3rd Party IR/UV filters

[usefeet]

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Time has elapsed since we started using IR/UV filters on the M8.

 

What is the opinion on saving money and using lower priced 3rd party filters?

Are the Leica versions more effective/accurate.

 

(I need more filters and wondering whether I should splash out and stay with Leica filters)

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[GarethC]

I'm still waiting to get mine but the opinion around here is that the Leica filters are a milder version of the B & W filters, people still recommend them though as well as the Heliopan.

[ho_co]

Sean Reid's tests seem to indicate that there's not enough difference to worry about for focal lengths 50mm and longer, but that the shorter one goes from there, the more the Leica filters outperform.

 

There are people who don't use the UV/IR-cut filters at all (e.g. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/33154-ir-filters.html#post347779), and there are people who feel that brand makes no difference even on the short end.

 

No firm rules. For more specifics, see Sean's reviews.

 

--HC

[usefeet]

Thanks Gareth & Howard.

I guess as there are no strong opinions either way, I may as well save

money and go for the cheaper B+W or Heliopan.

[Guest tummydoc]

In my testing the Heliopans are both less susceptible to flare and more resistant to abrasion. YMMV.

[Maggie_O]

Thanks Gareth & Howard.

I guess as there are no strong opinions either way, I may as well save

money and go for the cheaper B+W or Heliopan.

 

Where might I find the Heliopan filters online?

[henning]

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I've tried all three brands; I borrowed a 46mm Leica filter and a B+W and had a 46mm Heliopan and used these on my 28/2, 35/1.4, 50/1.4 ASPH's and also on my 21/4 CV. I tried to use them on the 15CV but that was inconclusive as I didn't have a stable way to mount the filters.

 

In my estimation the results were identical in the end, even though to the eye the Heliopan was the most cyan and the Leica the least. I also like the Heliopan mount the best; it feels solid, is the slimmest and yet still has female threads on the outside. No problem with the hood on the 21/2.8 ASPH or other lenses either.

 

I have bought a Leica 49mm filter to use on the WATE with the Milich adapter as much for the size as the performance, but otherwise I've bought Heliopan on the basis of my tests. So now I have 3 Leica filters and the rest all Heliopan. A typical price for the 46mm size is about 46 Euros plus shipping from Europe. The shipping costs mean that it makes sense to buy a number at once. If I ordered them in Canada the price would be noticeably higher (about 50%), and I'd be lucky to get them within 6mo. From Germany I get them within 10 days typically.

 

Henning

[carstenw]

William, I have not tried Heliopans, but the B+W filters have worked great for me down to 50mm. From 35mm and wider, I use Leica filters, since the B+W filters are too strong, and leave a colour cast in the corners.

[usefeet]

Appreciate the extra info on filters. Heliopans sounds like the go!

(I grabbed brochures on Heliopans at Photokina last year, so I will seek a supplier here in Australia)

 

Thanks again.

[wlaidlaw]

I am using a B+W 486 on my hand coded Biogon 35 with no problems. No alternative from Leica as the Leica 43mm filter has a 0.5mm thread pitch against the industry standard 0.75mm for 43mm filters. Occasionally you can get slightly over saturated greens but if you 1) set WB manually with an Expodisc and 2) Use one of either Jamie's or Edmund's profiles in C1, this problem disappears. I have just ordered a 486 e39 for my T-E 135 from HK supplies for £19!

 

Wilson

[gwelland]

I bought some Heliopan filters from Tamarkin in New York. Nice people to deal with and price was comparable to anywhere else. Most importantly they are a true Leica specialist of the type we ought to keep in business

[jaapv]

Where might I find the Heliopan filters online?

 

You can find them at Herzlich willkommen bei Heliopan Lichtfilter-Technik!

[usefeet]

I found a good internet supplier for us English speaking users (wish I could read German).

 

Leica Filter Sales

 

I may shop here for mine and have these sent to Australia.

[grober]

I'm going to order the last IR filter I need to cover all the lenses I use much of the time. I'll order the 39mm Leica filter from Tony Rose today. Of course, I have the two Leica filters that Solms sent: 49mm and 60mm. My other three IR filters are B+W (2) 39s and one 46mm.

