Is Leica Filter UVA II really the best for LEICA lenses ?

[mottykytu]

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Or we should choose also high-end but cheaper B&W Filter ?

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[pedaes]

B+W are excellent, but so are Leica, see here https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/06/the-comprehensive-ranking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/

You pays your money, but you will loose nothing using B+W 007 Nano as I do.

[Dazzajl]

90% of the time no one can tell the difference between a lens and one that's 5 times the price. With 'just' a filter, as long as you buy something reputable, any will do much the same job.

[FrozenInTime]

A minefield !

As Leica does not brag about their characteristics, they are probably not the ultimate/latest in terms of numbers layers of coatings that minimise reflections and optimise transmission, lowest colour shift, hydrophobic, and scratch resistance. 

I tend to only use UV filters in bad weather so bias towards the newer water dispersant coatings.

[costa43]

I use Marumi. The top of the range ones they do. I just found that they don’t smudge as much when wiping down as some other ones I’ve tried. I have a Leica 39mm UVA II filter as well and it’s fine too. 

Edited April 25 by costa43

[jaapv]

Leica does not make their own filters, and the glass from quite a few makers of quality filters comes fros the same supplier. B&W and Heliopan are generally slightly better than Leica filters, especially things like nano-coating etc. 

[maxpower]

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One thing I will add is that I once got a non-Leica filter and it was a little bit wider blocking the hood (I think this was on the 50mm lux but not 100% sure, few years ago). Just to say there are might be more things to consider, another aesthetic thing I liked about the Leica filters is colour matching with my lenses.

This doesn't mean only Leica filters work of course, as demonstrated by people above plenty of other options that should work. 

[jaapv]

I don't like using UV filters for protection; they are made to umm... filter UV light. Dedicated clear protective filters have thinner glass that is more shatter-resisting and in general more elaborate coatings. Leica does not offer protective filters.

[rogxwhit]

Any talk about the practice of photography tends to involve a mixture of myths and actualities.  But the only thing that matters is the image!  

Does anyone view a pinhole image, cry 'I can't bear it - it's fuzzy!'. and run from the room?  When they have just witnessed what could be an ultimate dream to some, of 'bokeh all over'?

We can debate for ever, but the simplest test is 'does the image in question work' -  informatively, emotionally, or even spiritually, depending on the nature of the image & the slant of our attention.

You'd think that Leica owners would be entirely focussed on the finer things in life, but I've noticed that many of 'em use their expensive wares to take crappy snapshots.  Others, of course, have sensitivities & techniques far above my level, but the previous remains true. 

I've just got a couple of Urth filters to use with my digital M.  Might a gulf in the ground be about to open before me that leads directly to hell?  Or might I stay satisfied & glad to have saved some cash?  

As hinted, any judgement will be evidential.  Nowt to do with myth or self-justification.  An honest quest.  We are pilgrims on a road. 

 

 

 

[Mute-on]

I use B+W or Heliopan in all my Leica lenses. The Heliopan SH-PMC clear protection filter is an example and allows fitment of all factory lens hoods in my experience. 

[mmradman]

Lot of posts make mention of some trully excellent brands, what post omit to mention that some of them are not in business at least not for photographic filters.

Two brands likely going out are Heliopan and Marumi, I have filters from both houses and am saddened to see them go.

How did I found out? Recently I was hunting for orange 43mm filter and in the process combed the web and spoken with retailers in the know. Eventually got Marumi Orange in 43mm via eBay from Japanese dealer.

[Crem]

5 hours ago, mottykytu said:

Or we should choose also high-end but cheaper B&W Filter ?

I use Leica, Heliopan, and B&W filters. Honestly they are all great and work the same in my experience. I buy the B&W filters when available for my lens only because they are cheaper. Just get a good quality one with coatings. Unfortunately B&W doesn't make filters for a few of my lenses and in those case I bought Leica and Heliopan. I really can't tell a difference in image quality with or without any of these filters. I will say that in very strong backlight situations I will remove the filter as I've had them cause problems. I doubt the brand matters much in that situation.

