UV/IR lenses?

[sm23221]

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Why doesn't leica build UV/IR filtering into their new lenses to obviate the need for a filter?

[stunsworth]

I used to wonder this myself, but I think the answer may be that there would be cyan drift visible if the wider angle lenses were used on a film body.

[carstenw]

I keep thinking that there must be a lens element which has the light traverse it fairly perpendicularly. If not, that might be something to consider in lens designs in the future. It would make the IR problem go away completely.

[Guest]

If you go back a few months the reason that the uv/ir filters became a requirement was a shortfall of ir filtration on the sensor.The chances are that ir filtration will not be required in the form of screw on filters by the M9 or similar. We will have to see how things develop.

Brian

[lct]

IR-cut filters cause oversaturated greens in some grass and foliage. Not anybody like that.

[dfarkas]

Building in IR filters into M lenses would not be the best course for these reasons:

 

1. Future M cameras may not have the IR sensitivity issue.
   
2. Existing film M cameras definitely don't beneift from IR filtration.
   
3. Also, if you use a visible-light blocking filter, the M8 becomes a really cool infrared camera.
   

 

 

David