Initial Review of IR-Cut filter by Sean Reid

[wparsonsgisnet]

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There is an assessment of 3 IR-cut filters on ReidReviews.

 

The reviews include the B+W 486 filter, a prototype of what will be a Leica-branded filter that is supposed to be sourced from Schneider (who makes B+W filters), and a Heliopan IR-cut filter.

 

There will be further evaluation of these filters when the new version 1.10 of the M8 software is available.

 

Nice review. It's good to have this testing -- and feedback to Leica -- taking place.

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[roubaix]

Ditto. Nice review.

 

Peter

[lct]

Happy to know it Bill.

What are the conclusions?

[Shootist]

Happy to know it Bill.

What are the conclusions?

 

You'll need to subscribe to Reids site to find that out.

[pascal_meheut]

Funny, I did not found it on Sean's site.

[sean_reid]

Funny, I did not found it on Sean's site.

 

It's in the M8 Updates section.

 

I confirmed with Leica that the Schneider 486 MRC filters they sent me are the type that are shipping. Some, apparently, are being made in Japan but the design, materials, etc. are apparently exactly the same.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[lct]

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You'll need to subscribe to Reids site to find that out.

Really?

When i happen to find out something interesting in some French photo mags i'm quite happy to share it here without asking anyone to subscribe to the mag needless to say.

Why not doing so with US reviews?

[sean_reid]

Happy to know it Bill.

What are the conclusions?

 

I won't recap all the details here because subscribers pay for my work and its part of how I feed my family but....

 

1. All three filters successfully block IR

 

2. The two 486 filters are probably identical

 

3. Color response varies between the 486 filters and the Heliopan

 

4. Cyan drift varies between 486 and Heliopan

 

That's it for details but its good free info. for people who choose not to subscribe to the site. Let's now skip the usual RR debates that get redundant and tedious.

 

Flare and reflections will be tested as soon as I get time.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[wparsonsgisnet]

Happy to know it Bill.

What are the conclusions?

 

I would conclude from the review that we need to wait for v.1.10 of the software and the profiles that Phase One and others here will develop.

 

If anyone finds differences in the 3 different filters, perhaps we'll end up with profiles that are prepared for the different filters.

 

The work of the monsters here during December and January was astonishing. No only did they detail problems, thereby assisting Leica as well as us, they also created and supplied solutions and advice.

 

This forum is exceptional.

[lct]

Thank you Sean and Bill.

[sean_reid]

I would conclude from the review that we need to wait for v.1.10 of the software and the profiles that Phase One and others here will develop.

 

If anyone finds differences in the 3 different filters, perhaps we'll end up with profiles that are prepared for the different filters.

 

The work of the monsters here during December and January was astonishing. No only did they detail problems, thereby assisting Leica as well as us, they also created and supplied solutions and advice.

 

This forum is exceptional.

 

The cyan drift correction is going to be specifically for the 486 filters on factory-coded lenses. We can profile the Heliopan for the RAW converters but the in-camera correction won't be a perfect match when the Heliopans are used.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[eronald]

The cyan drift correction is going to be specifically for the 486 filters on factory-coded lenses. We can profile the Heliopan for the RAW converters but the in-camera correction won't be a perfect match when the Heliopans are used.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

As this information interested me, I've just subscribed to Sean's site. He does a good job, worth the subscription fee.

 

Edmund

[Shootist]

Thank you Sean.

[pascal_meheut]

As this information interested me, I've just subscribed to Sean's site. He does a good job, worth the subscription fee.

 

I subscribed a few months ago and I was reluctant first. Not used to pay for reviews on the Internet.

But Sean's site is really worth it indeed.

[John Maio]

It's in the M8 Updates section.

 

I confirmed with Leica that the Schneider 486 MRC filters they sent me are the type that are shipping. Some, apparently, are being made in Japan but the design, materials, etc. are apparently exactly the same.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

I guess the first lot or so will be used to fill the "free" filter backlog. In searching the web I can't find any place that has the Schneider 486 MRC at the moment.

 

PS: I'm a RR subscriber and its an excellent site.

[sean_reid]

Thanks very much for the comments all. Leica needs to get *a lot* of 486 filters out and I can see how they might be hard to find now. Tony Rose might have some and several have mentioned Foto Huppert in Germany.

 

BTW, I'm trying to get a draft of the 50s article up tonight.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest Bernd Banken]

I won't recap all the details here because subscribers pay for my work and its part of how I feed my family but....

 

1. All three filters successfully block IR

 

2. The two 486 filters are probably identical

 

3. Color response varies between the 486 filters and the Heliopan

 

4. Cyan drift varies between 486 and Heliopan

 

That's it for details but its good free info. for people who choose not to subscribe to the site. Let's now skip the usual RR debates that get redundant and tedious.

 

Flare and reflections will be tested as soon as I get time.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

Sean,

 

you put a lot of work into your investigations. This must be paid, but in this hassle of color-issues and the solving of it, M8 users should get these important information for free.

They should get it from Leica direct.

Leica is not able to provide these essential informations therefore they should pay you for this. Or in other words:

 

Each M8 should have a voucher for, let's say one year free subscription.

 

Cheers

Bernd

[carstenw]

Thanks very much for the comments all. Leica needs to get *a lot* of 486 filters out and I can see how they might be hard to find now. Tony Rose might have some and several have mentioned Foto Huppert in Germany.

 

BTW, I'm trying to get a draft of the 50s article up tonight.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

Foto Huppert was out for a while, but they are starting to come in now again. I just got a 46mm B+W 486 filter.

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[Englander]

I had an email from Michael Huppert this morning (2/14/07) saying he has a full stock.

 

 

Tel.: 0049 202 40 11 99

 

Fax: 0049 202 40 23 25

 

Email: info@foto-huppert.de <mailto:info@foto-huppert.de>

 

http://www.foto-huppert.de <http://www.foto-huppert.de/>

 

Even dealing with him from USA has been a pleasure. He sends by air post instead of FedEx and that means you are less likely to get hit by import tax. FedEx seems overly scrupulous in billing for it; the USPS doesn't bother.

 

Joe

[albertknappmd]

I received a technical report on the 486 UV/IR filter from Schneider where they stated that the filter is not suited for any lens with an angle of view greater than 60 degrees.

This translates into any lens with a focal length of less than about 38mm.. Why, because the angle of incidence in wide angle lenses is greater at the periphery andhence this causes a color shift. Blues become darker at the periphery...

My questions to all are the following:

1. If correct, waht does one do for any lens shorter than 38mm?

2. Only one side o fhte filter is coated with MRC and the other seems to be uncoated... How do we clean it if necessary without damaging the uncoated side?