Any experience with B+W or Hoya circ polarizers?

[kinetic]

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I just got my first Leica (M11) and paired it with a Summilux 50mm black chrome. When it's not gloomy, I have always found a circular polarizer to be helpful for my photos. In the past I always used Hoya, but I've been reading a lot of people who use b+w brand for their Leicas.

I've been researching a few, but wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts on these two I've found:

• https://www.adorama.com/bw43xphkcpln.html
• https://www.adorama.com/hy43cplast.html

I'm guessing it won't really matter that much in the long run.

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[UliWer]

The "Käsemann" polarizers by B+W are certainly the most refined you can get - though they have their price (well, we are in the Leica biotope, aren't we ...).

B+W also offers "Basic" polarizers which may be even "cheaper" than those from Hoya. I don't think one would go wrong with one or the other. 

[Kl@usW.]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb UliWer:

The "Käsemann" polarizers by B+W are certainly the most refined you can get - though they have their price (well, we are in the Leica biotope, aren't we ...).

B+W also offers "Basic" polarizers which may be even "cheaper" than those from Hoya. I don't think one would go wrong with one or the other. 

that is my experience too. I might add  Heliopan to the list of recommendable makers. 

[Anbaric]

3 hours ago, kinetic said:

I just got my first Leica (M11) and paired it with a Summilux 50mm black chrome. When it's not gloomy, I have always found a circular polarizer to be helpful for my photos. In the past I always used Hoya, but I've been reading a lot of people who use b+w brand for their Leicas.

I've been researching a few, but wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts on these two I've found:

• https://www.adorama.com/bw43xphkcpln.html
• https://www.adorama.com/hy43cplast.html

I'm guessing it won't really matter that much in the long run.

A few things to consider:

The B+W is a Kaesemann filter, which means the polarising film is sealed at the edge of the glass (with conventional polarisers moisture can potentially get in at the edge and degrade the foil).

The B+W is also a 'high transmission' filter, which means you lose less light while retaining the polarising effect. I think Hoya have something equivalent in some of their other polarisers (maybe the HD range), but it doesn't look like the one you link to does.

If you have an old E43 Summilux (1961-1991), you also need to be careful about the filter thread pitch. Leica used a fine pitch of 0.5mm for their E43 filter threads, but today a pitch of 0.75mm is more common for 43mm filters. I think both the Hoya and the current B+W use 0.75mm, so in theory neither is compatible. However, I have used a couple of Hoya 43mm filters on an old E43 Summilux, including a UV from the same EVO Antistatic range as here, and they appear to fit well without damage or binding. I have read some reports of B+W 43mm filters not fitting properly on the E43 Summilux, but YMMV. At one point I think B+W used to make 43mm filters in both 0.5mm and 0.75mm versions, but I don't think they do anymore. If you do try either of these filters on an old E43 lens, be very careful when screwing it in and stop if there is any resistance. The softer alloy thread of the Hoya might be a bit safer for the lens than the brass thread of the B+W if there is any incompatibility.

[kinetic]

10 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

A few things to consider:

The B+W is a Kaesemann filter, which means the polarising film is sealed at the edge of the glass (with conventional polarisers moisture can potentially get in at the edge and degrade the foil).

The B+W is also a 'high transmission' filter, which means you lose less light while retaining the polarising effect. I think Hoya have something equivalent in some of their other polarisers (maybe the HD range), but it doesn't look like the one you link to does.

If you have an old E43 Summilux (1961-1991), you also need to be careful about the filter thread pitch. Leica used a fine pitch of 0.5mm for their E43 filter threads, but today a pitch of 0.75mm is more common for 43mm filters. I think both the Hoya and the current B+W use 0.75mm, so in theory neither is compatible. However, I have used a couple of Hoya 43mm filters on an old E43 Summilux, including a UV from the same EVO Antistatic range as here, and they appear to fit well without damage or binding. I have read some reports of B+W 43mm filters not fitting properly on the E43 Summilux, but YMMV. At one point I think B+W used to make 43mm filters in both 0.5mm and 0.75mm versions, but I don't think they do anymore. If you do try either of these filters on an old E43 lens, be very careful when screwing it in and stop if there is any resistance. The softer alloy thread of the Hoya might be a bit safer for the lens than the brass thread of the B+W if there is any incompatibility.

