Hi all,

I just bought a Universal Polarizer from Don Chatterton and I was wondering if what they are saying about these things over at LUG is true. Do any of you have problems with your Uni-Pols (particularily with the glass falling out the front?). I just don't want to be caught without a polarizer on my next trip or blowing a day without a polarizer while waiting for the Loctite to set.

Thanks as always for your enlightened opinions,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), June 07, 2001

Answers

First of all it does not take a day for loctite to set! :-) I have the old polarising filter and never had any problems. I am not sure what there is to go wrong? Did anyone ever specify what goes BAD? I now use heliopan polarising filters as they have an indexed ring and are easy enough to use on M cameras. I figure if I am using a polarising filter I am not in a rush.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), June 08, 2001.

I have the Universal polarizer and haven't had problems with it but perhaps because I haven't used it much. I discovered that by using larger polarizers in step-up adaptors that I've cut view-from-behind windows in the flanges, I can accomplish the same trick at less cost and I don't have that huge thing in my bag.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 08, 2001.

Could somebody teach me what a Universal Polarizer is, please? Excuse my ignorance but I like polarizers and have used them often for years but know only about linear and circular polarizers. Is it a trade brand or a different (new?) kind of optic thing? And if so, what is it useful for? Thanks in advance.

Iván

-- Iván Barrientos (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), June 09, 2001.

Here is the description from the Leica website:

  "Other than in an SLR, where the user sees his subject looking through the lens, the effect of a polarizing filter cannot be judged in the viewfinder of a rangefinder camera. Nevertheless, many users of rangefinder cameras would like to benefit from the photographic advantages of a polarizing filter, such as higher color saturation and reduction of reflections at non-metallic surfaces. A very easy-to-handle universal polarizing filter solves this problem for LEICA M-photographers. A hinge allows it to be swung exactly 180° over the viewfinder for composition and setting, and back again over the lens for metering and shooting. The two special adapters (threaded rings) for the filter sizes E 39 and E 46 delivered with the filter enable the use of the majority of the present interchangeable lenses for the LEICA M6-models; others for earlier lenses are also available. The new universal polarizing filter replaces the former polarizing filter A42."

And go here to down load the pdf of the lens section of Leica's catalog which will have a picture:  

http://www.leica-camera.com/produkte/msystem/objektive/pdf/in dex_e.html

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), June 09, 2001.

I have the early version of the Swing-out polarizer. The glass is a bit loose but it's held in with a snap ring so I doubt it'll fall out.

The thing I don't like about this filter is that the polarizing foil doesn't appear to have a neutral color transmission. In other words, it appears to alter the color rendition from neutral.

It's possible to replace the glass in these filters by having B+W make up a 43mm polarizer blank. Apparently you remove the snap ring, remove the glass from the metal ring (glued in), insert the new blank and put things back together. I suppose it's much easier to simply upgrade to the later version of the Swing-out filter but I don't know how neutral that one is either.

-- Bud (budcook@attglobal.net), June 30, 2001.