Good Protective Filter

[hirohhhh]

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First, I'd like to spare everyone from the filter/no filter debate, it's been discussed more than a few times. I'm just interested to hear what are proven good protective filters, by Leica or any other brand. Doesn't have to be necessarily cheap, just good as Leica glass.

Edited November 3, 2020 by hirohhhh

[jaapv]

B&W 007 filters or Heliopan "protective" are dedicated filters for protection and of the highest quality. Those filters are Nano-coated, making for less dirt and easy cleaning.

Leica does  not offer protective filters, only UV filters which can be used in lieu if desired. Leica does not make their own filters but farms the production out to various third parties, notably B&W/Schott and Marumi, making them very expensive at a quality that  is not superior, equal at best.

[Jeff S]

Be careful not just with brand, but with differing products within the same brand, as well as using a reliable source.

Roger knows best...

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/05/yet-another-post-about-my-issues-with-uv-filters/
 

Jeff

[darylgo]

42 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Leica does not make their own filters but farms the production out to various third parties, notably B&W/Schott and Marumi, making them very expensive at a quality that  is not superior, equal at best.

Makes me wonder if they are produced to Leica specs or simply Leica rebranding.  The silver lettering is cool on Leica filters.  

[jaapv]

The glass is off-the-shelf, the rings are made  to Leica design.

[AZN]

FWIW I have been using Aurora Aperture UV filters for a few years now.

https://aurora-aperture.com/2016/11/22/poweruv/

Still have B+W filters, but whenever I get a new lens I go for the Aurora option now.

[michali]

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+1 for B&W & Heliopan filters. These are the only filters I use & have used for +40 years.

[JeffWright]

6 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Be careful not just with brand, but with differing products within the same brand, as well as using a reliable source.

Roger knows best...

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/05/yet-another-post-about-my-issues-with-uv-filters/
 

Jeff

Or better yet, the data...

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/06/the-comprehensive-ranking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/

Makes me think the Leica filters aren't just "off the shelf" rebranded filters.

[jrp]

https://www.lenstip.com/113.4-article-UV_filters_test_Description_of_the_results_and_summary.html
 

(Heliopan doesn’t rise from the pack)

[Matlock]

29 minutes ago, jrp said:

https://www.lenstip.com/113.4-article-UV_filters_test_Description_of_the_results_and_summary.html
 

(Heliopan doesn’t rise from the pack)

The results would seem to be at odds with most other tests.

[Per P.]

I use B&W XS-Pro 007 Clear and simply never think about them. They are quite slim, which looks good and supposedly reduces the risk of vignetting for very wide angle lenses.

B&W have three models - F, XS and T. The glass is the same, just different thickness of the frame. F and XS have black frames whereas the T-Pro frame has a titanium-like gray colour, which I personally think looks a bit strange on a black lens. I have a couple of F-Pro but prefer the XS-Pro for aesthetics as much as for potentially reduced vignetting. All three are top-top quality.

[Chuck Albertson]

The Hoya HD3 line of filters is also quite good.

[thatkatmat]

I use the Leica UVA II's

I just figure, I spent 7K or 4K or whatever on a lens, I want the glass in front to not effect the image. Yes, the Leica is bloody expensive, but compared to the lens, not so much. Plus...You saw there on the Lensrental chart Roger had it #1 with 99.9% light transmission, that means less ghosting and flare...I just stick to Leica.

[hirohhhh]

34 minutes ago, thatkatmat said:

I use the Leica UVA II's

I just figure, I spent 7K or 4K or whatever on a lens, I want the glass in front to not effect the image. Yes, the Leica is bloody expensive, but compared to the lens, not so much. Plus...You saw there on the Lensrental chart Roger had it #1 with 99.9% light transmission, that means less ghosting and flare...I just stick to Leica.

That was my instinct too, but I came here to ask for more recommendations since I heard that Leica filters aren't the best, but overpriced.

Edited November 5, 2020 by hirohhhh

[thatkatmat]

I thought you said including Leica filters....anyways, good luck!

[hirohhhh]

2 minutes ago, thatkatmat said:

I thought you said including Leica filters....anyways, good luck!

Yeah, Leica or something else, I'm up to whatever is good. I'm always for Leica, but if there's something better, I'm willing to try.

[SrMi]

Here is a competent review of protective filters:

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/06/the-comprehensive-ranking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/

 

[Herr Barnack]

I use B+W XS-Pro UV Haze MRC-Nano Filters for protection on my 50mm and wider lenses (except for the Noctilux).  21mm through 50mm are the focal lengths I use for street & documentary work where I am close to my subjects, increasing the chance of inadvertent contact with the front element of the lens. 

The B+W MRC Nano filters are made with Schott glass and as are Leica filters; they are of the highest quality and cause no loss of image quality that I have been able to discern.