what protection/UV filter do you use for Leica's M lenses?

<p>what protection/UV filter do you use for Leica's M lenses?<br>

which is the best (= completely neutral)?</p>

<p>Oh-oh now you are for it... I use lens caps and hoods only. UV filters are for sissies.</p>

<p>ahaha, you right...actually the hood could be enough to protect the lens now that I think of...;)</p>

<p>For those "sissies" that use their Leica a M lenses to make a living and have a small fortune invested in lenses, Leica makes a specific UV filter for each lens and each UV filter has a Number. The filters fit with the associated Leica lens hood, something that an other brand may or may not do.<br>

All my M lenses have the correct Leica UV filter installed.-Dick</p>

<p>The B+W MRC filters are also highly respected.<br>

You will maintain the collector value of your lenses more (no cleaning marks) if you faithfully use UV filters.</p>

<p>thanks richard, but i partially agree also with robin, because I dot think Cartier-Bresson, neither Meyerowitz were using a uv filter, but i might be wrong...</p>

<p>also i noticed that a good BW filter is 50$...considerng a $2500 lens is worth to buy one...</p>

<p>Another vote for the B+W MRC filters, they have much better coatings than Leica filters at half the price.<br>

I bought the original Leica filters for my first lenses and today those filters rest in a drawer, all replaced by B+W or Heliopan filters.<br>

If Leica coatings were as good as the above mentioned brands, I would gladly pay the premium for the Leica label. But they aren't, just go to the store and compare the reflections on the surface of each brand, the difference is amazing.<br>

Leica offers chrome ring filters to match chrome lenses, that could be a good (?) reason to choose Leica.<br>

MP</p>

<p><strong>Protective filter is a must, especially for high-end lenses. </strong> Just have the filter on for two days and check how dusty it is...<br /> <strong>Take it off ONLY while shooting night scene with street lights, to avoid ghost images...</strong><br /> Cartier-Bresson's an Meyerowitz photographs are wonderful and strong because of the Decisive Moment and Composition, not because of sharpness...<br /> I would go for B+W or Rodenstock filters.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/11956-REG/B_W_65_070061_39mm_Ultraviolet_UV_Filter.html">I use B+W filters purchased from B&H Photo.</a></p>

<p>I'm with Maciek on this one.<br>

But just to add that in my <strong>limited survey</strong> of repairs over the years, many times a lens with an impacted, cracked or shattered "stuck-on" filter, saved not only the front tube unit from the direct impact damage, but the front glass element ! </p>

<p>No matter the cost of the filter, it's always much cheaper than the front element replacement...</p>

<p>yep, i'll definitely get a b+w filter, 39mm is so cheap at bhphoto that i dont have reason not to buy it..</p>

<p>question is: can i still use the Leica hood right (on a 35 summicron)?</p>

<p>I use B+W. They make them with MRC coating in black or chrome mounts to match your lens.</p>

<p>I've tried the Heliopan also, but I don't see any improvement over the B+W for the extra cost.</p>

<p>Even my cheapest camera lenses (Aires III) have UV filters on them with multicoating.<br>

Those lenses which have been protected with a filter over the past 50 years still have perfect front elements. Those which have been left exposed have all the "cleaning marks" and loss of coating so often seen in older used lenses.</p>

<p>I vote for a filter for every lens, for damage protection - I have mostly B+W, Heliopan also good, both brands have brass mounts with theads that don't stick!</p>

<p>Lens cap, hood. Filter only if needed to create a certain effect.</p>

<p>My lenses are for use, not for resale. I keep them clean because I need that. I clean them carefully and not too often. Over the decades, not one has had its front or rear surface damaged. I do not use filters because I have several times taken comparative pictures and found those taken with filters to be inferior. Admittedly I have used only relatively inexpensive filters: but that does not deny the fact that any filter adds two glass-air surfaces to the optical path. I always use hoods, which takes care of a large part of physical protection. Finally, I see no difference between a Leica M lens and any other good lens.</p>

<p>Although I use B&W MRC for colored filters, I got a good deal on new 46mm Leica UV filters from Tony Rose several years ago and I use them. Found a used 39mm Leica filter on that big auction site for my old Summicron. I have bought an occasional Heliopan filter when I couldn't find that color in B&W. But I use the HMC Hoya filters in addition to the manufacturers original filters on my expensive Nikon glass. I'll bet between all the different filters mentioned there is less than 1% difference in loss of transmission between the filter brands mentioned. I have never had a reflection in photos taken with the lenses that I keep the Leica filters on....they are as good as any others to me...and the opportunity to buy chrome or black is a plus. Some of my B&W filters can be difficult to clean with a microfiber cloth...I have had to resort to keeping several packs of lens tissue handy. </p>

<p><a href="../nikon-camera-forum/00UNFa?start=0">Here is a good thread on UV filters.</a></p>

<p>The other day, I have thinking, what filter is good for my first type of collapsible Elmar 50/3.5...?</p>

Impressive device the MRC B&W filter. The front lip of one bent when I dropped my ZM C Sonnar onto a wooden floor

from 5' (1.5m.) Lens was fine.

<p>No filters for protection only -- sorry - I don't get it. In 35 years I've never once wished I had a filter to protect my lenses. Waste of money. Get a hood and use it.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I bought the original Leica filters for my first lenses and today those filters rest in a drawer, all replaced by B+W or Heliopan filters.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Oh my - so you paid out <em>twice </em>for expensive UV filters? I have to say it all seems crazy to me. But the UV filter issue is akin to a religious issue whenever it is raised.</p>

<p>you know what...i'll buy one today...they are very cheap considering the size...I have the hood also..and i'll shot a roll w/ and w/o and I'll see the difference.. ;)</p>

<p><em>No filters for protection only -- sorry - I don't get it. In 35 years I've never once wished I had a filter to protect my lenses. Waste of money. Get a hood and use it.</em><br>

As you may have heard, in Britain we have weather (a lot of it) - other countries have seasons, our weather changes from one minute to the next. We also have a lot of coast - I can't count the number of times I have taken pictures there and suddenly noticed my filter-protected lens was covered in fine sand or salt-water spray.</p>

<p>I lived in London -- been to the coast -- I know all about the weather --- never bothered me or my lenses -- but hey, to each his own --- I'll save the money by not buying filters -- and spend it on beer.</p>