Do you need a UV filter for a Summitar?

[noah b]

So I recently picked up a Summitar and have been reading up on the glass and how it's fragile etc. I also read somewhere that Leica started to use some type of UV coating on their lenses in the 50's, and my lens is from the late 40's. I also got the 39mm adapter and a round hood for the lens. Do you guys think a UV filter for this setup is necessary? I'd like to keep my lens safe and all that jazz. I'm never really one for UV filters on any of my lenses, but after reading about the UV coatings and how the glass is fragile, it's got me thinking if one of these filters is worth the time and effort.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

If it will help, a lot of people keep the UV on all the time as it is easier to clean and a lot of people hate filters and never touch them.

Obviously dirt and muck on a filter might ruin it when cleaned badly but it's a lot cheaper than doing the same to the lens' surface.

Equally obviously, the filter may not be made to the same high standards as the lens.

Now you can chose; I'm in the anti filter brigade.

Regards, David

 

[Coldkennels]

I certainly stayed clear of UV filters for years but when I found a collapsible 'Cron in mint condition, I slapped a good quality UV filter in front of it. I'm petrified of damaging the damn thing, and the UV filter gives me a bit of piece of mind.

Now, if the lens in question was any less than mint, I perhaps might not care. I certainly don't have one on my not-so-perfect Summaron.

 

[philipus]

I have a 1950 Summitar with blue coating. I don't find the coating (or the front element) soft at all and haven't had any scratches even though I don't even use a lens cap and just put the camera in my bag.

That said, I am also looking for a UV filter to be on the safe side. I use B+W on my M lenses. I want one that fits in the Summitar's special thread - I don't want to use an adapter - but these filters are difficult to find, though, it seems.

 

[yossarian123]

Unless you've had it recoated, then all Summitars should have a soft coating. I would search for a filter just to protect that front element - either get a summitar-39mm adapter or search for the original Summitar size.

 

[Bingley]

I always use a filter on my Summitar to protect the glass. My sample is uncoated and the glass is pristine.

 

[HuubL]

I always use a filter on my Summitar to protect the glass. My sample is uncoated and the glass is pristine.

.............😉

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Would a uv filter so far away from the front element not induce more flare than the lens already is prone to?
I have a pristine coated Summitar that deserve to be protected but have not considered trying to find a filter just because the design of this filter and the risk of more flare.

 

[Bingley]

Would a uv filter so far away from the front element not induce more flare than the lens already is prone to?
I have a pristine coated Summitar that deserve to be protected but have not considered trying to find a filter just because the design of this filter and the risk of more flare.

With a Summitar, your first line of defense against flare is to use a hood or shade. With a hood, you should not have a problem using the Summitar with a UV or skylight filter. Regarding the post ^^^ on the age of Summitar filters, the work-around is to get an adapter that allows you to use modern 39mm filters on a Summitar. Heavystar sells them, including as part of a set that includes a hood. That's what I use, and it works fine.

 

[philipus]

What flare? 😀

But yes, the original UV filter is difficult to find. I have looked for two years and not seen even one 🙁

 

[Jan Pedersen]

With a Summitar, your first line of defense against flare is to use a hood or shade. With a hood, you should not have a problem using the Summitar with a UV or skylight filter. Regarding the post ^^^ on the age of Summitar filters, the work-around is to get an adapter that allows you to use modern 39mm filters on a Summitar. Heavystar sells them, including as part of a set that includes a hood. That's what I use, and it works fine.

I do use that combo from Heavystar too and it works great and is very inexpensive.
I do remove the adaptor with the shade when not in use so the lens cap can me used but i guess one could install a filter on the adaptor and leave it on the lens, just need a different lens cap then.

 

[kshapero]

I do use that combo from Heavystar too and it works great and is very inexpensive.
I do remove the adaptor with the shade when not in use so the lens cap can me used but i guess one could install a filter on the adaptor and leave it on the lens, just need a different lens cap then.

have a photo of this with hood?

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Indeed, here it is on my IIIf with the Summitar and a Mr Zhou case.

 

[noah b]

I just got the heavystar adapter and lens hood, easy rolling from here!!!

