Leica LTM Stupid Question Time - Leica "A" filter?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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wlewisiii

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Picked up, cheaply, a Leica filter marked "A" on the rim. I thought A was a UV filter but it seems to have a slightly greenish cast to it. Is this, in fact, a UV filter? Is it OK to use with modern color film? I'm more interested in a protective filter for a Summitar that has nearly unmarked glass, so if it will work that would be best. I can even live with a filter factor - shoot Fuji 200 at 100 :D

I would doubt that Leitz used Kodak/Wratten numbers but my google-fu has failed to turn up a list of their filter equivalents.

Thanks,

William
 
Dear William,

Is it A36?

A36 signifies a push-on/clamp-on filter, 36mm diameter, as distinct from screw-in (E-series) such as E39 (screw in 39mm).


Cheers,

R.
 
Roger,

No, this is an oddball 39mm rim with the cone shape that fits only the 50/2 Summitar. The mark on it is simply "A" like my yellow has a "1" or my orange has "OR" on it.

Thanks,

William
 
Dear William,

Often, A = 'Kodachrome type A' but this doesn't sound like a clear/greenish filter. Will try more research tomorrow when I'm wider awake (nearly midnight here after a long, thirsty day).

Cheers,

R.
 
Get thee to a bed then, it's hardly an important question :)

Thank you, Roger.

William
 
Wiewisiii,

From the Hove Leica Accessory Guide (2nd edition) regarding various filter designations, pg. 112:

"Post war a series of filters were produced for use with Kodachrome:

Type "A", conversion filter for use with Kodachrome Professional Film type "A"
outdoors in daylight, engraved "A"."

There were other filters listed under this title such as F,FP,CF,PF.SL (skylight).

It's been a long time since i have used Kodachrome film but I believe Kodachrome type A was an indoor film balanced for 3400 Kelvin temperature, (incandescent bulbs). I think daylight Kodachrome was balanced for 5600 K. Your ''A" filter balanced indoor Kodachrome film to render properly when shot outdoors. Undoubtedly there was a filter factor for the Leica "A" filter, but I don't know what it might have been. Also, your filter may have faded over time and be of a different color and density than origonally.
 
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Hmm. I had thought that Kodachrome filter was an orangish shade. No matter.

Ok, a safe one to pop the current glass out of and replace it with the glass from a 39mm UV filter.

Thanks!

William
 
Robert Hooper said:
It's been a long time since i have used Kodachrome film but I believe Kodachrome type A was an indoor film balanced for 3400 Kelvin temperature.
Click to expand...

Not only Kodachrome, the same was valid for many other films of the pre halogen light era. "Quick burning" Type A lamps were/are 3400K, had about 25% more output per Watt, but failed within ten hours. Halogen pretty much replaced them, as they last for hundreds or thousands of hours at the same colour temperature and efficiency. "Long burning" photo/theatrical lamps were/are 3200K, household incandescents were the same or below - amateur incandescent light slide films were generally "Type B".

Filters are 85A from 5500K daylight to Type A film respectively 85B to Type B - for up-conversion you'll perversely need inversely labelled filters (80A from B lamp to daylight film, 80B from A lamp to daylight).

Sevo
 
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They used to make movie camera lighting brackets allowing you to have FOUR of those 3400K bulbs on your camera so you'd have enough light for ISO 16 Type A Kodachrome. The bulbs were 375 watt each so you wouldn't blow a fuse with four of them turned on at the same time.
 
Something you might think about, wiewisiii, is instead of looking for old Leica Summitar filters is to purchase a vintage aftermarket summitar filter adapter which allows series VI filters to attach to the odd Summitar thread configuration. It looks like a Leica Summitar filter without glass and has a retaining ring to hold series VI filters in place. It just so happens that Leica E39 threaded filters will fit perfectly in the series VI slot, so if you have 39mm filters or want to use them, all you need is this adapter. They are frequently available on eBay for around $10. If you decide to go that route, be sure to get an adapter which has a retaining ring with both male and female threads. That way, you can use any series VI lens hood (Tiffin, Kodak, etc) and just screw it on the front.

Take a look at my photos in this thread.
 
I've got the retaining ring on the old filter turne out so that now I have an empty Summitar filter ring. I'll track down a 39mm filter that I can afford and cannibalize the glass from it to make what I need. I don't use many filters - I have a yellow & an orange in the odd Summitar format now and if I can get a UV/Protection filter, I'll be happy. I also have this little IROOA clipon hood so I don't need the Series adaptor for that either.

Wonder if I can find a shop that would cut me a simple 39mm circular piece of flat glass instead? Hmm...

Thanks for all the help folks, I do appreciate it.

William
 
"Wonder if I can find a shop that would cut me a simple 39mm circular piece of flat glass instead? Hmm..."

Here is the name and number of a fellow who used to cut down existing filter glass to fit your supplied filter ring. Hope the number is still valid. It's a few years since I called to get a new Polaroid filter fit to my Leica swing out frame:

David Wombacher 1-253-752-2405
 
I would test the filter in case someone else (besided me) changes the glass out on A (and other) type filters and makes them into UV filters.

A type filters are not that useful anymore. Although they give interesting effects when used woth color Infrared.
 
A is for "Aufsteck" or "Slip-on"

E is for "Einschraub" or "Screw in"

and you sometimes see a letter S for "Serie" and B for "Bayonet"

But not when you see "1A" and "1B" they are variations on "Skylight" which would be "UV" these days and something else but just what I know not.

Apologies if I'm stating the obvious.

Regards, David
 
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Based on experimentation, it seems to really a) be more orangish than my half colorblind eyes originally thought (amazing how colored backgrounds can fool you :bang: ) and b) when held in front of my Canon A590 it definately works as a warming filter which could be useful in some situations. I may have a line on a 39mm UV over at NFF, so I'll go that route but I'll put the other glass away someplace safe too.

Thanks all,

William
 
Brian Sweeney said:
I would test the filter in case someone else (besided me) changes the glass out on A (and other) type filters and makes them into UV filters.


Brian,

How do you find the the correct size UV glass to fit whatever filter ring you are modifying? For instance, what UV filter glass would be interchangeable with an empty Leica Summitar filter ring? I'm thinking trial and error could be an expensive method to find the right fit.
Click to expand...
 
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