Why no filters?

[leicanewbie]

I'm curious as to why Leica has such a limited range of filters. For some lenses, all they
sell is a UV and circular polarizer filter. And I don't think they have anything for their
digital products.

seems like a missed revenue opportunity, esp in digital.

[cbretteville]

Leica have in th epast had a fair selection of filters. For the Diglux 2 they had to as it uses a 69mm thread. At least they came up with UVa, ND and Pola filters - the latter just very briefly.

One reason might be market demand. It is beleived that Leica's filters are oem'ed from B+W. Why should I pay a premium to Leica when I can get the same or a better filter from B+W at a lower cost? Their crome filters might be the only USP they have, for those that are int crome lenses.

[leicanewbie]

I understand. But I like your statement ... "why should I pay a premium to Leica when I can get the same or better at lower cost"..

Isn't that ironic when you consider the whole Leica / Panasonic thing?

So if people are willing to pony up extra $$ to buy Leica over Panasonic, they'd be
willing to pay $$ for Leica over B+W.

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by leicanewbie

Isn't that ironic when you consider the whole Leica / Panasonic thing?

Not really, when you buy a rebadged Panasonic from Leica you get a better warrenty and usually better software, so the cost of the dot is reduced somewhat. With a filter you get, well, a filter.

Not sure why digital requires _more_ filters, if anything I'd say fewer - certainly if you previously shot b&w film.

[haris]

Originally Posted by leicanewbie

I'm curious as to why Leica has such a limited range of filters. For some lenses, all they
sell is a UV and circular polarizer filter. And I don't think they have anything for their
digital products.

seems like a missed revenue opportunity, esp in digital.

For film photography, you really need only few filters, one of UV/SKY for protecting lens if you want and for decresing bluish haze on high altitudes or shadows when shooting colour slide film. One of yellow/orange/red, maybe green for contrast control with b/w films and polarizing filter. If you shoot colour slide/negative maybe filter for colour correction, but I think it is better to use daylight film for daylight and tungsten film for tungsten light. Everything else (graduate, soft, etc...) is for trick, for effect, not necessary for work, but if you want to get particular effect. And I can't connect Leica style of photography, especailly M, with trick/effect photography. Not that it can not be technically done, but I can't connect those two philosophycally...

Ok, architectural/fashion/advertizing photographers who shoots under fluorescent or other non daylight temperatured lights use filters for colour correction when shoot colour slide or negative, but I don't know how many of those photographers use Leica, they use large format or medium format equipment more.

For digital, you can use imaging software for producing effects, so no real need for filters.

FIlter is another piece of clear or coloured glass (or even plastic) in front of lens which can (not must, but can) decrese quality of photo, so I use filter only if I must...

Of corse, this is just my opinion.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Originally Posted by leicanewbie

... So if people are willing to pony up extra $$ to buy Leica over Panasonic, they'd be willing to pay $$ for Leica over B+W.

It has been suggested here that Leica filters are actually sourced from B+W.

[doubice]

Originally Posted by magyarman

Very many years Leica tell is bat to use filters, never suppose do this, is make to less qualitat of fotos, Leica lens is no need to any filter. Today comes M8, Leica want everybody forgets they was tell this, today is suppose everybody to thing is for best qualitat must to use IR filter front of each one lens! This is so funny example how company tell whatever they need make sale, than costumer must to make square his head so can to belief

It is interesting that every single post that Ferenc contributed is either rude or has nothing to do with the issue at hand. Why waste your time on this forum if it is, as you feel, full of people who use this mediocre product marketed by a company that does not know anything.

Ferenc's memory might not reach that far, but Leica actually used to recommend using filters, in particular the UVa. What Leica is saying now is that UV filters are not needed to remove UV rays, as lenses already have those properties built in. Also, antireflection coatings are much harder now than they were in the past, thus reducing the need to use filters for front element protection even further. There are different opinions on this, but I won't go further.

The issues of filter usage in the past and on the M8 today are totally different and have nothing to do with Leica 'having to make a sale'.

Merry Christmas to all,

Jan