Best Buy in UV & Polarizing Filters for WATE?

[kcnarf]

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Happy new year to all! What are the best UV and polarizing filters for the tri-elmar WATE lens at a non-excessive price? I am willing to pay a premium price for elite filters that are really substantially better, but I also understand that the often substantially higher prices of lofty reputations are not always justified by the results. Thank you for your attention.

[brill64]

maybe a small attachment (do a search on john millich adaptor or jm adaptor) you can order (they were available for the m8 into which you fit the glass only from a uv/ir filter) into which you can fit yourself a 49 or 46mm polariser glass (you can still adjust for polarised light by turning the adaptor ring with the screw loosened). this metal ring fits flush between your wate and the metal screw-in leica hood. another option perhaps is a 67mm polariser+adaptor ring used to fit the uv/ir filter fitted to the wate on an m8 which would allow for adjustment of the polariser (you may have to buy the uv/ir set first). otherwise, the 67mm uv/ir adaptor+lee rf filter holder+their own very expensive polariser, which is a bit bulky

[marknorton]

To fit conventional filters, you need the unpopular filter adapter which replaces the standard hood and you can then use whatever filters you like, assuming you can find the size, 67mm. There is then no hood solution from Leica. IMHO, on the M9, it's best just to work without filters. For M8 users of course, there is the Milich filter solution which works fine and allows the original hood to be retained.

[kcnarf]

Should I have a regular or slim uv filter and/or polarizer for the WATE? In your opinion, how do B+H, Heliopan, and Hoya HD generally compare?

[tdtaylor]

Just be aware polarizers often do not perform well on ultra wide angles, often creating banding in the sky due to the different angles the sun is hitting the polarizer.

 

Obviously, NDs and UVs don't have this issue.

[ho_co]

As Terry said, forget the polarizer. The sky goes from unpolarized to fully polarized and back to unpolarized in 180 degrees.

 

So if your lens takes in 90 degrees, the range of sky polarization will vary tremendously. On a rangefinder, that's impossible to judge.

 

 

 

Remember, the Milich adapter can be used on the M8 family only; and if you're using it there, you don't want a UVa but a UV/IR Cut filter.

 

 

Remember also the problem that the extra piece of glass will cause with the WATE. Just buy the Leica filter adapter if you think you should have a filter on the lens, and use the blackout ring that comes with it to reduce reflections.

[rickp13]

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just in case you're looking for the milich filter adapter and a uv/ir filter (leica), mine are for sale in the M classifieds under accessories.

 

i use the 67 filter adapter from leica on my m9. for IR and polarizing, i have a step-up ring to 77mm and use the same polarizer and IR filters (infrequently) on all lenses.

 

good luck

 

rick

 

ps. both b & w and leica filters have given good results. i've never tried others.

[kcnarf]

I have just looked around my apartment and found that I have a nikon 77mm. polarizer and UV filter. So if I get the Leica 67mm. filter adapter for the WATE, then it seems all I have to do is also get a set-up ring to adapt the adaptor.

 

I also have a circular 77mm. Tiffen graduated .6 ND filter. But can I trust its quality on a Leica lens?

 

Dig this: for only $3,295 (?) I have on order from putatively reliable Photo Village a mint-condition Tri-Elmar WATE without its normally accompanying external universal viewfinder.

(I don't need that viewfinder, because I already have Voigtlander's equivalent.) An astounding deal, no? Of course, I'll see for sure when it really gets here. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

[ho_co]

kc, sounds as if you're in clover! You've got what you need.

[vanhulsenbeek]

I have just looked around my apartment and found that I have a nikon 77mm. polarizer and UV filter. So if I get the Leica 67mm. filter adapter for the WATE, then it seems all I have to do is also get a set-up ring to adapt the adaptor.

 

I also have a circular 77mm. Tiffen graduated .6 ND filter. But can I trust its quality on a Leica lens?

 

Dig this: for only $3,295 (?) I have on order from putatively reliable Photo Village a mint-condition Tri-Elmar WATE without its normally accompanying external universal viewfinder.

(I don't need that viewfinder, because I already have Voigtlander's equivalent.) An astounding deal, no? Of course, I'll see for sure when it really gets here. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

 

You will love this setup! Do not forget to close somehow the holes in the adapter, either with the plastic ring as delivered ( or should be) with the 67mm Leica adapter - and then cut out some in the middle - or with some black-tape. Otherwise you will get ugly reflections.

 

That also may happen because of the profuse white lettering on the front of the WATE. I painted that black (Collectors may shudder and surely the lens dropped in value, but I can tell you the IQ did not

[Steve Fines]

As Terry said, forget the polarizer. The sky goes from unpolarized to fully polarized and back to unpolarized in 180 degrees.

 

 

Don't forget the polarizer!

 

Good grief - not every photo has the sky in it. A polarizer is wonderful on wa lenses when shooting water, fall colors, architecture with glass - all sorts of things.

 

That being said, I never found a great solution for the wate - did a lot of handholding larger filters from other cameras. Hopefully others will offer some good ideas.

[ho_co]

You're correct, Steve, of course.

 

I was trying to put a bit of meat on the bones Terry had posted, to explain why polarizers on ultra-wide lenses create the effect he mentioned.

[tdtaylor]

You are correct, Steve, but most new to the ultrawides jump into polarizers without knowing. And other kinds of shots, like reflections in buildings, can be tricky (I am an Architect and often use mine to document our projects).

 

I use the adapter and a 67mm-77mm step up ring. As you mention, it works, but not the ideal solution. Not sure there is one with rangefinders, as opposed to SLRs.