Which Filters for 50mm Noctilux 0.95 / 21mm Summilux / 35mm Summilux

[Guest willjanurgucken2000]

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Hi everyone!

 

Am planning on getting these lens. Which filters do you recommend for the following:

 

-50mm Noctilux (0.95)

-21mm Summilux

-35mm Summilux

 

For the Noctilux am thinking I may need a density filter. The 21/35 am looking at protecting my lens.

 

Will

[Erik Gunst Lund]

Filters on digital cameras should be avoided, you very easily get flare since the sensor is shiny, not matte like film. The light can bounce back and forth...

As protection, it happens that the filter is crushed and the splinters scratches the front glass.

The way to protect the front glass is to always use a lens hood, also keeps most of the flare away and increases the contrast.

[richfx]

It depends in part on the maximum shutter speed of your camera. The faster the shutter speed, the easier to shoot wide open in daylight / bright light with an ultra fast lens. Opinion seems to be pretty divided on the need for a ND filter and the number of f stops chosen if you use one with a Nocti or Lux.

Rich

[IkarusJohn]

I've just order 3 stop Heliopan ND filters for my Luxes (50 & 21), as in broad daylight, I can't shoot as wide as I would like.

 

I have one UV filter for my 50 Lux, and I only use it in salty, dirty conditions.

 

Cheers

John

[mmradman]

Hi everyone!

 

Am planning on getting these lens. Which filters do you recommend for the following:

 

-50mm Noctilux (0.95)

-21mm Summilux

-35mm Summilux

 

For the Noctilux am thinking I may need a density filter. The 21/35 am looking at protecting my lens.

 

Will

 

Are you asking filter diameter or brand?

 

Diameter is available form lens specifications as for brand try, in no particular order or preference, price perhaps; B&W, Heliopan and Leica.

 

Between first two choose B&W MRC (multi resistant coated) or Heliopan SH-PMC, both very resistant to dirt and well coated to control flare. I think both B&W and Heliopan have range of ND filters going up 10x. Leica filters look good but I don't know anything about coatings.

 

For the sheer feel of quality my personal preference is Heliopan and Leica but B&W is not far behind. I can't comment on optical performance.

 

 

You will find that filters are very charged issue with two opposite schools of opinion. For me they are insurance policy but they do occasionaly perform other functions like ND, CP and B&W film colour filters.

[Guest willjanurgucken2000]

I've just order 3 stop Heliopan ND filters for my Luxes (50 & 21), as in broad daylight, I can't shoot as wide as I would like.

 

I have one UV filter for my 50 Lux, and I only use it in salty, dirty conditions.

 

Cheers

John

 

Hi John - have heard it might be hard to fit both the filters and hood at the same time on the 21 and 35 summilux.

 

Can anyone else confirm that they were able to get a ND/UV filter fitted on their lens with the hood - and if so, which brand - Heliopan or B+W?

 

Thanks!

 

Will

[MarkP]

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Will,

 

trying to staying out of the filter-no-filter debate, (although personally I like my "glass prophylaxis"):

 

35mm Summilux ASPH (latest version):

Only the Leica E46 filters fit under the Summilux 35 ASPH hood. Try the UVa 13004. The issue re which filters fit under the hood has been discussed extensively before in other threads.

 

21mm Summilux ASPH:

B+W Serie 8 010 UV-Haze 1x MRC

 

50mm 0.95 Noct:

can't advise you

 

 

Mark

[400TX]

Hi John - have heard it might be hard to fit both the filters and hood at the same time on the 21 and 35 summilux.

 

Can anyone else confirm that they were able to get a ND/UV filter fitted on their lens with the hood - and if so, which brand - Heliopan or B+W?

 

Thanks!

 

Will

B+W makes thin versions of selected filters - going that route should help in trems of fit.

 

Regarding filter quality, I'd go with Leica, B+W or Heliopan in that order.

[IkarusJohn]

Hi John - have heard it might be hard to fit both the filters and hood at the same time on the 21 and 35 summilux.

 

Can anyone else confirm that they were able to get a ND/UV filter fitted on their lens with the hood - and if so, which brand - Heliopan or B+W?

 

Thanks!

 

Will

 

Hi Will,

 

I don't have the filters yet, but Ken Hansen tells me the Series VII filter is difficult to fit to the Summilux 21 hood. As the front element of the lens is proud of the lens barrel, the filter has to go on the hood. Ken says you have to squeeze it (hood, I assume).

 

I don't have a 35 lux. The filters simply screw onto the 50 Summilux and the 35 Summicron.

 

I will use these filters on bright days - I'm not into that sort of prophylaxis. I use lens caps and hoods for casual protection.

 

Cheers

John

[MarkP]

Hi Will,

 

I don't have the filters yet, but Ken Hansen tells me the Series VII filter is difficult to fit to the Summilux 21 hood. As the front element of the lens is proud of the lens barrel, the filter has to go on the hood. Ken says you have to squeeze it (hood, I assume).

 

I don't have a 35 lux. The filters simply screw onto the 50 Summilux and the 35 Summicron.

 

I will use these filters on bright days - I'm not into that sort of prophylaxis. I use lens caps and hoods for casual protection.

 

Cheers

John

 

As I've mentioned below (and listed the filter code numbers)...

 

NO FILTER other than the Leicas (unless you machine one) will fit under the 35mm Lux's hood. Personal experience, and this has been done to death on other threads.

 

B+W series 8 (not 7) filter fits snugly into the base of the hood and safely clears the protruding outer element of the 21 Lux. Remember that it does not screw in but is clamped between the hood and lens barrel. Personal experience.

 

Mark

[IkarusJohn]

Damn!

 

Thanks Mark - a misunderstanding between Ken & me. I will correct my order (may be too late, so I'll have to send the filter back).

 

I should have checked ...

[MarkP]

Hi John,

 

The problem is not the depth, but the width, of the filter ring. ALL non-Leica filter rings (B+W, Hoya, even Panasonic, etc) are a fraction of a millimeter wider than the 35 Lux lens barrel, so you can't then get the lens hood over them.

 

One forum member has successfully machined down the width of his filter rings!

 

I think it's just t's easier to spend the money and buy the outrageously expensive Leica filter.

 

Good luck.

 

Mark

[IkarusJohn]

Hi Mark,

 

I don't have a 35 Lux.

 

Cheers

John

[MarkP]

Hi Mark,

 

I don't have a 35 Lux.

 

Cheers

John

 

sorry about that John.

I didn't see that you had mentioned it in your earlier post.

 

Regards,

Mark