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Mental Health and UV Filters

kivis

By kivis
in Leica M Lenses

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Bikie John

Bikie John

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Filters can cause problems with some types of shot. I always used to use them, mainly for physical protection, until I started taking photos at night and got ghost images of point light sources like streetlamps. This is due to extra reflections off the front element onto the filter, and back from the filter into the lens.

There are threads about this somewhere. Nowadays I generally shoot without but put a clear or UV filter on when I think some protection is needed - in rain, or when stuff is being thrown about. If you have always used them and never noticed the problem, why not just stick with it? Or at least do some trials with and without (under safe conditions of course) and see if you can spot the difference.

John

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lct

lct

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23 hours ago, kivis said:

can you finally talk me out of these little rings of security?

If you ask ;). Unless protection is needed vs rain or sand, i have never seen a filter causing no flare or ghost images at night or into the light. My only reason to use them is IR-cut filtering on my M8.2. Otherwise i prefer a good hood. YMMV. 

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TomB_tx

TomB_tx

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I see both sides of the argument - as you sometimes find "ghost" reflections with filters in some lighting conditions. However, having bought a lot of used lenses over the years, the ones that have always had filters are in the best condition...

The best multicoated filters of today minimize the reflection issue, so I keep them on my lenses.

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250swb

250swb

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Rain and sand yes, stuffing a camera into a small cramped camera bag yes, putting into it's own compartment in a sensible camera bag no, when anticipating using other types of filter no, and for ultimate image quality, well 99% it makes no difference. As a general practice if there is a UV filter already on the lens I leave it on, and if their isn't I don't rush to put one on, but I do store a spare 39mm and 46mm UV filter in my camera bags or filter pouches just in case. 

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Gobert

Gobert

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2 hours ago, TomB_tx said:

I see both sides of the argument - as you sometimes find "ghost" reflections with filters in some lighting conditions. However, having bought a lot of used lenses over the years, the ones that have always had filters are in the best condition...

The best multicoated filters of today minimize the reflection issue, so I keep them on my lenses.

I don’t use filters when it is dark.

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Dennis

Dennis

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I never used filters on lenses cause the lens hood, I believe, is more intelligent protection from damage, ghost flares, etc.… but… I started to use it recently. I’m still on a trial period.
I bought the Breakthrough Photography 4x UV, which I heard is one of the best options nowadays. The main reason why I bought it is (let’s say) 25% for protection and 75% to avoid VF blockage. Cause the majority of my lenses now are E39, so one filter can work on all of them. Right now, the filter is permanently attached to my 35 Cron Asph v1. It’s a tiny lens, and with the lens hood, the VF blockage is minimal. But w/o it, the 0.73x VF looks like a 0.92VF 😅 The M10 VF is fantastic, and the w/o lens hood is even better, and TBH, I enjoy more for composing. That’s why I got a filter. If something happens (like flare), I can perfectly live with it. 

https://breakthrough.photography/products/x4-uv?variant=31478832593


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jaeger

jaeger

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51 minutes ago, Dennis said:

I never used filters on lenses cause the lens hood, I believe, is more intelligent protection from damage, ghost flares, etc.… but… I started to use it recently. I’m still on a trial period.
I bought the Breakthrough Photography 4x UV, which I heard is one of the best options nowadays. The main reason why I bought it is (let’s say) 25% for protection and 75% to avoid VF blockage. Cause the majority of my lenses now are E39, so one filter can work on all of them. Right now, the filter is permanently attached to my 35 Cron Asph v1. It’s a tiny lens, and with the lens hood, the VF blockage is minimal. But w/o it, the 0.73x VF looks like a 0.92VF 😅 The M10 VF is fantastic, and the w/o lens hood is even better, and TBH, I enjoy more for composing. That’s why I got a filter. If something happens (like flare), I can perfectly live with it. 

https://breakthrough.photography/products/x4-uv?variant=31478832593

 

San Francisco made?  these guys are all about marketing but anything real.  good luck.

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egrossman

egrossman

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22 minutes ago, jaeger said:

what about ND filter? 

This linked article is all about the color neutrality of the Breakthrough ND filter and is compared to other brands on the market like B+W.

I own both their UV and ND filters and the quality is top notch. I think there is a much bigger difference between the Breakthrough ND filter in terms of color transparency vs the competition as compared to their UV filters. Just my opinion. The company has a 300 day return policy so you can do your own testing. Not much downside.

Many of their Leica-sized filters are on backorder because the design interferes with the hood of a number of Leica lenses and so the filters are being redesigned.

Erik

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Herr Barnack

Herr Barnack

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I do not have a clear or UV filter on my 50 f/1.0 Noctilux, as this lens doesn't play well with filters (prone to reflections, IIRC); I do have B+W ND (-3 and -6 EV) filters for it but don't use them much.  I have a 55mm UV filter for my 90 Summicron APO, but seldom use it. 

My lenses that I use for street, concert, event and any other scenario in close quarters with people - 21/3.4 Super Elmar, 28/2.8 Elmarit , 35/2.0 Summicron and 50/2.4 Summarit - I have nice B+W MRC UV filters on them and have never noticed any reduction in image quality as a result.  I suppose I should actually replace these UV filters with clear filters, but I have yet to see a quantifiable need to do so.

And yes, I must confess:  If I didn't have a protective filter of some kind on my lens when I'm crammed into a herd of liquored up rowdy concert goers, I'd probably break out in hives from head to toe. 😳

Edited by Herr Barnack
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Guest BlackBarn

Guest BlackBarn

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On 11/3/2021 at 3:59 AM, kivis said:

Without spending $$$ on Shrinks

If you go that route make sure the ‘shrink’ isn’t a Leica user because after paying  their tab you’ll probably be buying a bunch more filters on your way home.

 

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