I recently acquired a 2nd generation Summilux F1.4 50 without shade. Not ready to pay $150 to buy a rare genuine 12586. Does anybody know about any compatible lens shade and source for it? Thanks in advance for any help.

-- BRUNO DESPIN (bruno.despin@free.fr), April 17, 2002

Answers

Bruno:

B&H Photo Video in NY has rubber shades with 39mm screw mount for $15.50 US$

www.bhphotovideo.com

-- Ben Hughes (ben@hughesbros.com), April 17, 2002.

Except the Summilux has E43 filter thread. Use a step up ring to a more common size and away you go. The nice thing about he 12586 is that it does not obstruct the viewfinder the same way a regular lens hood would.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@shaw.ca), April 17, 2002.

Another possibility for a 43mm normal lens hood is the old Walz (also Kalt, Kenko, etc.) vented hood made for the Nikon RF 50/1.4. They come up on eBay periodically.

-- Chris Chen (Wash., DC) (furcafe@NOSPAMcris.com), April 17, 2002.

By all means get the original Leitz vented hood. Very little finder obstruction, excellent lens protection, and, when reversed, you can't focus the lens, and therefore it's very difficult to photograph the inside of your lenscap. This is one of the nicest Leica accessories, and it's too bad they discontinued it.

-- Tom Bryant (boffin@gis.net), April 17, 2002.