Leica's IR-Cut Filters

[sean_reid]

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Leica just sent me review samples of the new filters they'll be providing to M8 owners. I'll be testing them and comparing them to other filters on RR but here's some general information for anyone interested.

 

As I predicted some time ago, these are indeed 486 filters although they may or may not be slightly different from the standard 486. I'll know soon but my hunch is that they're quite similar, if not identical, to the 486 filters many of us are already using. This is good news because the 486 filters I'm using now are multicoated, seem to be of very high quality and are very effective at eliminating the IR cast (as I've shown in various articles). They're a very good filter and I would understand completely if Leica decided that they did not need to re-invent the wheel in getting these filters made.

 

The filters are labelled Schneider Kreuznach (affiliate or parent company of B+W, I can't recall which) 486 MRC. I'm going to guess that the corrections (for cyan drift/red vignetting) in firmware 1.10 will work perfectly well for the existing (B+W labelled) 486 filters so people who bought those should still find them useful. I'll be able to confirm that after some testing.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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[rondeb]

Hi Sean. Thanks for posting all the updates. Your work is so appreciated!!!

 

So.... Can you please post a couple photos of the filters themselves? I'm waiting(patiently) for my M8 to arrive and I'm curious what color these filters are.

 

Thanks,

Ron

[sean_reid]

Hi Ron,

 

Thanks. Seen straight on they are clear. Seen from a slight angle they have a slight cyan tint. If they're reflecting IR from some source, one can see a reddish tint in them when looking at the filters from an angle. There's no color difference that I can detect between these and a regular B+W 486 and I wouldn't expect there to be one. I've heard some serious concerns about the colors these filters show at times but I must again say that for my work it's a been a complete non-issue. The camera with filtered lens doesn't draw any more attention from subjects than any of my rangefinders have.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[rondeb]

right on. thanks again.

 

If anyone here hasn't subscribed to Sean's review site yet, do yourself a favor and do so. Think of it as an Christmas present to yourself!

 

-Ron

[ho_co]

If anyone here hasn't subscribed to Sean's review site yet, do yourself a favor and do so. Think of it as an Christmas present to yourself!

And to Sean! I think this month is the one-year mark for RR.

 

The filters are labelled Schneider Kreuznach (affiliate or parent company of B+W, I can't recall which)...

Parent.

 

Thanks for the news!

 

--HC

[Guest stevenrk]

In the yosemite thread, Rob posted a shot that gives an accurate sense of what the IR filter looks like in real life and real use. See perma link 92. The beauty of this shot -- and the only clear one I've seen of the reflection from an IR filter -- is that you can decide for yourself how to describe it and whether significant to you.

 

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/11067-yosemite-m8-trip-5.html

 

Not sure if the reflection would be similar at night, but might be, or more pronounced, since IR doesn't go down when the sun does. But leave it to SR or other IR filter users to let us know how the daylight/night reflections compare.

[sean_reid]

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And to Sean! I think this month is the one-year mark for RR.

--HC

 

Thanks Howard! You know, I had to go and look to find out just when I did start RR. The first article on the site was called "On Small Sensor Cameras" which, I think, was published November 17, 2005. The newest is an article I'm working on now which is called, "Photographing Strangers".

 

Best,

 

Sean

[stevme]

Leica just sent me review samples of the new filters they'll be providing to M8 owners. I'll be testing them and comparing them to other filters on RR but here's some general information for anyone interested.

 

As I predicted some time ago, these are indeed 486 filters although they may or may not be slightly different from the standard 486.

Sean

 

Sean

 

There have been some reports that B+W filters do not all have the coating on the proper side of the filter (facing outward). This is important, as I understand it, because these filters are reflective, not absorbtive. If the coatings are facing the wrong way -- toward the shutter -- then the effectiveness of the filters is reduced, since they depend upon interference of light waves, and they would be receiving incoming light waves in the incorrect order.

 

Could you double check on this? There was a suggestion in another post, that a quality control issues exists, with inconsistent mounting of the filters on the filter frame -- some facing forward, some facing backwards.

 

Steve

[J_Brittenson]

You can probably flip the glass in the holder if you need to.

[loretdem]

Sean,

 

Are you also using these filters when shooting with the R-D1?

 

In fact, are you even using your R-D1(s) anymore?

