E39 filter = generic 39mm filter?

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ywenz

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I have a current model Summicron 50mm which takes E39 filters. Are the E39 just normal 39mm? I don't know why bhphoto only shows "E39" filters as accessories for this lens while there are many more normal 39mm filters.
 
If your 'cron is the current type with a built-in hood, get yourself a Tiffen brand filter. Others, like the Hoya, didn't really let the lens cap fit in... for some odd reason.

Have fun shopping! :)
 
backalley photo said:
A=push-on, E=screw-in type, S=screw on type
Click to expand...
Thanks, I didn't exactly know that. I have a couple of 43mm filters which are ES. I suppose they must be reversed in order to screw on instead of in because one side has threads only on the outside and the other only on the inside.

Anyhow, the Summicron and all other Leica lenses that I know of which take E39 filters take standard pitch 39mm screw-in filters.
 
SolaresLarrave said:
If your 'cron is the current type with a built-in hood, get yourself a Tiffen brand filter. Others, like the Hoya, didn't really let the lens cap fit in... for some odd reason.
Click to expand...
That's true. Even a 42mm slip-on cap doesn't hold very well. I guess a 39mm screw-in cap is the only thing that works well with a Hoya 39mm filter.

Richard
 
This filter nomenclature is very confusing. I understood E to mean thread pitch, in that the lack of the letter meant a "normal" 0.75 pitch, and the presence of it like E39 meant a 0.5 thread pitch.

I have a Leica E43 UV filter and a B+W 43E medium yellow. Both were made for the version 1 & 2 50mm Summilux and both have a 0.5 thread pitch.

 
I'm not surprised that B & W filters allow the lens cap to fit. I have a collection of cheap filters and only the expensive ones don't get stuck on the lens hood of my Hexanon lens. Guess what? They are B & W brand.
 
SolaresLarrave said:
I'm not surprised that B & W filters allow the lens cap to fit. I have a collection of cheap filters and only the expensive ones don't get stuck on the lens hood of my Hexanon lens. Guess what? They are B & W brand.
Click to expand...

It's reputed that B+W makes Leica's current range of filters....
 
Just to add to the confusion, I just recieved two B+W 43mm filters both of which are marked ES and fit on the 50mm nikon lens on my S2. The box on the older one has a stick on label that says "Leitz Cat. No. 424303". I would guess then that some or all leica filters are made by B+W. I wonder if the older Nikon lenses have the same filter thread pitch as Leicas?

Bob
 
The 'E' is short for German 'Einschraubfilter' (or screw-in filter), the 'A' with others is short for 'Aufsteckfilter' (=slip-on filter); the number after the letter gives the thread diameter in mm.
All standard filters up to 82mm have 0.75 pitch, with two exceptions - both 39 and 40.5 mm have 0.5 pitch - and that's true not only for Leica, but all standard 'E'/DIN filters (I guess those two exceptions are due to historical reasons); from 86mm up, standard pitch is 1.

I guess the confusion about Leica filters comes from the fact, that some very old (pre-Summicron) lenses used unique filter sizes, and some Leica lenses (like the Summicron-C for the CL) used series sizes. All 'modern' Leica lenses use the standard pitch mentioned above (signified by 'E'), like lenses from other manufacturers.

I'm not sure what the 'ES' stands for with B+W filters - maybe 'S'limmer filter rims for use with wide-angle lenses? Maybe better coating?

Roman
 
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