Good 50mm Summicron lens cap and soft body cover for M9-P

[alandash]

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Any leads for:

1. A better front lens cap for the latest version 50 mm Summicron lens with a normal B+W UV filter attached. Present one works OK without filter, but slips off too easily with filter attached.

 

2. A soft body cover for the M9-P, to prevent scratching to the body while carrying around. The heavy leather ones are not required for casual carrying. In fact, the M9-P is too thick to fit into the standard cases made for the older M cameras.

 

Any soft and light material is fine, even loose-fitting. When I used an Olympus OM4 SLR, I switched from their rigid leather case to the cheaper soft case, and it worked fine.

 

Thanks,

Alan

[Thomv]

Alan, if an UV filter would be beneficial, Leica would have included that in the box. Filters sometimes cause unwanted reflections, so it is perhaps better not to use them, unless of course for a specific purpose.

The usual salesman's talk that a filter protects your lens is questionable, how often did you have a scratched filter/front lens? And then, why/how was it scratched? Careless cleaning?

How often did you see a nasty reflection on the image? It is IMO better to spend money on a decent equipment insurance.

 

Your second question, either a Luigi half case or nothing at all. Yes, you will see signs of usage but isn't using the camera why you bought in the first place?

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[RobertJRB]

Agree with Thom.

 

I used to have UV filters for all my leica lenses. With the 50 cron I got so much flares, all ready when I point the camera the slightest into the direction of the sun.

In the center of the image there was a big loss of contrast.

 

I decided to take off the filter and the flare was gone. Only when used more extreme into the sun the flares are there. But that was to be expected with the 50mm summicron.

 

Because the deep position of front element inside the lens I find it not as necessarily to use protection filters compared to other lenses.

I still use the UV filter, but only in situations were protection is needed (sand, water ect).

 

 

About the soft case, Do you mean a case for carrying only? Or also for shooting?

I find the neoprene case from leica quite useful for carrying. I use it when I don't bring my camera bag but just put the camera in my standard bag.

 

Leica Camera AG - Photography - NEOPRENE CASE M

Edited May 19, 2013 by RobertJRB

[Photoskeptic]

I use an Optech soft body cover.

[wattsy]

Have you tried the lens cap for the 50 and 35 Summarits? I'm not sure if it will fit the Summicron but both are 39mm filter threads so there is a chance it will fit. I much prefer it to the clip-on variety that ping off at inopportune moments.

 

All this said, if you are using a UV filter by default you might consider just dispensing with the lens cap altogether when out using the lens.

[microview]

I bought the Leica A42mm lens cap for a 35/2.8 Summaron I had (the original silver cap had a dent in the rim etc etc) but alas the fit was slack and it dropped off all too easily. So I went back to the old one. This week I found a superb 50/f2 version 4 Summicron at Caplan's, London, and the black A42 is as snug a fit as you could wish for. Both lenses take E39 filters and the outer rims look identical. I think perhaps you need to try before you buy!

[kokoshawnuff]

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A generic 39mm plastic pinch cap. Typically about $2 on eBay.

 

Also there are plenty of threads about filter or no filter, so theres no reason to turn OPs thread (asking questions unrelated to filter use) into another filter battle.

[tobey bilek]

I found a nice Walther Benser M case decades back. The M9 fits perfectly.

 

Nose is easily big enough for a vented shade on a 50 mm.

 

You want a lens cap + case ? Really now.

[TomB_tx]

Yes - the Benser pouch case fits well. I've used them for 40+ years on Ms and Leicaflex - so it will fit the M9. It offers scratch and dust protection, but is too thin for much impact help.

[alandash]

Thanks to all for the suggestions! I am now checking the possibilities.

 

I was active in the 1970's with the M3 and M4, but went into Leica Hibernation until 2012, and bought the M9-P. There are so many changes now, that it is a relearning experience for me.

 

I always liked the looks of the Leica metal lens caps that came with the early M cameras, but soon realized that there is a variance in fit between one cap and another. The reddish material inside the metal cap affects the snugness, and may thin with use.

 

However, it's faster to attach/detach than the black plastic ones with spring clips. Squeezing the clips must be precise, or one side can be loose, and the cap can fall off.

 

Why a filter plus a cap? I bought the expensive B+W filter, so now I worry about scratching the filter! That's why I wear a belt plus suspenders

 

Alan

[Waldo]

Dear all,

 

I have a silver/chrome 50mm Summicron (3996505) bought via this site [a brilliant lens] which has the internal hood. It came with a Leica UVa screw-on filter E39 13132.

 

I have scratched the filter due (in part) to the lens cap it came with falling off continually.

 

I thus need a new lens cap.

 

Ken Rockwell suggests [http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f2-m.htm] the Kaiser 40mm front cap. In his words " Front cap (current SUMMICRON with built-in-hood, 1994-today). LEICA 14 038, E39 clip-on plastic. It is poorly designed: this cap often pops off. Leica's 1950s and 1960s push-over caps were much nicer, but won't work with the integral hood version of this lens. If you use a filter, this cap will always be popping off. If you have a lens with the built-in hood and use filters, a smarter idea is to reserve [meaning avoid] the LEICA 14 038 E39 front cap, and instead use the MADE-IN-GERMANY Kaiser 40mm Objectiveschutz-deckel instead. It's a tight fit over a 39mm filter, so it's going to stay on and do its duty, unlike LEICA's weak 14 038 snap-cap."

 

Hence, I am thinking of keeping the scratched filter on the lens then using the Kaisercap, and before shooting would unscrew the UV with the lens cap attached. Does anyone please know if this is feasible/desirable; or am I better off ditching the scratched filter and getting a different lens cap which will go directly on the lens - and if so which lens cap is best in terms of staying on the lens and not falling off.

 

Thank you for any suggestions.

 

 

 

 

 

[Chuck Albertson]

Hence, I am thinking of keeping the scratched filter on the lens then using the Kaisercap, and before shooting would unscrew the UV with the lens cap attached. Does anyone please know if this is feasible/desirable; or am I better off ditching the scratched filter and getting a different lens cap which will go directly on the lens - and if so which lens cap is best in terms of staying on the lens and not falling off.

 

Thank you for any suggestions.

Ditch the scratched filter, buy a new one, and get the Kaiser cap. Note that the Kaiser doesn't really work unless there's a filter to latch on to.

[jaapv]

Or use a B&W protective filter (007) which is more scratch-resistant.