 

-Carlos

[canlogic]

Hi Sean

 

If they sent you the filters to test did they also send the firmware update as well? If so did they impliment any of the enhancements you suggested or fix the WB issues?

[marknorton]

Have to say that in spite of my avowed intention to keep using the R-D1 post M8, I am not. The M8 is so superior to use. The viewfinder clinches it and even if the ISO and EV are slightly slower to change, the menu sure beats squinting at tiny lettering for these ageing eyes.

 

When I do go back to the R-D1, I keep forgetting to wind-on and the circular menu system grates. It's a keeper for me though, the first digital rangefinder and without it, Leica might not have been bounced into developing the M8.

[sean_reid]

Sean

 

There have been some reports that B+W filters do not all have the coating on the proper side of the filter (facing outward). This is important, as I understand it, because these filters are reflective, not absorbtive. If the coatings are facing the wrong way -- toward the shutter -- then the effectiveness of the filters is reduced, since they depend upon interference of light waves, and they would be receiving incoming light waves in the incorrect order.

 

Could you double check on this? There was a suggestion in another post, that a quality control issues exists, with inconsistent mounting of the filters on the filter frame -- some facing forward, some facing backwards.

 

Steve

 

I'll check tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[blakley]

Not sure how you'll tell. Looking at the Scheider-Kreuznach filter on (well, OK, off for a minute now) the 35 Summilux sitting beside me here, the reflected and transmitted light looks the same, at the same angles, from both sides.

[sean_reid]

Sean,

 

Are you also using these filters when shooting with the R-D1?

 

In fact, are you even using your R-D1(s) anymore?

 

-Carlos

 

Hi Carlos,

 

You hit the bulls eye with the second question. I've been so busy with testing the M8, lenses, etc. that my remaining R-D1 has not seem much use since September. It's a backup body for the M8 (weddings, etc.) but I don't yet know how much use it will see now that I have the M8. I haven't even tried the filters on it yet.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[sean_reid]

Hi Sean

 

If they sent you the filters to test did they also send the firmware update as well? If so did they impliment any of the enhancements you suggested or fix the WB issues?

 

No, not yet. I hope to have a test camera (with the fixes done) next week.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[loretdem]

Have to say that in spite of my avowed intention to keep using the R-D1 post M8, I am not. The M8 is so superior to use. The viewfinder clinches it and even if the ISO and EV are slightly slower to change, the menu sure beats squinting at tiny lettering for these ageing eyes.

 

When I do go back to the R-D1, I keep forgetting to wind-on and the circular menu system grates. It's a keeper for me though, the first digital rangefinder and without it, Leica might not have been bounced into developing the M8.

Everything you're saying here is so depressing and so true. I expect to get an M8 in early '07 and I fear for my trusty R-D1. It has been such a f*ing cool camera and an absolute pleasure to use. One of these day I'll get around to posting an "Ode to the R-D1" as my tribute to the first DRF in all its quirks and glory. Unless someone beats me to it.

 

Don't mean to hijack your thread with my sentimental journey, Sean. I'll tell you what: I'll get a 486 in an E40.5 to go on my M-Rokkor and let y'all know if it helps the old R-D1. That is, if anyone still cares.

 

-Carlos

[scott kirkpatrick]

Responding to questions about whether the Leica filters all have the IR filter on the front side --

I'll check tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

An earlier poster showed a neat way to check -- hold up a piece of white paper so that one corner touches the surface of the filter. If the IR cut is on the front side, the corner of the paper touches its pink image. If the IR cut is on the back side, you see the small gap between the pink image and the white paper.

 

I have two B&W 486's, one is front side, one is back. Someone else got three, 2 back one front. It does seem like setting them to be all front side would be the right thing, and I hope it can be done by unscrewing the front rim of the holder.

 

regards,

 

scott

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[tom0511]

Sean,

do it get it right that cyan corners only appear with 28mm and wider lenses?

Does this mean that it shouldnt be a problem to use 35mm and longer with the filter all the time?

Cheers, Tom

[reven]

Just a short notice and question. On the official German Page from BW (the product overview pdf) there are no 486 MRC coaded filters. All listed 486 Filters are normal coaded.. ? Now Am I'm right or is this pdf wron and there actually are some MCR coaded 486 Filters ?