Protective 'filters'?

[Tonki-M]

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talking about protective filters. does anyone else use the Leica 46mm protective filters on the 35 lux fle and experience a very SLIGHT vignette at the extreme corners? i've just start processing my recent batch and noticed it. perhaps i should take the filter off...

[stunsworth]

Have you noticed that most of the people who deride the use of "transparent lens caps" are in the fortunate position of not having to buy the lenses they use?

 

What an odd statement.

 

I've paid for all my Leica lenses (if someone wants to give me a few extra they're more than welcome to do so), but I've only used filters when shooting b&w for the effect a yellow etc. filter gives, and with the M8 to avoid synthetic blacks appearing magenta. I'd also use one if shooting under dodgy conditions such as lots of sand blowing about.

 

If someone wants to use filters for protection, that's fine, but personally I'd rather not.

[jaapv]

That's the theory however when I accidentally dropped my 280mm f/4 APO the "real" front element chipped and the protective plate was undamaged. And jaapv is correct, the "real" front element is expensive to replace.

Ages ago, when I had the lens, I had the "cheap" front element replaced. As I recall the price was not all that cheap to put it mildly..

[Bill W]

Personally I use filters for protection with either B+W or Leica branded. Each to their own.

[wattsy]

talking about protective filters. does anyone else use the Leica 46mm protective filters on the 35 lux fle and experience a very SLIGHT vignette at the extreme corners? i've just start processing my recent batch and noticed it. perhaps i should take the filter off...

 

I can often see a slight vignette without a filter, usually when there is a wide expanse of sky in the photo. I think it is a characteristic of this lens though, interestingly, I haven't noticed it in photos taken with this same lens on a Monochrom.

[lct]

...does anyone else use the Leica 46mm protective filters on the 35 lux fle and experience a very SLIGHT vignette at the extreme corners?...

Not with Leica UV/IR filters but i have no experience with UVs.

[sandro]

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I use UV-filters on most of my lenses as protection, and I am happy with it. Never observed any negative impact on the photos, but was happy to protect the lenses from strong weather influence and such. Apart from that I use color filters for black and white photography.

Lex

[MarkP]

I use B+W filters for prophylaxis on my lenses, except at night.

[TomB_tx]

I used UVa filters for decades, but could see "ghost" reflections in some lighting conditions, which suggested a slight effect in other lighting as well; but that was before multi-coated filters. The new B&W "ghost" less than my 60s-70s Leitz filters.

When I buy used lenses I look for ones that come with UV filter, as that suggests it has been long covered, and I find the front elements are usually in better shape.

[Tonki-M]

I can often see a slight vignette without a filter, usually when there is a wide expanse of sky in the photo. I think it is a characteristic of this lens though, interestingly, I haven't noticed it in photos taken with this same lens on a Monochrom.

 

interesting! thx for the report.

[Orient XI]

As I seem to have upset even the neutrals with my remarks about transparent lens caps perhaps some clarification is called for. For many years the advice not to use filters was delivered by the professional photographers writing in the Amateur Photographer and similar magazines. I agree entirely that there is the possibility of image degradation by filters (particularly poor quality or dirty filters) and that most of the time their presence is unnecessary but, as pointed out by sandro, sometimes they do protect the lens from salt spray or sand. I keep a UVa filter on the lens permanently because (a) it's the easy way to carry it and (b) you're less likely to miss a shot if you don't have to fit them when they are really required. I also frequently use ancient LTM lenses which transmit appreciable quantities of uv light to the detriment of the image.

Finally don't forget the Thambar; the use of its special filter doesn't seem to do its image quality much harm:D

[pfhrased]

In terms of image quality degradation, you really do get what you pay for with filters. I can't say I've noticed any particular difference with the Leica E46 UVa filters on my 35 lux FLE or my 50 lux. I shoot a mix of wide open portrait and ~f/8 landscape with both.

The Leica filters of course fit inside the hoods properly as well..

[wattsy]

interesting! thx for the report.

 

One thing I meant to mention is that most (or all) of the occasions I have noticed the slight vignetting when using the 35 FLE I have also been using the hood. My suspicion has been that it is the hood that was causing this vignette but, being lazy and disorganised, I haven't yet run any comparison tests to determine if this is actually the case.

[smb]

High quality filters to reduce haze (film cameras). I can not count how many times some "bloody fool" tried to touch my lens with their finders. I'd rather clean a filter than a lens.

[semi-ambivalent]

At $3k+ for a 35 Summicron I'd be crazy not to.

[jaapv]

I use B+W filters for prophylaxis on my lenses, except at night.

I'll restrain myself from making the obvious dubious quip...

[250swb]

One thing I meant to mention is that most (or all) of the occasions I have noticed the slight vignetting when using the 35 FLE I have also been using the hood. My suspicion has been that it is the hood that was causing this vignette but, being lazy and disorganised, I haven't yet run any comparison tests to determine if this is actually the case.

 

It may simply be a characteristic of the lens. Fast lenses tend to get used wide open where they are not at their best quality, stopping down not only removes vignetting but improves sharpness. I don't have the 35mm Summilux but a lens like the 28mm Summicron vignettes wide open whether or not there s a filter or hood on the end. Vignetting can be used creatively or removed in the processing so it isn't necessarily a bad thing at all.

 

Steve

[HeinzX]

With M Leica lenses I do not use protect filters , nor do I with my R Macro Elmarit.

With my Canon lenses on my 5 D III I do with some exeptions.

[lct]

One thing I meant to mention is that most (or all) of the occasions I have noticed the slight vignetting when using the 35 FLE I have also been using the hood. My suspicion has been that it is the hood that was causing this vignette but, being lazy and disorganised, I haven't yet run any comparison tests to determine if this is actually the case.

Natural vignetting i would guess. See http://tinyurl.com/p23o5nu.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[wattsy]

It may simply be a characteristic of the lens. Fast lenses tend to get used wide open where they are not at their best quality, stopping down not only removes vignetting but improves sharpness. I don't have the 35mm Summilux but a lens like the 28mm Summicron vignettes wide open whether or not there s a filter or hood on the end. Vignetting can be used creatively or removed in the processing so it isn't necessarily a bad thing at all.

 

Yes, the 28 Summicron vignettes quite strongly (at least mine does) and I've always treated it as a natural characteristic of the lens but the 35 FLE vignetting I am referring to here is a little different in character (looks less "optical" to me) and isn't aperture related (or at least it isn't mitigated by stopping down because I only tend to notice it in landscapes and it is rare when I take a landscape photograph without the lens stopped down). A fairly random example below.

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