Filter brands for Leica monochrome

[mrtoml]

I am thinking of getting some more colour filters for my M10-M. I have an old cheap set (red/orange/yellow) for my Zeiss lenses but want to get a better set of filters for these lenses and others.

Is there any consensus on the best brands? I am reading that cheap brands can degrade image quality so there is not much point in putting degrading glass in front of an expensive lens.

TIA.

 

[GMOG]

Can't go wrong with B+W filters. I have a few, ND, yellow, red. The yellows pretty much live on their lenses. I'm shooting a Typ246 Monochrom.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I'm with Greg, definitely B+W filters. They're the only ones I have anymore, that I regularly use.

And yes, a filter can definitely degrade your image quality. I've got some of the original filters for my Nikon S2 lenses, and as much as I love using original pieces of equipment together, they really do degrade the image.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Dogman]

Agree with B+W. Excellent filters.


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[38Deardorff]

B+W, Heliopan, Leitz....whatever you can get your hands on

 

[raydm6]

Another vote for B+W & Leitz.

 

[agentlossing]

Tiffen isn't the best thought of, they're on the inexpensive side, but I've found their deep yellow filter produces good results on the Pentax Monochrome. Most yellow filters are too subtle for digital monochrome, but this one works pretty well. I'm not aware of the same filter being produced by the higher quality brands.

 

[ellisson]

Breakthrough Photography. Good quality, Leica shops sell them.

 

[JeffS7444]

I'd mostly look for availability in the desired size, and the sort of optical coating used, if any. My top choice would be some sort of modern "nano" coating designed not only to reduce flare, but repel dust and fingerprints. Next would be multicoated.

 

[Freakscene]

Heliopan SH-PMC.

 

[Richard G]

Filter Types

Discover the world of B+W filters and find the right one for your photographic needs. Explore our range of filter types and enhance your creativity.

schneiderkreuznach.com

My first was a tungsten blue filter 49 years ago. The mounts are as good as the glass. But I have a cheaper Vivitar deep yellow filter that came with my 35 C Biogon that has done well on the Monochrom.


End of winter by Richard, on Flickr

In this one the sun is just off to the right. No flare.



New build by Richard, on Flickr

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Someone who was in the position to know told me - perhaps 20-years ago - the glass in my favorite Leica filters were manufactured by none other than Hoya. For years after that I stopped buying Leica filters (which were more than twice as much) in favor of B+W and Hoya. My pictures never knew the difference. This was on film though.

Back in the M8 days when IR-Cut filters were necessary, I used B+W unless I got them from Leica for free. Once again, I couldn't tell the difference.

 

[raydm6]

I never heard of the Hoya sourcing for modern filters (although that seems to be the consensus on the internet) but I thought I read somewhere that their legacy filters were sourced from Schneider/B+W (at least in part) if not from other German makers.

 

[Freakscene]

I never heard of the Hoya sourcing for modern filters (although that seems to be the consensus on the internet) but I thought I read somewhere that their legacy filters were sourced from Schneider/B+W (at least in part) if not from other German makers.

The modern Leica filters are definitely from Hoya. Hoya also made some of Leica’s early moulded aspherical elements.

The Hoya HMC filters are excellent, but they have aluminium rings. I use them a lot; I bought a pile for my Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome. They are less sticky on Pentax lens threads than Leica ones, but brass rings are still the best.

 

[Ccoppola82]

39mm I have mostly leitz but the rest are B+W

 

[raydm6]

The modern Leica filters are definitely from Hoya. Hoya also made some of Leica’s early moulded aspherical elements.

The Hoya HMC filters are excellent, but they have aluminium rings. I use them a lot; I bought a pile for my Pentax K-3 iii Monochrome. They are less sticky on Pentax lens threads than Leica ones, but brass rings are still the best.

Yes, I agree. I work in hi-tech and I’ve seen issues with similar threaded metals (e.g., aluminum on aluminum) and problems with galling.

 

[splitimageview]

Partial to Heliopan and Biermann + Weber.

Brass threads FTW!

 

[Godfrey]

B+W, Heliopan, or Hoya Pro are all good quality filters. Tiffen mounts are often aluminum and can cause problems with some lenses.

G

 

[PRJ]

I probably have more than 100 filters in my filter drawer. I agree with everyone above. IMO I would go with Heliopan first, then B+W but I don't turn up my nose at Hoya or Kenko as long as they are multicoated. Brass is always better though. I don't know what is available new today but a lot of filters are no longer made. One Orange in particular that I favor these days is difficult to find even used.

 

[mrtoml]

Thanks for all your replies. The votes are:

B+W 10
Heliopan 5
Leitz 3
Hoya 3
Tiffen 1
Breakthough photography 1
Vivitar 1
Kenko 1
Nano/multicoated and brass preferable.

I will check these out.