43-mm Filter Fit -- Redux

[teehas53]

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I doubt that Leica will accept returns for exchange. As far as they are concerned, there is no problem using the 43mm filters on Leica lenses and if you need one that will fit your Zeiss lens you will have to look elsewhere. That is what I was told when I asked about returning mine.

 

This is curious. Is there some small tolerance issue that allows slightly oversize (read "incorrectly manufactured") filters to fit Leica lenses, but not others? I'd be surprised by that (but it wouldn't be the first time.) Seems a bit "quaint" of Leica to supply a supposedly standard-size item which is just off by enough to not fit other standard-size items (theirs or not.) And then to not stand behind them is also short-sighted IMO. Especially in the context of those of us who received the filters to supposedly smooth over problems encountered as early adopters of what time has shown to have been a clearly not-ready-for-primetime product.

 

I get the disclaimer that "our filters only fit our lenses," but still think that's backwards thinking in the modern world. Just my humble opinion, of course...

 

T

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[Kent10D]

I doubt that Leica will accept returns for exchange. As far as they are concerned, there is no problem using the 43mm filters on Leica lenses and if you need one that will fit your Zeiss lens you will have to look elsewhere. That is what I was told when I asked about returning mine.

 

Hi Carl.

 

Were you told that by Leica, or an independent dealer? I can understand a dealer not wanting to bother with what might be perceived as a small issue, but I'd be surprised to hear that from Leica directly, especially if there actually has been a manufacturing error.

 

Cheers,

 

Kent.

[scho]

Hi Carl.

 

Were you told that by Leica, or an independent dealer? I can understand a dealer not wanting to bother with what might be perceived as a small issue, but I'd be surprised to hear that from Leica directly, especially if there actually has been a manufacturing error.

 

Cheers,

 

Kent.

 

Yes, it was the email response I received from Leica customer service in Solms.

[Kent10D]

Yes, it was the email response I received from Leica customer service in Solms.

 

OK. Thanks for the response.

I guess that clarifies Leica's position on the issue.

 

Kent.

[ho_co]

Is there some small tolerance issue that allows slightly oversize (read "incorrectly manufactured") filters to fit Leica lenses, but not others?

Tom, I disagree. According to the Puts M-lens list Harald cited earlier, Leica made (in both black and chrome) only one lens that took E43 filters.

 

Seems a bit "quaint" of Leica to supply a supposedly standard-size item which is just off by enough to not fit other standard-size items...

43 mm has never been a 'standard size' like 49 or 52 or 55, but that misses the point. If Leica made only one lens that takes that filter, that's the lens they will build the filter for. I, for one, am glad they do, because otherwise they would be letting me down.

 

I would say that someone who doesn't have that lens but who wants Leica to build a filter to fit one from another manufacturer with a different spec is a bit off base.

 

And as I pointed out above, we don't know that these filters are oversize.

 

We do know that Leica uses a fine pitch on their E43 filters--does that match what Zeiss does? If not, then IMHO Zeiss is the odd man out.

 

To be clear:

1) If the issue is truly one of mis-manufacture, then Leica will fix it; Bill Laidlaw says that's the case. If so, then your argument is inapplicable.

 

2) If the issue is that Zeiss uses a different thread in E43 size than Leitz did, then we are not dealing with a "supposedly standard-size item," but with a failure of the user to verify that the filter will fit his lens.

 

My guess is that Zeiss and Leitz used the same spec for the filter, and Leica's sub-contractor likely messed up in the diameter as Bill said. In that case, the filter fits neither Leitz nor other brand lenses, so for you to assume/imply otherwise seems ill-informed or rude.

 

Respectfully,

--HC

[colorflow]

Perhaps this has already been mentioned. There is another solution for those with the Leica 43mm IR filter to use with Zeiss lenses. Go buy a B+W UV filter which is a little cheaper than the 486, and swap the glass. i.e. take the Leica IR glass and put it in the B+W frame. Less expensive than buying an additional 486, but you end up with UV glass and Leica thread you probably can never use or sell.

 

I did not do this swap, but did the reverse. Even the Leica 43mm IR filter is too large in diameter for old Lux 50 shades. So I took the 486 IR glass and installed in old Leica 43mm UV filter frame. Works well.

 

Alan

[ho_co]

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Alan--

Good suggestion.

 

And you've confirmed Bill's experience that Leica's filter subcontractor fouled up with this filter, so that it doesn't fit the Leitz Summilux either.

 

Annoying from our side, but it must be doubly annoying for Leica since they have to deal both with us and with the people who built the filter.

 

Thanks for the post!

 

--HC

[Kent10D]

Go buy a B+W UV filter which is a little cheaper than the 486, and swap the glass. i.e. take the Leica IR glass and put it in the B+W frame.

 

That seems to be the direction I'm heading in, but it will depend on how trivial the process of swapping the glass is.

 

I was just looking at my Leica 43-mm filter, and the glass seems to be held in place by a split-ring retainer which would be relatively simple to remove. It also looks as though it would be really easy to scratch the filter in the process, so great care would be required.

 

Getting the old glass out of, and the Leica glass into a B+W mount might be a different matter. I only have one old 39-mm B+W UV filter to refer to, and that seems to use a screw-in retainer, but there are no obvious tool holes or depressions in the retainer that might be used to easily remove it. Perhaps the current B+W filters are built differently ... can anyone confirm?

 

But then I suppose it doesn't have to be B+W mount. Any accessible, well-built mount would do, eh?

 

Kent.

[colorflow]

Getting the old glass out of, and the Leica glass into a B+W mount might be a different matter. I only have one old 39-mm B+W UV filter to refer to, and that seems to use a screw-in retainer, but there are no obvious tool holes or depressions in the retainer that might be used to easily remove it. Perhaps the current B+W filters are built differently ... can anyone confirm?

 

 

Kent.

 

 

This may help

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/16230-486-ir-cut-filter-43mm.html?highlight=43mm+486+filter

 

Alan

[Kent10D]

Thanks Alan,

 

If the B&W filters simply unscrew as described in the thread you linked to, it will be nice and easy. I'll see what I can come up with and, if successful, will post my results,

 

Cheers,

 

Kent.