[Crem]

1 hour ago, mmradman said:

Lot of posts make mention of some trully excellent brands, what post omit to mention that some of them are not in business at least not for photographic filters.

Two brands likely going out are Heliopan and Marumi, I have filters from both houses and am saddened to see them go.

How did I found out? Recently I was hunting for orange 43mm filter and in the process combed the web and spoken with retailers in the know. Eventually got Marumi Orange in 43mm via eBay from Japanese dealer.

Agreed on Heliopan. They actually canceled a few pre-orders for me a year or so ago and emailed saying they weren't selling that particular filter anymore. They make (made?) a nice UV filter for the Summaron 28 reissue. Not sure if they sell it anymore. 

Edited April 25 by Crem

[jaapv]

11 hours ago, rogxwhit said:

Any talk about the practice of photography tends to involve a mixture of myths and actualities.  But the only thing that matters is the image!  

Does anyone view a pinhole image, cry 'I can't bear it - it's fuzzy!'. and run from the room?  When they have just witnessed what could be an ultimate dream to some, of 'bokeh all over'?

We can debate for ever, but the simplest test is 'does the image in question work' -  informatively, emotionally, or even spiritually, depending on the nature of the image & the slant of our attention.

You'd think that Leica owners would be entirely focussed on the finer things in life, but I've noticed that many of 'em use their expensive wares to take crappy snapshots.  Others, of course, have sensitivities & techniques far above my level, but the previous remains true. 

I've just got a couple of Urth filters to use with my digital M.  Might a gulf in the ground be about to open before me that leads directly to hell?  Or might I stay satisfied & glad to have saved some cash?  

As hinted, any judgement will be evidential.  Nowt to do with myth or self-justification.  An honest quest.  We are pilgrims on a road. 

 

 

 

Let’s remain practical. If you drop a lens you will be happy that a protective filter did not shatter and scratch the front element. And a Nano coated filter gets less dirty and is easier to clean. 

[spydrxx]

If you are a fashionista, get a Leica filter for your Leica lens. If you are a photographer, most others will do just fine.

[Essummi]

Company register entry of

Heliopan Lichtfilter-Technik Summer GmbH & Co KG

"The company has been dissolved."

[archive_all]

I actually did an unscientific test a while ago with a slew of filters from cheapos to B+W and of course the Leica UVa and UVa II. The B+W 007 was second best but the Leica UVa II produced the least amount of flare or ghosts, I was really surprised at that. Otherwise the clarity seemed to be the same without strong light sources in the frame.

[S/W]

This is currently on the on the Heliopan homepage (in German) and was translated by deepL:

Dear business partners,

After more than 70 years of successful business activity, we have to discontinue our active business operations. In the interests of our long-standing customers, we are in the process of clarifying a successor. In the current transition, we are unfortunately no longer able to serve your inquiries and will inform you in good time as soon as the situation has been clarified.

Thank you for your many years of loyalty and support.

Heliopan Lichtfilter-Technik Summer GmbH & Co KG i.L.
Drosselgasse 4
D-82166 Gräfelfing/Munich
Phone: +49 (0) 89/8 54 30 06
Fax: +49 (0) 89/89 80 29-33
E-mail: info@heliopan.de

Personally liable company:
Heliopan Lichtfilter-Technik Summer Verwaltungs GmbH
Liqidator: Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Summer

Commercial register Munich A68268

VAT ID No. DE152969721

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[nussbusch]

I compared the Leica with the B&W and the Zeiss T*  (all in the newest incarnation) and b&w showed the weakest reflexions in a night scene with a bright light in the foreground. So I went for B&W on all. The class and optical quality seems to be very similar following the lens rental testing. B&W uses the excellent german schott class.

[charlesphoto99]

I've always preferred the cosmetics of the Leica filters vs others (esp B&W). Not as rough of a scallop at the front, and they 'disappear' on the lens thanks to the same font. Small thing, I know, but when shooting with lenses that cost this much, I'll pay extra for a filter, though I've never paid full price for a Leica one, even new. For my monochrom I use Heliopna color filters, again bought used, and they have the second best cosmetics imo.