What size filter for Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre-ASPH type II?

[ramarren]

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I've been hunting around trying to find a proper listing for the filter size to use with my 'Lux 35mm lens. Mine is serial number 2547xxx, a 1972 example according to the Leica Wiki page. Unfortunately, the Leica Wiki page is way off the mark on the filter size for this lens ... It states "Series VII, E41 with 12504 hood" which is just impossible (a series VII filter is ~52mm diameter and the inside diameter of the hood's attachment to the lens is 42.5mm; even the stepped portion inside the hood is only ~49.5mm in diameter). There doesn't seem to be any space with this hood fitted on my lens to hold a filter of any dimensions either. 

Inside the front of the lens bezel there seem to be filter threads, and the measured diameter there is within a .1mm of 35.5mm. I see there are 35.5mm filters available... I've not seen this size used in filters before. Is this size actually what this particular lens takes? 

thanks! G

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[a.noctilux]

I see two possibilities :

- if your lens equipped with "right" female filter thread E41, use rare E41 filters screw-in

- if like mine NO filter thread on the lens, only usable Serie VII filter IN the hood 12504 which can be unscrewed/separated in two

( some E49 filters can be put inside the hood in place of Serie VII)

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/12504

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Edited May 8, 2022 by a.noctilux

[wda]

I don't have the lens,  but is the E- number not engraved on the lens?

[lct]

Series 7 or E49 dropped upside down between the halves of the 12504 hood or similar, as suggested by @a.noctilux above. There is no filter thread in the lens itself as far as v2 is concerned at least. Edit: Correction about filter threads sorry, see @Michael Geschlecht's post thereafter.

Edited May 8, 2022 by lct

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Everybody,

The dividing line is: Up to & including # 2166700 - use E41 screwed into the thread on the lens. Then use lens hood 12522.

Beginning with # 2166701 - use Series VII filter inside of 12504 lens hood, as per Arnaud's Post just above.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited May 8, 2022 by Michael Geschlecht

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello lct,

You are correct about Version 2. The Version 2 has no filter thread. The Version 1 has an E41 thread as per Arnaud's Post just above.

Best Regards,

Michael

[adan]

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1 hour ago, wda said:

I don't have the lens,  but is the E- number not engraved on the lens?

Leica only started engraving the E-number on M lenses quite a bit later than 1972 - either when manufacturing returned exclusively to Germany (Solms) around 1985, or even later when the first new M lens designs since 1980 were being introduced (1991). None of my early-1980s lenses, including my 1982 Summilux-M 35mm, have those engravings.

One of the history buffs may have a more precise date.

[ramarren]

2 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

I see two possibilities :

- if your lens equipped with "right" female filter thread E41, use rare E41 filters screw-in

- if like mine NO filter thread on the lens, only usable Serie VII filter IN the hood 12504 which can be unscrewed/separated in two

( some E49 filters can be put inside the hood in place of Serie VII)

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/12504

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Ah hah! Glad I asked the question.  Thank you!

I've had this lens and lens hood for almost a decade and never knew that the hood came apart to reveal a filter holder! I didn't think to look at the Leica Wiki for the hood ... LOL! After probably three or more decades of not being taken apart, mine was a little reluctant to come apart, but with very gentle persuasion/persistence it did. I lightly greased the threads with a watchmaker's oiler using a tiny amount of a very fine grease, touched in about six spots around the thread, and worked the two pieces of the hood back and forth a few times. Now the two parts come apart and go back together smoothly and with only light effort, and the risk of cross-threading them is greatly diminished. 

This is great ... I have several Series VII filters to choose from and they're not particularly expensive or special order, unlike the very few Heliopan 35.5mm threaded filters I've found.  

Thank you very much!

G

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello ramarrren,

I would suggest that you wipe away as much of the oil/grease that you can now that the 2 pieces are separated. The purpose of these lubricants is to lessen friction on surfaces that move on a regular or intermittent basis. Such as in bearings. Leaving lubricants on the threads of something that simply opens to add or to take out a filter & then closes will just attract dust. etc. And the presence of lubricants may well lead to the 2 pieces loosening when you might not want them to. 

Best Regards,

Michael

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Everybody,

To anyone who might be reading this who might have the earlier version of the 35mm f1.4 Summilux that takes E41 filters: That lens takes an A46.5 lens cap 14078 even tho the filter size is E41. This means that if you have a 13360 E41 swing out polarizing filter that works fine with your 50mm f1.5 Summarit which also takes E41 filters: The 13360 will not fit on your early version 35mm f1.4 Summilux. Because the 50mm f1.5 Summarit takes an A43 lens cap 14035.

Best Regards,

Michael                                                                

Edited May 9, 2022 by Michael Geschlecht

[ramarren]

16 hours ago, Michael Geschlecht said:

Hello ramarrren,

I would suggest that you wipe away as much of the oil/grease that you can now that the 2 pieces are separated. The purpose of these lubricants is to lessen friction on surfaces that move on a regular or intermittent basis. Such as in bearings. Leaving lubricants on the threads of something that simply opens to add or to take out a filter & then closes will just attract dust. etc. And the presence of lubricants may well lead to the 2 pieces loosening when you might not want them to. 

Best Regards,

Michael

Don't worry, I've been taking lessons in watch and camera repair. The grease used is a watchmaker's grease and the amount I used on the threads is fundamentally unobservable. Lubrication between surfaces that don't move often is presenting barrier to stiction and corrosion, if applied correctly in the right amounts: you couldn't see it if you wiped it with a fine lens tissue; it becomes a molecular level barrier that simply helps prevent cross threading and damage. There's too little to attract dust, there's no excess to do that.

The really good news is that now I've located the two filters but one in each of the four sizes I need for all my M-mount lenses: orange and green for Series VII, 46, 40.5, and 39 mm .. a green in 39mm is all I'm missing (now on order). To me, these are the essentials for M10 Monochrom use, just like they are for B&W film photography. (I've got polarizing filters in VII, 40.5, and 39 too, but I use those much less frequently.)

G