Guest sailfish Posted July 12, 2017 Share #1 Posted July 12, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Need for feedback folks! I am looking for a suitable polarizer filter for outdoor photography using my M-type 240 and my Summicron-M 50mm f/2 lens. I have been told that a circular polarizer filter is not suitable for manually-focused rangefinder cameras, so one should use a linear polarizer filter instead. Any thoughts on this subject? I have also found that there is a dearth of linear polarizer filter as most are circular polarizer filters due to the abundance of auto-focus cameras, which circular polarizer filters cater to. Yes, Hoya makes a 39mm linear polarizer filter which I could use for my 50mm f/2 lens, but I would prefer to get a better quality filter (B+W, for example), but so far I have not found. I would greatly appreciate any feedback from members and their experience with using polarizing filters for their M rangefinder cameras matched with a primary lens. Thank you. Feroz Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 12, 2017 Posted July 12, 2017 Hi Guest sailfish, Take a look here Polarizer filters for Leica primary lenses.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pico Posted July 12, 2017 Share #2 Posted July 12, 2017 (edited) [... fruitless quagmire detour ...] Edited July 12, 2017 by pico Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECohen Posted July 12, 2017 Share #3 Posted July 12, 2017 (edited) Walk down to B&H https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/113439-REG/Heliopan_703939_39_mm_Linear_Polarizer.html or Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Heliopan-Polarizer-703939-specialty-floating/dp/B0000BZLM6/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1499823482&sr=8-13&keywords=heliopan+39mm+linear+polarizer Edited July 12, 2017 by ECohen Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sailfish Posted July 12, 2017 Share #4 Posted July 12, 2017 Actually, ECohen, I was at B&H earlier today and the guy at the counter was not (to my surprise) much help, which is why I posted my topic. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted July 12, 2017 Share #5 Posted July 12, 2017 (edited) Hello Feroz, Welcome to the Forum. If your 50mm Summicron has a removable lens hood: A 13352 from a while back would do nicely. It is a linear polarizer. A circular polarizer will also work fine. The reason people often suggest a linear polarizer is that a circular polarizer is generally more expensive and doesn't operate any differently on a M camera than a linear polarizer does. Best Regards, Michael Edited July 12, 2017 by Michael Geschlecht 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgcm Posted July 12, 2017 Share #6 Posted July 12, 2017 Ciao Feroz, Welcome to the forum. I have a 39 mm B+W circular polarizer since the film age which works great also on my digital Ms Hoya and helipan filters are very fine too. To set the polarizer you do not need the EVF. Rotate it until you read the longer exposure in the viewfinder. This happens when the filter is blocking most of the light. A rule of thumb is to set the white mark on the side of the filter facing the sun. Ciao Franco 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted July 12, 2017 Share #7 Posted July 12, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Need for feedback folks! <snip>I have been told that a circular polariser filter is not suitable for manually-focused rangefinder cameras, so one should use a linear polarizer filter instead. <snip> Feroz The unsuitability is the other way round. A linear polariser is unsuitable for auto-focus. Circular is suitable for both. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sailfish Posted July 12, 2017 Share #8 Posted July 12, 2017 Thank you very much Michael G and Fgcm for your feedback. My 50mm has the extended, built-in hood. I do have a Leica EVF 2 on my camera, which I do find very useful. Given the feedback, I will opt for the 39mm B+W circular polarizer filter. By the way, Exodies, if you re-read what I said, you will see that when I speak of a linear polarizer, I am indeed implying that it is more suitable for a manual camera, not the other way around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted July 12, 2017 Share #9 Posted July 12, 2017 Human language is tricky Linear polarisers are good for manual focus lenses and bad for auto focus lenses. Circular polarisers are good for manual focus lenses and good for auto focus lenses. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 12, 2017 Share #10 Posted July 12, 2017 Ummm...Linear vs. circular has more to do with (semi-translucent) mirrors in the light path than with auto-focus. Don't try to use a linear polarier on a manual-focus SLR. Your exposure will be all over the place... AF problems have indeed been reported with polarizers,but by linear and circular both. The quality of the filter appears to be the determining factor. Except, of course, when the autofocus system uses a mirror as a beam splitter 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sailfish Posted July 12, 2017 Share #11 Posted July 12, 2017 so japan, if I have a M-type 240 and want to use my Summicron-M 50mm f/2 lens with it, are you suggesting the best way to go is to use a quality circular polarizer, i.e., a B+W filter? Thank you for your thoughts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sailfish Posted July 12, 2017 Share #12 Posted July 12, 2017 oops!, I mean to say jaapv, but the text comes up as Japan. My apologies! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted July 12, 2017 Share #13 Posted July 12, 2017 On an M 240 either will do. Linear polarisers are rare. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sailfish Posted July 12, 2017 Share #14 Posted July 12, 2017 Thank you, Exodies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 12, 2017 Share #15 Posted July 12, 2017 so japan, if I have a M-type 240 and want to use my Summicron-M 50mm f/2 lens with it, are you suggesting the best way to go is to use a quality circular polarizer, i.e., a B+W filter? Thank you for your thoughts.Actually I always use the (linear) Leica swing-out filter. It looks strange, but is very practical. For any other filter you will need the EVF, which is a bit akward. The exposure-meter method is rather imprecise, especially at intermediate settings, and the marked-filter method too elaborate and slow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted July 12, 2017 Share #16 Posted July 12, 2017 Not to confuse things but the theory is circular polarizers works in all situations and linear has liabilities starting with cameras from about 1980's. In practice I have never had a linear polarizer create any issues and I prefer them. If you compare the different brands you will see differences in density and neutrality, expensive is not always better, it is simply a piece of plastic sandwiched between two pieces of glass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sailfish Posted July 12, 2017 Share #17 Posted July 12, 2017 Thank you all for your prompt and useful replies to my post. Very helpful, indeed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted July 13, 2017 Share #18 Posted July 13, 2017 Plastic? That doesn't sound good. Anyone with comments or experience of Leica's universal polarising filter for M? I'm considering getting it as a gift. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozu_shutterbugger Posted July 13, 2017 Share #19 Posted July 13, 2017 Actually, ECohen, I was at B&H earlier today and the guy at the counter was not (to my surprise) much help, which is why I posted my topic. I have found those guys to be dummies lately. Most of them nowadays don't know what they are selling. They browse on their site and throw stuff back at you. The people in the new section are mostly that way. Goto the used film section. There you will find people who actually know stuff coz they are selling more film. I am probably generalizing it but this is based on my personal experience Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECohen Posted July 13, 2017 Share #20 Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) I have found those guys to be dummies lately. Most of them nowadays don't know what they are selling. They browse on their site and throw stuff back at you. The people in the new section are mostly that way. Goto the used film section. There you will find people who actually know stuff coz they are selling more film. I am probably generalizing it but this is based on my personal experience Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Ahhh finally a disadvantage of living in NYC ......that's gotta be the only one. NYC is one of the greatest city in the world.......it a place where you can find/buy anything. Here in my small town, do your Internet research, decide what you want and place order the order Amazon, B&H or The Leica Store.... it shows up tomorrow....no humans to give you wrong information. Honestly I don't understand why the OP didn't just buy from the links I sent ...its in stock? Truth be told the more you know the less you can rely on the folks behind the counter. Edited July 13, 2017 by ECohen Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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