 

I don't notice any difference between photos taken behind either the Leica or B+W IR filters. (I won't take any M8 photo without one or the other IR filters in use.)

 

I am curious about exploiting the camera's IR sensitivity at some point down the road when I figure out which is the appropriate filter. When I settle on which B+W filter to buy, I'll invest in the 39mm size so I can use it on the widest array of lenses in my stable that take that size filter: 15mm Heliar, 35mm 'Cron, 50mm Heliar and 90mm Tele-Elmarit.

 

-g

[wlaidlaw]

I'm going to order the last IR filter I need to cover all the lenses I use much of the time. I'll order the 39mm Leica filter from Tony Rose today. Of course, I have the two Leica filters that Solms sent: 49mm and 60mm. My other three IR filters are B+W (2) 39s and one 46mm.

 

I don't notice any difference between photos taken behind either the Leica or B+W IR filters. (I won't take any M8 photo without one or the other IR filters in use.)

 

I am curious about exploiting the camera's IR sensitivity at some point down the road when I figure out which is the appropriate filter. When I settle on which B+W filter to buy, I'll invest in the 39mm size so I can use it on the widest array of lenses in my stable that take that size filter: 15mm Heliar, 35mm 'Cron, 50mm Heliar and 90mm Tele-Elmarit.

 

-g

 

The best IR filter IMHO is the B+W 092 - works at treat as long as you don't do like I did the first time and leave the 486 on - DOH! I feel the best size is a 52mm one or possibly a 58 as you can easily and cheaply get adapter rings 39/52 43/52 46/52 etc and the 52 mm fits natively on my CV35/1.2.

 

Wilson

[Guest tummydoc]

I found a good internet supplier for us English speaking users (wish I could read German).

 

Leica Filter Sales

 

I may shop here for mine and have these sent to Australia.

 

Have KB returned to operation?

[henning]

I've ordered my filters through Foto Mayr (fotomayr.de); the contact person was Sally Neureuther, sneureuther@fotomayr.de, who writes faultless English. Even though my German is quite good, we have usually communicated in English.

 

Unless you have a local person who can help you, I would recommend her to anyone outside of Germany who needs filters.

 

BTW, I also do IR photography and was very pleased last August when I got an M8 to try and found it had good IR sensitivity. I still have a couple of Leica IR filters as well as some B+W 092 and 093 filters as well as a full range of gels, from 70 to 87c. After trying out all the gels I settled on a 715 filter from Heliopan. It cuts a bit further into the IR spectrum than the B+W 092 (or 89b) and doesn't result in as slow shutter speeds as the 093 (or 87). Heliopan has a much wider range of readily available IR filters than other manufacturers, so the spectral response can be specified more exactly. I also acquired this through Foto Mayr.

 

Henning

[usefeet]

Have KB returned to operation?

 

Sorry, I don't know anything about KB, perhaps someone else can help here?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[usefeet]

I've ordered my filters through Foto Mayr (fotomayr.de); the contact person was Sally Neureuther, sneureuther@fotomayr.de, who writes faultless English. Even though my German is quite good, we have usually communicated in English.

 

Unless you have a local person who can help you, I would recommend her to anyone outside of Germany who needs filters.

Henning

 

Thanks for this pointer. I will contact Sally next week!

[sean_reid]

Sean Reid's tests seem to indicate that there's not enough difference to worry about for focal lengths 50mm and longer, but that the shorter one goes from there, the more the Leica filters outperform.

 

There are people who don't use the UV/IR-cut filters at all (e.g. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/33154-ir-filters.html#post347779), and there are people who feel that brand makes no difference even on the short end.

 

No firm rules. For more specifics, see Sean's reviews.

 

--HC

 

The Leica filters are a little weaker and the firmware is tuned to them. So below about 28 mm the M8 firmware tends to work better with the Leica filters. At 35 mm and above, it makes little difference. BTW, all of these UV/IR filters are "third party". Leica doesn't actually make UV/IR filters. I use 486s, some "Leica" filters and a Heliopan.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean