Hi All - I've been reading this group for some time and really enjoy it. I just bought my first Leica M6 with 50 summi and love it. I had a G2 kit and (sadly) it was stolen - I didn't want to replace it as i didn't like the AF and noise in the end, so the M6 was the only choice.

With that as intro, I am wondering whether it makes sense to pay the ~$60 for a Leica UV filter, or whether some other manufacturer will work as well (they are ~$20). As I'm thinking I will get other lenses as I can afford them, I was wondering if it makes any noticable diff to buy Leica glass for a protective filter. I know, I know, why worry about a diff of $40 when I just laid down 2K.

Also, do circular polarizer filters work well with the M6? The Leica polarizer seems, yes, expensive but I would get it if that is the only sensible option.

Thanks, Peter

-- peter demenocal (peter@ldeo.columbia.edu), April 09, 2001

Answers

This question has already been answered (in the older articles section on the M): http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=004Xdf

Although this group is much more reasonable than 'some' other places regarding filters, be warned that it's a topic which can trigger passion and flames.

My advice: Read the older stuff and do what you feel the most comfortable to do...

-- Xavier Colmant (xcolmant@powerir.com), April 09, 2001.

The quesetion posed was not whether to use a UV filter, but whether it was worth paying for a Leica UV filter. In my experience, the price of new Leica UV filters is not worth it. I have discovered that B+W "MRC" (Multi Resistant Coating) UV's are the best filter by far you can buy today, and they are substantially less expensive than Leica filters ($37 for an E39 at B&H). The multicoating is so good on these filters that you can barely, if at all, see your own reflection in them. It's almost spooky, you can almost not tell there's a filter on the lens. Shoot it straight into the sun, you won't get anything you don't get with a naked lens. And you can wipe them with your shirt tail and they won't scratch or smudge like other multicoated filters.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 09, 2001.

I am with Jay here, and have several 46mm and 39mm B&W new multucoated filters. They are superb. I like to use the warming filter for open shade portraits. I use the Heliopan Polarizers which are calibrated with numbers on the rim. I have both a 46mm and 39mm, and use one on the lens and use the other to set the orientation. They are the best polarizers I have ever used and are affordable.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), April 09, 2001.

I'm for any good-performing alternative to the expensive Leicas. I don't know how the most recent B+W's are constructed, but in the past B+W used a pretty substantial, thick rim. In most cases this wouldn't matter, but for some Leica lens-hood arrangements (e.g. older 50 Summilux with detatchable hood) the thickness of the rim can interfere. What is the construction of the B+W rim nowadays?

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), April 09, 2001.

According to Leica UK, their filters are made for them by B+W. I don't know if they are made to a different spec' than their own ones or if they are just re-badged.

That said, I have always bought Leica filters where possible. My theory is that having spent a small fortune on lenses you may as well match the filters just in case B+W do use different glass coatings for those they supply to Leica. Not much of a theory but it works for me.

-- Phil Coomes (philcoomes@talk21.com), April 09, 2001.

I won´t make any sugestion on wich filter to use, I don´t use any, but sometimes I wish I do, otherwise I don´t clean my lenses often and try to keep them clean; but I have a question I want to ask you, you say is you´re first time using a Leica, and your last camera was a Contax G, just want to ask what´s your impresion with the Leica compared to your last camera, specialy about their finders.And good luck with your new camera, by the way your new lens is a ´cron or a ´lux, because summi´ doesn´t tell me any thing.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), April 09, 2001.

Well, my Leica 39 UV looks nothing like my B+W version of the same thing. Regardless of who makes it, spring for the Leica branded filter. I mean, after paying two grand for a lens, why quibble? Besides, all one has to do is to go to Delta International's website and order a new 39 size UV Leica filter for $42.00. Can't beat that price anywhere!

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), April 09, 2001.

The Leica filters are comparable to the standard B+W, as they are both single-coated on each side. The B+W MRC filters are multi- coated on both sides. The mounts of the B+W's are roughly equivalent to the Leica filters (Heliopan's are quite thick). I have the B+W normal-mount MRC UV's on all my lenses, including the 21ASPH-M and 21/4 S/A-R, the 28-R, the Tri-Elmar, and the 35/1.4-R which is supposedly picky about filter thickness. But all the B+W MRC UV's are also available in extra-thin mounts.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 09, 2001.

Well, I have no brand loyalty when it comes to filters (at least not yet), but can anyone tell me if there is a less expensive alternative to the Leica E60 filters short of selling my lens.

-- mark (mramra@qwest.net), April 09, 2001.

My 2 cents, as a Leica R owner using only colour film: I bought a Leica E55 circular polarizer, recently, from KEH (used) for US$139. All but one of my R lenses have E55 threads, the exception being a 24mm Elmarit-R with which I wouldn't use a polarizer anyway. My reason for selecting Leica, rather than any other brand, is simply that this will probably be my only filter, so I wanted to make sure I got the best. As other contributors have said, it seems rather picky to worry about the price of a filter when the lenses cost so much more.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

I use only Leica filters on Leica lens, Zeiss filter on Carl Zeiss lens.

I think this way it matches best. There may be other filter as good, but I don't bother to look, as the price difference is not that much.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), May 25, 2001.

I seem to recall reading an article about filters some time back which put Nikon and B+W at the top of the range, followed by the others. Leica was not mentioned. The prices of leica filters are truly absurd (around $80 for an E39 here in Italy).

Since my existing filters are going to need replacement soon, I'll probably move to the BW multi coated variety.

-- rob appleby (rob@robertappleby.com), May 25, 2001.

I have a Hoya circular polarizing filter. I tried it on Macro Elmarit 60, the result was not neutral. Now I use Leica cir polarizer on it.

Speaking of filter, I must admit, the most conveniet camera is my Minox B, it comes with built in UV filter, a sliding ND filter and a green filter.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), May 25, 2001.