21 SEM - Polarising Filter

[schimmey]

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Good afternoon all,

Just purchased the above and considering the purchase of a polarising filter. With this in mind I have a couple of questions:

1. Is a polarising filter needed given the various coatings etc. already on the lens?

2. If yes, then, how does it work - forgive me but the last polarising filter I used was 20+ years ago on a non-Leica SLR/Lens. I recall then having to rotate it to obtain the desired effect - not quite sure how you do this via a rangefinder. 

Many thanks in advance.

Paul

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[pgk]

I have this lens and Leica's Universal Polarising-M (13356) filter which is designed to work with Leica rangefinder cameras. It works by pivoting through 180 degrees so that it can be viewed through using the viewfinder, rotated to achieve the effect desired and then pivoted back over the lens to take the photo. Its a solution but can be tricky to use with the SEM because its effect can be rather dramatic with the 21SEM and even rather severe at times. In practice I find that I only occasionally use it in all on the 21SEM in all honesty, but it may find be you find it really useful; it will depend on your sort of photography. If you want to buy one then its well worth shopping around as prices do seem to vary and fluctuate even, and it can at times be a bargain (relatively speaking as ever with Leica). It usually comes with E39 and E46 filter thread adapters and others are available too.

[schimmey]

Thanks Paul. I hand't actually thought about the dramatic effect with such a focal length. I have seen the Leica polariser and, to be honest, not very keen at the set-up. Ideally I would simply attach it like any other filter and shoot away. I appreciate that may not be possible without an EVF in addition to the filter. Anyway. Thanks. Once I have I will post - if I get any half-decent shots. Paul.

[pgk]

11 minutes ago, schimmey said:

Ideally I would simply attach it like any other filter and shoot away. I appreciate that may not be possible without an EVF in addition to the filter.

If you use an ordinary filter the meter reading will dip to indicate maximum effect. Its bit hit and miss, but quite possible. You can also look through the filter and then try to retain its orientation on the camera. Either, with a few bracketed shots, might be acceptable for occasional use. I got the Leica filter set quite cheaply but I have to admit that I wouldn't pay a great deal for it. Its a bit of a compromise in a way.

[schimmey]

Cheers.

[wda]

Remember, polarisation is maximum when the main light source is at 90 degrees. With such a wide angle lens, the effect will vary, across the frame. It works much better with longer focal lengths.

[M11 for me]

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vor 33 Minuten schrieb schimmey:

Thanks Paul. I hand't actually thought about the dramatic effect with such a focal length. I have seen the Leica polariser and, to be honest, not very keen at the set-up. Ideally I would simply attach it like any other filter and shoot away. I appreciate that may not be possible without an EVF in addition to the filter. Anyway. Thanks. Once I have I will post - if I get any half-decent shots. Paul.

Well that will not work. With such a filter it depends how it is turned for stronger or weaker effekt. Its for polarizing light. I wonder what you are looking for. Be aware that our eyes have no such filter. Seen like that a Pol-Filter is something that our eyes do NOT see. Do you really need that?

[schimmey]

Thanks all. 

Thanks M11... I did not describe the process I was wanting to achieve thoroughly, sorry. When I said 'attach it like any other filter' I was referring to the ease of use (i.e. once attached I could rotate it in situ - as opposed to the, what I see as, cumbersome mechanics of the Leica polariser. In regard to (not) using a polarising filter because it does something that our eyes do/do not - I am not sure how to answer and guess it is a subjective question. In my pre-Leica days I quite liked the impact. 

Cheers. 

[spydrxx]

Although I don't have a 21 SEM, I recall trying to use a polarizer on a VC 15/4. The included angle was so wide that only a section of the sky was polarized, and then I remembered that polarizers work best on less wide angle lenses. 

[Gelatino]

Nothing to add to what has been said above, only my own experience.

I had a polarizing filter in diam 52 for my collection of nikkor lenses.

Fortunately, most of my leica lenses are in 46 or 39mm, so I bought set-up adaptators to go to 52mm and one filter fits all lenses.  It's the same for ND filters I have in 62mm.

[Jean-Michel]

For all practical purposes 35 mm is about as wide a lens where a polarizing filter makes sense. I have the original Leica polarizing filter (purchased used) and I very rarely used it. For work requiring a polarizing filter I prefer working with an dSLR, or now, with an SL2. 

[schimmey]

Thanks all. I think I will leave it based on your input - at least for the 21mm. Paul