UV filter for M lenses

[bono0272]

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Hi all,

 

Do you usually adapt a UV filter in front of your M lenses? Or just use the lenses directly?

[Guest leica_mage]

Directly, unless I'm at the sea or in a very sandy environment.

 

Otherwise it's a shame to stick a piece of glass in front of such lovingly and painstakingly designed and manufactured piece of optical equipment. Defeats the purpose.

 

Best,

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[earleygallery]

Hi all,

 

Do you usually adapt a UV filter in front of your M lenses? Or just use the lenses directly?

 

This topic crops up from time to time, some do and some don't, it's personal preference and whether or not you feel comfortable about the potential risk of damage to your lens.

 

I generally do use UV filters although I don't have filters on my LC5, or my LTM lenses. Especially when I buy a new lens, I like to pop a UV filter on straight away and keep the front element factory fresh. I feel much happier cleaning a replaceable filter than an expensive multicoated lens.

 

However, you can sometimes get reflections when taking night time photo's from a filter, so in certain situations I will remove them.

[marknorton]

I never use a filter but I do use lens hoods which guard against the lens banging into something and of course I always use lens caps when the lens is not in use.

[gberger]

I use B+W MRC UV and Skylight filters in dusty, seashore, or sandy enviornments. Also, if I don't intend to use a lens for some appreciable length of time and do not have a lens cap for the front lens, I'll slap a MRC filter on it to procect the front element from long term exposure to household crud. If you're going to use a rear end lens cap, it makes sense to protect the front end, also.

 

George (The Old Fud)

[frc]

I share the idea of keeping the glass factoryfresh. Of my 6 lenses 5 work fine vith the UV-filter attached ( 21 asph, tri e., cron 50, lux 75, elm. 90 ) only on the tri elmar I remove it in situations where flare could occur. The Lux 35 asph however has given me that many ghostimages with the filter on I decided to leave it of and use the hood instead. Only in sandy or dusty places it is added. Still the idea of having the frontglass exposed to the elements at times gives me nightmares. On the item of imagedegradation I must say I haven't noticed any. Anyway supposing Leica is not very likely to give info on problems of use with or without filters it seems interesting to me to find out what users have experienced with different lenses.

What astonishes me is and I do not know if I should compare it with the lenses is the absolutely unscratched glass of the viewfinder. I find it amazing how durable and scratchresistant it is taking in account the intensity of use it suffers.

[Guest leica_mage]

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[...] What astonishes me is and I do not know if I should compare it with the lenses is the absolutely unscratched glass of the viewfinder. I find it amazing how durable and scratchresistant it is taking in account the intensity of use it suffers.

frc, it's the same with the front element. I appreciate that the perceived danger of the front element exposed to the... elements can give one nightmares, but really it's mostly an irrational fear rather than anything else. The viewfinder testifies to this. I think a hood is more than sufficient, except for 'sandy or dusty places' - the way you do with your 35.

 

By the way, I find it quite intriguing that your 35 ASPH 'lux behaves this way.

 

Best,

[simonpg]

IMHO the optimal answer is "it depends uopn the cicumstances and the lens used". Ideally use a lens hood for protection and get 100% Leica M optical quality by not unnecessarily introducing an extra layer of glass and air. Reserve adding a filter for high risk environmental conditions.

 

Some factors worth keeping in mind:

1. Modern coatings make most clear filters obsolete - UV etc;

2. You have paid big money for Leica optics - don't degrade their quality by adding lesser quality filters - if you need to add a filter be sure to add premium grade filters;

3. adding a filter adds a layer of glass and air to the front thus increasing optical aberrations;

4. Mostly shooters add (and quite wisely so) a UV, haze or similar filter as a method of protecting the front lens element - BUT a lens hood can be just as effective protection in situations of risking a nasty bump;

5. Shooters also wisely add such filters for "environmental protection" like sea spray;

6. with Leica M lenses you do NOT see what you get (rangefinder versus SLR) - adding a filter can cause flare that you are unaware of until you get your film processed - take care here;

7. Leica M lenses have relatively shallow hoods for obvious reasons - a filter takes the glass forward in the hood, adding risk of flare even with a hood fitted.

 

My first Leica M lens was the 'Cron 35mm ASPH, most shots on the first roll had nasty flare - I stupidly added a Leica UV filter to protect the lens. I shot the next roll without a filter in blasing sun and got no flare!

