filters

[smdavey]

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Hi all,

 

I did do a search, using terms lens filters. but didnt find my answers, so...

 

 

as only started using leica few months ago.. film.

 

and as before a canon user, who never uses filters on my lens. and i really dont want to get into that arguement... apart from cokin.

but not ir or uv.

 

so anyhoo..

 

firstly, everyone uses uv filters on all there lenses??

or maybe a better question is. have people found different filters work differently on different lenses.

 

also..

 

i cant find any filters or hoods to fit the zunow 50.

any ideas.?

 

 

so if any or all of this has been asked before sorry, i couldnt find it.

and if this is placed in the wrong section.

well i guessed.

 

thanks for any help

 

Steve

 

oops. ones in question 28 Elmarit ,50 zunow, 90 elmar

[earleygallery]

Hi

 

What's a zunow??

 

As for filters to protect the lens, some are for them and some against. Personally I prefer to use them, just in case. Sorry but there's no definitive answer.

[smdavey]

Hi

 

What's a zunow??

 

As for filters to protect the lens, some are for them and some against. Personally I prefer to use them, just in case. Sorry but there's no definitive answer.

 

 

i was thinking that because shooting film, that filters were more than protection.

Zunow: 50mm (5cm) f1.1 (M39, Teikoku) Lens Price Guide: estimate your lens value

[jaapv]

Not everybody uses filters on all their lenses - I only do in adverse conditions, otherwise I remove them.

[smdavey]

ok excellent.

then that will change nothing in my thoughts on filters.

 

great news

[IkarusJohn]

I'm not sure why IR or UVa filters should offer more or less on film than digital (apart from the issues with the M8).

 

I used to use filters a lot when I took B&W images on my Hasselblad - Yellow, Orange, Red & Polarising, and I found them invaluable. If I was taking a lot of B&W on my MP, I would probably do the same.

 

With my M9, I have a Leica UVa filter (fits my 50, 35 & 28), which I can't decide if I'm using or not. If there's any method in my madness, it goes on when I'm at the beach or in dusty environments where I want to protect the front element. Otherwise I tend not to use it - I use hoods all the time on all lenses, and the coating on the lenses is tough (apparently).

 

I also carry a Zeiss centre weighted ND filter for my Distagon 15 (to reduce vignetting), and two 3 stop ND filters - one B+W Series VIII for my 21, and one Heliopan for the 50/35/28 lenses. I don't have any filters for my 75.

 

Not sure if that helps?

 

For me, filters are less about protection than giving greater flexibility with f stop, and introducing drama into B&W film photography.

 

The Zunow is a nice looking lens (very shiny)

 

Cheers

John

[smdavey]

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I'm not sure why IR or UVa filters should offer more or less on film than digital (apart from the issues with the M8).

 

I used to use filters a lot when I took B&W images on my Hasselblad - Yellow, Orange, Red & Polarising, and I found them invaluable. If I was taking a lot of B&W on my MP, I would probably do the same.

 

With my M9, I have a Leica UVa filter (fits my 50, 35 & 28), which I can't decide if I'm using or not. If there's any method in my madness, it goes on when I'm at the beach or in dusty environments where I want to protect the front element. Otherwise I tend not to use it - I use hoods all the time on all lenses, and the coating on the lenses is tough (apparently).

 

I also carry a Zeiss centre weighted ND filter for my Distagon 15 (to reduce vignetting), and two 3 stop ND filters - one B+W Series VIII for my 21, and one Heliopan for the 50/35/28 lenses. I don't have any filters for my 75.

 

Not sure if that helps?

 

For me, filters are less about protection than giving greater flexibility with f stop, and introducing drama into B&W film photography.

 

The Zunow is a nice looking lens (very shiny)

 

Cheers

John

 

 

nd filters yes i use.

 

but i was taught........

that because its film...

that a uv filter will help. produce a... trying to think of a good word. but .. produce a clearer picture?, hope that is a fair word to use.

where as with digital it is not needed. at all.

 

as for hoods yes i use all the time, mostly they take the dents when i am walking around but also do there job.

asked about hood because i cant find one to fit the 50mm i have.

 

 

yeah it is shiny.))

didnt buy it. was my fathers.

 

just posted that info as quick yahoo search to the question that was asked

[jaapv]

The use of filters is well established in film - but on digital, many filter effects can be simulated in postprocessing. However, filters that cannot be dispensed off are pol filters, nd filters, to a certain extent grad filters. Some special effects filters like a star filter, soft focus filter, etc can be simulated on post, but are simpler to use as a physical filter.

If you want to use a strong color filter it is very easy to get the same effect in postprocessing, but the corresponding color channel will be limited in dynamic range, so that is a case for a real filter again.

 

So it is not a good idea to toss all your filters in the eBin as soon as you switch to digital

 

Specific for digital is an IR cut filter. If short focal length does not forbid the use it can improve color rendition in high-IR situations, even on the M9.

 

 

On the M8 an IR pass filter will allow hassle-free IR photography.

[smdavey]

thanks,

so here is what i get from this.. so far..

 

filters for specific reasons. colour/nd etc.. all good

 

but no real reason for uv filters,other than protection.

 

btw , this is a great forum

[jaapv]

Regarding using an UVA filter to combat haze, all Leica M lenses are UV filtered as such, so an UV filter will have no effect, except maybe over 4000 meters in the mountains. Even then the haze can be removed in Photoshop.

[smdavey]

thanks very much.

so i use cs5 and lr3.5

just new to film photography.

 

and have answered all my questions,

really thank you.

 

i am never happy with anything i produce. some people are, but not me.

 

soon will be sorting my pictures from russian prisons

[earleygallery]

Sorry, I thought this was a question about the merits of using a UV filter for protection.

 

Filters are essential for certain applications, that's why they were invented. If you need to use one, then you need to use it. Yes you can imitate some effects in photoshop, if that's what you wish. You can't replicate the removal of reflections by using a pola though, so old fashioned filters even have their place in the digital world - M8 users learned to love their UVIR filters (awaits contradictory advice from AlanG).

[lars_bergquist]

thanks very much.

so i use cs5 and lr3.5

just new to film photography.

 

If you are using colour film, especially transparency film, the case is about the same as for digital. Jaap summed it up nicely. Apart from the need for protection, the only filter that has a real niche is the polariser.

 

If you are shooting black and white, the filters in the yellow-orange-red series increase tonal separation by progressively darkening blue areas, such as the sky.

 

The old man from the Age of the Y Filter

[asmith]

I recall Jane Bown's remark on being quizzed about her equipment, "filters? I had one once but I lost it."

Alwyn

[Keith (M)]

For outdoor b&w film, I find it beneficial to use a yellow 1 or yellow 2 filter to 'lift & separate' clouds/sky, so to speak. For digital I tend to only put a filter on when on coastal walks for protection.

[CalArts 99]

Dirt, crud, and slight scratches on the front element won't show in the image, it's the rear element that is probably more of a concern but of course it's safely hiding in the camera body. As far as protecting from blowing sand, etc., I guess I'd probably be more concerned about fine sand getting into the mechanics of the lens and doing a nice job as a grinding abrasive.

 

I prefer naked lenses. I've used lenses with wipe marks and scratches on the front element. It didn't seem to cause any issues at all in the image except on the rare occasion of rubbed off coating (in certain legacy lenses) causing some flare once in a while. But some of the images would look very cool and with interesting personalities.

 

Part of the sad thing about pricey lenses and thinking always of value and resale is the tendency to worry about their condition. Sometimes that interferes with using them and thinking of them as robust tools.