f-stops. All had a larger front thread than the rear thread. They may have made others sold under other brand names.
Horseman Horseman sold CND filters for several lenses, in various sizes and densities. Some, were made by Hoya and Rodenstock, others may have been made by Schneider and Heliopan(?). They sold 120 ultra-wide cameras, and the CND filter(s) for these might have been made by Fujifilm.
Hoya Hoya made CND filters for Horseman, Kenko, and perhaps others. Some were sold under the Hoya name before and after merging with Kenko (which later merged with Tokina). It is possible that these filters were sold as Kenko or Tokina, as a result. It appears that they are all HMC (Hoya Multi-Coated), and were available in 1 and 1.5 f-stop (ND2X & ND3X) densities. They were available in at least 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, and 77mm sizes, and have filter threads that are the same size on the rear and front.
Kenko Hoya is part of Tokina-Kenko, and some of Hoya's CND filters might have been packaged as, sold as, or marketed under the Kenko label.
Leica It might appear that Leica made a CND filter, but it is a Zeiss CND filter for their 15mm Distagon lens with a Leica M mount.
Linhof Linhof's CND filters were made by Schneider, and perhaps others.
Marumi Not the most common name in CND filters, but you might run across them. They are marketed by different firms in different regions under different names, such as Zomei. They came in at least 62mm, 67mm, 72mm and 77mm sizes, and might be available in different densities. At least some are multi-coated. Some appear to have front and rear filters threads of the same size, others not.
Nikon Considering all of the large format lenses and filters that Nikon made over the years, you would think that they would have made some CND filters, as well. Unfortunately, like Fuji and other large format lens manufacturers they did not -- (OK, Fuji made some CND filters, but not for their large format lenses). But have no fear. There are plenty of CND filters that will work fine on Nikon lenses -- see above and below!
Plaubel Similar to Cambo, while Plaubel did not make CND filters, they did sell cameras and lenses that could use them. These CND filters were made by Schneider, and carry the Plaubel name. They may or may not be exactly the same as the CND filters sold as Schneider.
Rodenstock Rodenstock made CND filters from 58mm to 135mm in three strengths, -1.5 (ND3X), -2.0 (ND4X), and -2.5 (ND6X) f-stops. All had a larger front thread than the rear thread -- except one which had no front filter thread. Some of these were sold under other brand names.
Schneider-Kreuznach Schneider made CND filters from 49mm to 135mm in two strengths, -1.5 f-stops and -2.0 f-stops. All had a larger front thread than the rear thread -- except one which had no front filter thread. Some of these were sold under other name brand names.
Tokina Hoya is part of Tokina-Kenko, so some Hoya CND filters might show up labeled as, or sold under, the Tokina name.
Zeiss Originally CARL ZEISS JENA (one German company), it was split into two entities at the end of WWII -- into "Carl Zeiss Jena" and "Carl Zeiss Oberkochen" -- but merged back together, sort of, after the reunification of Germany. Both companies made CND filters when they were together, sort of, and when they were separate firms -- and may have made others than those listed above.
Zomei See Marumi
Others Who knows?