 

So, from the above - I have a filter in my bag; only add it when the physical environment adds risk of damage or spray etc to the front lens element - otherwise just keep a hood fitted. Unless you are very careless that is all the day to day protection your lens needs.

 

THEN you get to see 100% pure Leica M slides at their very best.

[Guest Seb V]

My first year using Leica, a lens wouldn't leave the shop without an expensive UV filter. Now, everything is naked, especially the Nocti, since filters cause vignetting on this lens. If the front element gets dirty, I just wipe it with my T shirt.

We pay thousands for our lenses to have sophosticated lens coatings that can withstand such treatment so why not take advantage of that?

Collecting is different, some people take pleasure in keeping a thing of beauty pristine and maintaining it's 'mint' condition and that's fine too. So there's usually two schools of thought whenever this thread gets revived.

Seb.

[Guest leica_mage]

[...] If the front element gets dirty, I just wipe it with my T shirt. [...]

Seb.

Would someone please administer smelling salts before I fall and injure myself beyond any semblance of salvation?...

[Bob Ross]

I use B+W MRC UV and Skylight filters in dusty, seashore, or sandy enviornments. Also, if I don't intend to use a lens for some appreciable length of time and do not have a lens cap for the front lens, I'll slap a MRC filter on it to procect the front element from long term exposure to household crud. If you're going to use a rear end lens cap, it makes sense to protect the front end, also.

 

George (The Old Fud)

Not having a lens cap is always a latent worry for me, so I solved the problem of availability by using 39>49 step up rings and cheap clip on lens caps. As for filters, some of the slide films that I used before digital, did better with a 1A or 1B Haze filter and they stayed on most of the time rather than UV. With digital, we'll have to see what filters do, if anything, with each lens. The newer super multi coated filters are a must for digital, at least with the three digital cameras, that I have.

Bob

[trisk]

Slightly O.T. I also think its a pity to cover up my beautiful glass with someone else's filter. But what do you do when your MP and Summicron let in too much light?,sometimes f16 @ 1/1000 is not small enough, film speed is 50ASA. Neutral density filters? Whose would you choose?. Leica do'n't seem to list one.

Terry

[masjah]

Slightly O.T. I also think its a pity to cover up my beautiful glass with someone else's filter. But what do you do when your MP and Summicron let in too much light?,sometimes f16 @ 1/1000 is not small enough, film speed is 50ASA. Neutral density filters? Whose would you choose?. Leica do'n't seem to list one.

Terry

 

 

That's one hell of a bright light.

[Guest leica_mage]

That's one hell of a bright light.

Quite! Did you shoot a U.F.O. landing??

 

Steven Spielberg might be interested in a Leica soon...

 

Close encounters of the Mxth kind...

 

Best,

[christer]

John said: "That's one hell of a bright light."

 

Indeed.

 

But to answer the question what natural densitiy filters to get, get a B&W.

 

I like it for special effects; pleople moving across the picture exposed at one second.

 

Anyway, the glass used for filters bearing the Leica name are not made by Leica but by either B&W or Heliopan. Who makes the metal ring? Dunno. But I have my suspicions.

[topoxforddoc]

Like most of the others, I don't use a UV on my M glass. Still use yellow and red filters for B/W work though. If I have to use filters it's either leica or B+W though.

 

Charlie

[kdemas]

I tend to use UVs on all of my 50s and 35s that I use frequently. B&W and Heliopan. For my longer 90s and 135s I don't usually use one.

 

I can tell you that with the Noct, at night, you should not use a filter as it promoted ghosting etc... . The Noct works just fine during the day with a UV.

 

Kent

[harmsr]

I use protective filters on my lenses as needed.

 

I love taking photos near the ocean, so I put a UV or flip down polarizing filter on.

 

Living in AZ, I often use a UV filter to protect against the sand and dust. If it is not windy, then they go without. If it is a mid-day sun, then I often use a KR-3.

 

I'm not fanatical about it either way. If the environment or light is harsh, then on goes a filter. If the light and environment are both nice, then the lens is bare.

 

Best,

 

Ray

[Guest Seb V]

K.P.

 

LOL!

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Hallo,

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[Guest leica_mage]

K.P.

 

LOL!

You're great!