50mm APO with protection filter: Waste of money?

[jaapv]

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If you use modern filters with nano-coating the wiping will be considerably less frequent - and easier.

[David North]

 

With all due respect, the thread is in relation to the APO Summicron 50.  

 

In my experience, no problems whatsoever with "flare" when using a Leica UV filter on this quite remarkable lens.

 

Regards and best wishes,

 

David

Edited June 6, 2018 by David North

[earleygallery]

 

Full consent, even if my personal deadline is somewhat lower:

When I remove dirt and smudges after photo excursions in sandy, dusty, drizzly or dirty industrial areas with coal dust, I am glad to have to clean only the front screen of a filter and not the front lens of a valuable lens.

Nothing prevents me from unscrewing the filter in clean areas and safe situations when, for example, extreme backlighting or headlight could cause additional reflections.

 

 

Indeed. Many used lenses suffer from excessive 'cleaning marks'.

[earleygallery]

If you have an APO just buy the filter and shoot some test comparison shots - if you can see a visible difference in quality (which I very much doubt) then you can make your own decision but please post the results up here too.

[ELAN]

With all due respect, the thread is in relation to the APO Summicron 50.  

In my experience, no problems whatsoever with "flare" when using a Leica UV filter on this quite remarkable lens.

 

My 50 APO does flare at night with filter on (Leica UVa 13031) when bright lights enter the frame.  I take the filter off at night and there is no flare.

[earleygallery]

Of course if you use the APO with an M8 for colour images you must use the UVIR filter.

[pedaes]

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My 50 APO does flare at night with filter on (Leica UVa 13031) when bright lights enter the frame.  I take the filter off at night and there is no flare.

 

The Leica filter is single coated (ie only coated on outside face) whereas the B+W MRC filters are coated on both faces. For the dog's dangly bits go for MRC Nano coating.

[FrozenInTime]

The Leica filter is single coated (ie only coated on outside face) .

That is not the normal definition of single coated.

[lct]

Of course if you use the APO with an M8 for colour images you must use the UVIR filter.

 

Sure but filters are not used as security glass for precious gems then.

[jdlaing]

The Leica filter is single coated (ie only coated on outside face) whereas the B+W MRC filters are coated on both faces. For the dog's dangly bits go for MRC Nano coating.

Only some are coated on both sides. Protection filters are not.

[earleygallery]

Sure but filters are not used as security glass for precious gems then.

Yes but my point is that Leica designed the M8 so that users must 'degrade' the quality of any lens they use

[jaapv]

The Leica filter is single coated (ie only coated on outside face) whereas the B+W MRC filters are coated on both faces. For the dog's dangly bits go for MRC Nano coating.

The Leica filter is single coated which means that the coating which is on both sides of the glass consists of a single layer. I don’t think that there has been an uncoated glass surface used in optics since the early 1950ies. If you really wanted to coat only one surface of a filter it would be the one facing the lens. That is the one creating reflections.

[Ouroboros]

Is it a disgrace against the 50mm APO and waste of money to put a protection filter in front of the lens?

 

What's your opinion about using a protection filter given the sublime quality optics in the lens?

If you’re asking if using a filter will have any discernible effect on your images you won’t see any difference, but why not work it out for yourself?

 

I always use a filter unless the filter is causing problems with flare. My Leica and Fuji X lenses are more prone to flare than my Nikon, Zeiss and large format Fujinon lenses are. If the filter is causing a problem, remove it. If you want the security of protecting the lens from rain, salt spray, dust, pollen, sand, dew etc, put it back on.

 

You don’t even need a qualification in common sense.

[indergaard]

I use B+W XS-Pro Nano-MRC 007 clear protection filters for my lenses instead of lens caps.

They are super easy to clean, and very low profile.

 

I have done several tests with and without filters, and I can't see any difference at all.

I've also tried during night time shooting, and I can't even see any reflections caused by the filters. When I get ghosting because of light source, taking off the filters doesn't help, which means it's the lens who is causing it, not the filter itself.

 

These filters are so good that I don't see the point in taking them off unless I'm putting a polarizer or nd filter on. And I never have to deal with (lost) lens caps.

 

I once had a Summilux 50 ASPH front lens element saved by a B+W filter as it hit the ground. Granted, the lens needed to be serviced and calibrated after the drop, but the front filter was really scratched up and cracked as it hit several small stones and gravel. The lens element was perfect though. If the filter wasn't on, I'm pretty sure the service of the lens would cost significantly more than it did...

Edited June 7, 2018 by indergaard

[jaapv]

I use B+W XS-Pro Nano-MRC 007 clear protection filters for my lenses instead of lens caps.

They are super easy to clean, and very low profile.

 

I have done several tests with and without filters, and I can't see any difference at all.

I've also tried during night time shooting, and I can't even see any reflections caused by the filters. When I get ghosting because of light source, taking off the filters doesn't help, which means it's the lens who is causing it, not the filter itself.

 

These filters are so good that I don't see the point in taking them off unless I'm putting a polarizer or nd filter on. And I never have to deal with (lost) lens caps.

 

I once had a Summilux 50 ASPH front lens element saved by a B+W filter as it hit the ground. Granted, the lens needed to be serviced and calibrated after the drop, but the front filter was really scratched up and cracked as it hit several small stones and gravel. The lens element was perfect though. If the filter wasn't on, I'm pretty sure the service of the lens would cost significantly more than it did...

Exactly!

[SorenHenrik]

When I was a young innocent photographer having just bought my first Nikon + a handful of lenses I read a test on filters in a German photo magazine. I don't recall the result but either the B&W or the original Nikon filter "won" the test and I went to my local pusher to buy the winning filter. It was sold out but he had the loser.

 

"No thanks. I want [the winner]. I'll wait.".

 

"Why?"

 

"It's the winner of a test.".

 

"Hm. But can you see the difference?".

 

I often think of that situation when I crave for new gear and/or filters. Will I be able to see the difference or will I be happy for what I've got?

 

Test the filter and decide whether it makes a difference picture wise. The feeling of safety might be the winner in the end.

[Ko.Fe.]

I never use filters as protection for my lenses, I pay a lot of money to get the best lenses...

My 2c

 

I think, "my 2bc" is more appropriate for high bids gambler like you.

 

I do not gamble, I photograph real life, so to me protective filter is the difference between cleaning filter or lens front from heavy dust, minerals and else residual and even bird poop.

And it is not only about lens price, but if it is lens I'm using since I was kid or lens not made anymore.

 

BTW, modern protective filters are not degrading image quality.  

[pgk]

If I put up 10 large prints half of which were taken using a good quality protective filter and half of which were without filter I know how exactly many viewers would be able to tell me for certainty (not guessing) which was which .

[schattenundlicht]

I use B+W XS-Pro Nano-MRC 007 clear protection filters for my lenses instead of lens caps.[...] And I never have to deal with (lost) lens caps.

 

I will not speak against filters as I have been using them on all of my lenses for 40+ years and all front elements of my lenses (apart from the second hand vintage lenses) look pristine.

 

However I would advise against carrying cameras with cloth shutters and aperture wide open without a lens cap. In very unfortunate (but not unheard-of) circumstances, e.g. resting during a summer hike, direct sunlight might burn a hole into your shutter cloth, or at least will accelerate material fatigue.

 

Kind regards

Mathias

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[JTLeica]

I read an article on this recently and MTF test showed no difference with a high quality clear filter and only slight impact with 3 stacked filters... This along with a few other tests I have seen show no difference when a decent brand is used.