What is the highest quality lens filter for SL 35 Apo-Summicron?

[Scott_A]

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Hello, new SL 35 Apo-Summicron owner here and want to protect my investment with the highest quality filter.

Leica SF told me the Leica E67 UVa II filter is the best.  Does this also reduce flaring/ghosting, etc.?  Thank you

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[jaapv]

Here I must disagree with Leica, although I can understand the bias of a salesperson. 

Leica filters are good, but as they do not produce them themselves they use the same glass that other quality filter makers use for their mid-range products

An UV filter is not the best option to protect your lens. It is designed to umm.. filter UV light.
The protective filters as offered by Heliopan and B&W are designed to protect your lens, using thinner glass for less aberrations and tougher glass for better protection. On top of that they are nano-coated for less dirt adherence and easier cleaning, which the Leica filter is not. This will reduce flare problems which are more often due to gunk on the filter surface than to the filter itself. 
However, I dare you to see any difference in the technical quality of your photographs, whichever filter you use. There won’t be any. 

[rcusick]

Breakthrough photography.  

[Stuart Richardson]

Personally I would forget the filters, use the hood, and use any money you might spend on the filter to add the 35mm APO to your insurance plan.

That said, I agree with Jaap that you would be hard pressed to see a difference between two similar filters from a good company like Leica, Hoya, Heliopan, B+W and so on. I will disagree, however, that there is no difference in technical quality. Filters tend to increase flare and ghosting no matter how good they are. This is especially notieable at night with point light sources.

[SrMi]

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/06/the-comprehensive-ranking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/

If I use a filter (near sea or sand), I use Nikon's clear filter. 

[darylgo]

While expensive the Leica filters measured slightly better in lens rental tests.  A single good  filter will change nothing in your image except occasional ghosting.  It's easy to check for IQ degradation with a simple test and side by side comparison in Lightroom.  

[robb]

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I only go with Heliopan…

Robb

[michali]

1 hour ago, robb said:

I only go with Heliopan…

Robb

And B+W.

I have a mix of both Heliopan & B+W filters. Mainly to protect my lenses given the conditions I operate in.

[jaapv]

8 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Personally I would forget the filters, use the hood, and use any money you might spend on the filter to add the 35mm APO to your insurance plan.

That said, I agree with Jaap that you would be hard pressed to see a difference between two similar filters from a good company like Leica, Hoya, Heliopan, B+W and so on. I will disagree, however, that there is no difference in technical quality. Filters tend to increase flare and ghosting no matter how good they are. This is especially notieable at night with point light sources.

Nobody said there could not be flare etc…  I think the remarks in that respect were about optical degradation. Which, though theoretically present, cannot be seen or measured. 

[Mak67]

Well,  after 20years using prenium lenses without filter ... i never had any damage ... but i always use lenshood.

I had few drops and the lenshood always did a good job !
 

[Stuart Richardson]

3 hours ago, jaapv said:

Nobody said there could not be flare etc…  I think the remarks in that respect were about optical degradation. Which, though theoretically present, cannot be seen or measured. 

Yes, I did not think you said it couldn't flare. I just think flaring and ghosting have been common enough in my work at least to make me generally avoid filters unless I am in a situation where there is a lot of blowing debris or water. And I agree with you that I have never noticed any degradation in the optical performance with good filters. That said, the link to the lens test was interesting, and it does indicate optical degradation with some of the lower end filters.

Like Mak67, I have been using very nice lenses for over twenty years and I can count only one time where I would have liked a filter as protection. I was photographing here in Iceland by a lake with a big and heavy camera on a tripod. I went to the car briefly to fetch something and a huge gust of wind came and knocked the camera over. The lens has a sturdy metal hood that protected the lens very well, but the front element got a tiny nick on it, presumably from a pebble. It had no optical effect. Had I bought good filters for every lens I have used since then, I think it would have exceed the cost of replacing that lens many times over.

In any case, filter vs. no filter is an argument as old as filters. I personally think they are rarely necessary and sometimes make a shot worse, so I avoid them. Others much prefer the peace of mind. If you do get one, pay the money to get a good one, and keep it clean. In this case, while the Leica ones are nice, I don't think they are substantially better than a good B+W, Hoya or Heliopan filter.