Thank you for that information! The lens is from 2016 (mfr no: 11688) so I think it should be ok with the more modern filter thread pitch?

[madNbad]

Leica 13356 swing out polarizer!! Ditch that live view and go full OVF! They actually work really well and come with the rings to adapt to 39 and 46mm filter threads. 

[Anbaric]

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21 minutes ago, kinetic said:

Thank you for that information! The lens is from 2016 (mfr no: 11688) so I think it should be ok with the more modern filter thread pitch?

If I'm reading this discussion correctly, they apparently switched to the 0.75mm pitch for your lens, so most modern filters should be fine:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/245904-hood-fitting-problem-with-50mm-sx-black-chrome-11688/#comments

(Most of the above is about using hoods together with filters, which is a separate issue, but the the thread pitch is mentioned a few times. This change does however mean that vintage Leica filters designed for the earlier lens don't appear to be compatible with yours).

Edited March 4, 2023 by Anbaric

[rramesh]

B+W is very good. I use it on my M10-P. On an M camera without live view, the trick would be knowing when you are getting maximum polarization effect. 

Edited March 5, 2023 by rramesh

[Thury]

There is an Heliopan ventilated filter adapter (55mm lens side-77mm filter side) made for use with polarizers on the Leica M (#381 in their catalog). Add a 46-55 (or whatever filter size your lens takes) step-up ring and a 77mm polarizer: you're set. Polarizing effect can be seen through the optical viewfinder, the ventilated step-up ring and the polarizer. 

[rsolomon]

On 3/4/2023 at 8:12 PM, rramesh said:

B+W is very good. I use it on my M10-P. On an M camera without live view, the trick would be knowing when you are getting maximum polarization effect. 

Exactly, not so simple, quick, easy 

[ianforber]

I use a Formatt Hitech Firecrest polariser on my Q2 and it’s been excellent for the few times I’ve used it. As I don’t use polarisers that often these days, I went for the Urth polariser for my M11. Been fine on the 2-3 occasions I’ve used it but that’s not statistically significant!

[roydonian]

On 3/4/2023 at 10:44 PM, madNbad said:

Leica 13356 swing out polarizer!! Ditch that live view and go full OVF! They actually work really well and come with the rings to adapt to 39 and 46mm filter threads. 

If you can afford the massive pricetag!

[ianforber]

Hidden away in a camera bag somewhere I have a Kenko polariser that I used when I had a Mamiya 7. It has a hotshoe mounted polariser with numbers on the dial and the polariser on the lens has matching numbers. You look through the hotshoe polariser and turn until you get the effect you want and then read the number and turn the polariser on the lens to match. Worked ok for static tripod based photography but too much of a faff for anything else. 

[Photoworks]

https://breakthrough.photography/products/x4-circular-polarizer

their new filters use Schott B270 glass. it is one of the companiers that provides grill made in Germany to leica.

The benefit ogf this filters are that the don't have color shift, like many PL or ND filters do.

One think to be aware is that you always need to use live view for the filter effect to see.

Leica Makes a filter set to view the filter in the viewfinder and use it on the lens . I don't think anyone are buying this anymore, buch improved filters are out there now.

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[kinetic]

14 hours ago, Photoworks said:

https://breakthrough.photography/products/x4-circular-polarizer

their new filters use Schott B270 glass. it is one of the companiers that provides grill made in Germany to leica.

The benefit ogf this filters are that the don't have color shift, like many PL or ND filters do.

One think to be aware is that you always need to use live view for the filter effect to see.

Leica Makes a filter set to view the filter in the viewfinder and use it on the lens . I don't think anyone are buying this anymore, buch improved filters are out there now.

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!

Just went to their website. Their polarizers look really amazing. I think I'll give this a try. Thank you for the suggestion!

[Haldw777]

I’ve used Breakthrough X4 filters for both my Q2s.  I have been extremely impressed with the quality, the tactile and visual design (with easy recognition of which filter is fitted) and colour cast of the UV and CPL filters.  Also tried the IR filter, though that turned out to be unworkable - no matter how beautifully made - due to the IR filtering characteristics of the sensor. I could not recommend either the UV or CPL more highly, particularly the CPL.  I’ve just ordered the 39mm UV and CPL filters for my new M11-P / 35mm Summicron, though any questions on the quality of the output will be down my lack of manual focus skills rather than Breakthrough’s. 

Edited May 15, 2024 by Haldw777