 

[mikepry]

I have the folding Summitar hood as well as the Heavystar adaptor and hood. How do I use a filter and the hood. If I screww a filter into the heavy star adaptor there isn't anywhere to screw the shade into then. Unless does the filter have threads to screw the heavy star shade into??

With the Leitz folding shade I would think the filter wouldn't allow the shade to clamp on. Am I making sense here?!

Thanks for any help.

 

[peterm1]

I almost always us a UV filter to protect my lenses. They do not really degrade the image if of good quality. But they protect the front element from bumps and scratches. They also keep dust and finger prints off hence avoid the need to clean sensitive elements. For a few bucks they are a good investment. Although I use a Leitz one that I have owned for years aftermarket adapters can be found quite cheaply on eBay for the Summitar lens. My advice is do it. Think of it as a kind of insurance. It may never make a difference. But if one day you damage the front element you will most certainly regret not doing it.

A slight bug bear when using UV filters is that many of them (including the Leitz ones) have a slightly smaller external diameter than the external diameter of the body of the lens. This means if you are in the habit of using a Leitz slip on lens cap it will fall off as there is not enough friction to keep it in place when a filter is also mounted. This is a pain in the butt. However its not a problem for those who instead keep a hood in place on their lens instead of a cap. BTW this is not a bad practice as a metal hood on the front of the lens gives good additional protection to the lens. I find that if I carry a camera over my shoulder it can be inclined to swing about on the strap and its easy if you are inattentive to knock the lens against door frames etc when passing through them. The hood helps avoid damage from this as the hood absorbs any impact that occurs.

If you plan to use both a filter and a hood you will need either a filter which has a front screw thread (if you plan to use a threaded hood) or alternatively you will need an original Leitz hood which fits on to the lens with claws which grasps a groove on the side of the lens instead of screwing on to the front of it. The threaded filter and the cheap aftermarket screw in hood is far and away the cheapest option as original Leitz accessories are expensive.

 

[Scrambler]

I have the folding Summitar hood as well as the Heavystar adaptor and hood. How do I use a filter and the hood. If I screww a filter into the heavy star adaptor there isn't anywhere to screw the shade into then. Unless does the filter have threads to screw the heavy star shade into??

With the Leitz folding shade I would think the filter wouldn't allow the shade to clamp on. Am I making sense here?!

Thanks for any help.

I don't have the heavystar adapter or the original hood - so I may be wrong here, but

1) The 39mm filter should have thread for the screw-in hood.
2) The outside diameter of the lens is between 41 and 42mm. Provided the 39mm filter has less outside diameter than the lens, the original hood should fit over (shouldn't it?).
3) Original filters extend past the front of the lens and have the same diameter as the lens. They don't have threads for additional filters/ hoods etc.
4) a generic 42mm push-on filter/hood adapter can be easily adjusted to work with the lens. This is what I use.

 

[mikepry]

Thanks for the input guys I really appreciate it. I was sitting around this morning and realized that I could put on the original barn door Leitz shade and after it was attached THEN screw on the heavy star 39mm adaptor ring. So that is one workaround, right? Or, as Scrambler mentioned in point #1, use the threads on the filter for the metal hood, which begs the question ......... Which shade is better? Barn doors or aftermarket from heavy star? I would think the barn doors would be simply because of the coverage. My style of shooting is far from rapid but rather more contemplative so the Leitz shade wouldn't be a restriction. Just funky looking that's all!

 

[Dektol Dan]

How to Make Late Model Summitar Filter

How to Make Late Model Summitar Filter

1. Get an old Summitar filter of any color. I bought 4 for $20 years back, now they are around $20 eBay; anymore than that walk away.
HOWEVER, you must find the Leitz made filters, and even if they say Leitz there is a good chance that they are repackaged Zeiss filters. The Leitz filters have a screw on ring for the glass. The one's you don't want have glued in glass.

2. Get yourself a nice 39mm B&W filter. B&W's have the glass held in place by a retainer ring. Unscrew it, remove the glass, and put it in the Summitar filter. You're done!

Look at my filter.

Notice it has the gap in the retainer ring so that the tool of you choice can be inserted to turn the ring.

Notice that my filter says 'Or', well it ain't now; it's a brand new B&W multicoat.