What is this thing on the lens?

[hirohhhh]

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I have this lens, but the font doesn't look like this? Is this some kind of protection, hood or filter? Maybe step up ring?

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Edited March 9, 2020 by hirohhhh

[fixedwheel]

Looks like a Lee 100mm adapter ring.

[JeffWright]

Second for a filter system (like a Lee) adapter ring.

[helged]

And it can be unscrewed... Use one hand to firmly fix the front part of the lens (in this case, move the rings on the lens so that the inner tube protrudes as much as possible, and fix this part of the lens in your hand), and use the other hand to carefully turn off the filter adapter ring. It helps to put an evenly distributed torque across the periphery of the adapter ring; and by that pushing the ring at several 'points'. Make a search for "remove stacked filter" or something similar to see other options... Rather consult a Leica/camera store if the ring doesn't move; the filter adapter ring is likely on the lens for a reason.... Good luck!

[FlashGordonPhotography]

I have a Lee filter ring permanently attached to most of my lenses as well. Makes sense if you use filters a lot and you can use the $3 Lee push on lens caps instead of the $50 Leica ones. Generally I have a Lee adaptor on each of the zooms but not the primes as I’m less likely to use those for my landscape photography, which is where I use filters the most.

You can’t use the original hood like this but Lee do make a rather nice bellows hood if you want.

Gordon

[hirohhhh]

10 minutes ago, FlashGordonPhotography said:

I have a Lee filter ring permanently attached to most of my lenses as well. Makes sense if you use filters a lot and you can use the $3 Lee push on lens caps instead of the $50 Leica ones. Generally I have a Lee adaptor on each of the zooms but not the primes as I’m less likely to use those for my landscape photography, which is where I use filters the most.

You can’t use the original hood like this but Lee do make a rather nice bellows hood if you want.

Gordon

I have standard 82mm filters, but I screw them directly onto lens. What is this Lee filter ring for? Is it an adaptor for larger filters?

I was also thinking, if there's a 82mm ring for 82mm filters that I'll keep permanently attached on the lens and that I'll use to screw filters on, instead on the lens directly. I'm afraid I'll damage the lens screw over time, if I'm constantly putting and removing the filters. Does this make sense?

[helged]

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24 minutes ago, hirohhhh said:

I have standard 82mm filters, but I screw them directly onto lens. What is this Lee filter ring for? Is it an adaptor for larger filters?

I was also thinking, if there's a 82mm ring for 82mm filters that I'll keep permanently attached on the lens and that I'll use to screw filters on, instead on the lens directly. I'm afraid I'll damage the lens screw over time, if I'm constantly putting and removing the filters. Does this make sense?

The Lee filter system is explained here: https://www.youtube.com/user/LEEfiltersTV/featured. 

[hirohhhh]

25 minutes ago, helged said:

The Lee filter system is explained here: https://www.youtube.com/user/LEEfiltersTV/featured. 

I see, it's a whole system. I already have a bunch of Tiffen, Polar Pro and Leica filters that I like and would like to keep using them.

[helged]

7 minutes ago, hirohhhh said:

I see, it's a whole system. I already have a bunch of Tiffen, Polar Pro and Leica filters that I like and would like to keep using them.

In that case, I think the best solution is to get off the Lee filter adapter ring. Have you been able to unscrew it? Be careful not to add too much torque on the lens itself...

[hirohhhh]

1 minute ago, helged said:

In that case, I think the best solution is to get off the Lee filter adapter ring. Have you been able to unscrew it? Be careful not to add too much torque on the lens itself...

This is not my camera on the photo  I just took a screenshot from the YouTube video, asking what it is, because I don't have it so I was curious.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

23 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

I have standard 82mm filters, but I screw them directly onto lens. What is this Lee filter ring for? Is it an adaptor for larger filters?

I was also thinking, if there's a 82mm ring for 82mm filters that I'll keep permanently attached on the lens and that I'll use to screw filters on, instead on the lens directly. I'm afraid I'll damage the lens screw over time, if I'm constantly putting and removing the filters. Does this make sense?

Screw filters are fine and if careful it’s highly unlikely you’ll damage the thread. A system like the Lee system is handy if:

* you have lenses with different thread sizes. Same filter, different ring.

* Better for stacking filters.

* Better for grad ND filters.

* Allows the use of a cheap universal lens cap that fit all your lenses.

* much faster to use.

The SLzooms all have (intelligently) the same filter size, so if you use only a couple of filters you’re covered with a couple of screw ins. I use different systems with different front diameters and just move my filters between systems. I’ve had some of my filters for 10 years.

Gordon