[T25UFO]

If you really want / need a filter, another recommendation for Breakthrough X4.  I agree there is probably no difference for clear filters, but Breakthrough are extremely well made, and are a definite choice if you want a colour neutral ND filter.

[John Smith]

I have used only Leica E67 UVa II  filters on my SL APOs.

[tedwill]

The only filters I use are for long exposures – 6 stop and 10 stop ND. I like Breakthrough photography filters. Very high-quality never any complaints. B+ W are awesome as well. Had a few issues with less expensive filters falling apart, coming unglued, but I've never had any issues with Breakthrough.   The hood is always the best protection for your lenses. As is a well padded bag. 

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Yes, I did not think you said it couldn't flare. I just think flaring and ghosting have been common enough in my work at least to make me generally avoid filters unless I am in a situation where there is a lot of blowing debris or water. And I agree with you that I have never noticed any degradation in the optical performance with good filters. That said, the link to the lens test was interesting, and it does indicate optical degradation with some of the lower end filters.

Like Mak67, I have been using very nice lenses for over twenty years and I can count only one time where I would have liked a filter as protection. I was photographing here in Iceland by a lake with a big and heavy camera on a tripod. I went to the car briefly to fetch something and a huge gust of wind came and knocked the camera over. The lens has a sturdy metal hood that protected the lens very well, but the front element got a tiny nick on it, presumably from a pebble. It had no optical effect. Had I bought good filters for every lens I have used since then, I think it would have exceed the cost of replacing that lens many times over.

In any case, filter vs. no filter is an argument as old as filters. I personally think they are rarely necessary and sometimes make a shot worse, so I avoid them. Others much prefer the peace of mind. If you do get one, pay the money to get a good one, and keep it clean. In this case, while the Leica ones are nice, I don't think they are substantially better than a good B+W, Hoya or Heliopan filter.

No argument here 😊. I am in the no-filter camp - and use them on all my lenses 😅

[Chuck Albertson]

1 hour ago, T25UFO said:

If you really want / need a filter, another recommendation for Breakthrough X4.  I agree there is probably no difference for clear filters, but Breakthrough are extremely well made, and are a definite choice if you want a colour neutral ND filter.

Very good ND filter. I bought one for my 21SEM to shoot video, but one drawback is the "traction" ridges on the rim of the filter. Brilliant for attaching and removing the filter, but I can't get the lens hood on with the filter on the lens.

[Jeff S]

Just avoid crappy filters…

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/06/good-times-with-bad-filters/
 

I prefer a hood and no protective filter, especially given the diminutive size of most M lenses.  With SL zooms, already huge by comparison, I ditch the hoods (except in rain) and use high quality clear filters.

Jeff

[davidmknoble]

For landscape work the most color neutral has been breakthrough photography. Made in the US and incredibly resilient.  I use on the coast in the sand. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[JeffWright]

On 3/16/2023 at 7:29 PM, jaapv said:

Here I must disagree with Leica, although I can understand the bias of a salesperson. 

Leica filters are good, but as they do not produce them themselves they use the same glass that other quality filter makers use for their mid-range products

An UV filter is not the best option to protect your lens. It is designed to umm.. filter UV light.
The protective filters as offered by Heliopan and B&W are designed to protect your lens, using thinner glass for less aberrations and tougher glass for better protection. On top of that they are nano-coated for less dirt adherence and easier cleaning, which the Leica filter is not. This will reduce flare problems which are more often due to gunk on the filter surface than to the filter itself. 
However, I dare you to see any difference in the technical quality of your photographs, whichever filter you use. There won’t be any. 

Whelp. Someone measured. And it turns out they aren't all the same. Not that the difference is likely detectable to a human.

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/06/the-comprehensive-ranking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/

Edited March 19, 2023 by JeffWright

[Kristofferpaulsen]

On 3/17/2023 at 11:59 AM, Stuart Richardson said:

Personally I would forget the filters, use the hood, and use any money you might spend on the filter to add the 35mm APO to your insurance plan.

That said, I agree with Jaap that you would be hard pressed to see a difference between two similar filters from a good company like Leica, Hoya, Heliopan, B+W and so on. I will disagree, however, that there is no difference in technical quality. Filters tend to increase flare and ghosting no matter how good they are. This is especially notieable at night with point light sources.

+1 for this.. i never bother