Filters- Leica vs B+W or none?!

[next1]

yes.. B+W seems alot easier to clean off any stain. I was shooting with a leica UV filter in Istanbul when I sneezed uncontrollably, a tiny speck of my saliva landed on the filter and no matter how hard I wipe, the stain stays. B+W has a layer of "oil", stains was easy to wipe off. Am very impressed with them.

But Im really curious about the optic quality of Leica vs B+W. Someone care to shed some light?

It must have been after that fish sandwich or after the Raki shot...?

 

[jplomley]

Good luck getting the B+W filters to work on the 55mm threaded Asph lenses (21/24). They occlude the notch that the lens hood slips into. In this instance, only the Leica UVa filter will work. Otherwise, I use MRC 010 on the 28 and 35 Cron Asph.

 

[Bruin]

B+W MRC, Heliopan SH-PMC, and Hoya HD are very similar - 8 layer per side multicoatings with a low surface tension, hard top layer. These are the finest filter coatings available today. Hoya SMC has 6 layers per side, HMC has 3.

Filter quality is not rocket science...there's the mount, glass, and coating. All the better filter makers use good optical glass, so it mostly comes down to the mount and coating. I really don't understand why people buy Leica filters. Cameras and lenses I can understand, but not filters.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

With black and white film, I use B+W contrast filters but otherwise I preferred hoods for lens protection.

However, since obtaining a M8.2, I use B+W UV/IR filters on most of my lenses now.

Interestingly, the lens caps on my ZM 50/2 Planar and ZM 35/2 Biogon seem to stay put better now they attach to a filter instead of the lens.

 

[johnastovall]

All my M lenses have Leica, B+W or Heliopan IR cut filters on all the time so I don't have to worry about it when I switch them between the M8, M7 or M4.

 

[dovevadar]

How did you know!? haha. I was really having fish sandwich and sipping raki by the shore. !!!

It must have been after that fish sandwich or after the Raki shot...?

hey, I used a 55 on elmarit 24.. it works perfect. nothing was obstructing the hood.

Good luck getting the B+W filters to work on the 55mm threaded Asph lenses (21/24). They occlude the notch that the lens hood slips into. In this instance, only the Leica UVa filter will work. Otherwise, I use MRC 010 on the 28 and 35 Cron Asph.

 

[next1]

How did you know!? haha. I was really having fish sandwich and sipping raki by the shore. !!!


Been there done that! I think I am allergic to raki or something... I couldn't stop sneezing after the damn thing!

 

[peter_n]

Good luck getting the B+W filters to work on the 55mm threaded Asph lenses (21/24). They occlude the notch that the lens hood slips into. In this instance, only the Leica UVa filter will work. Otherwise, I use MRC 010 on the 28 and 35 Cron Asph.

I have a B+W MRC UV filter on my 24/2.8 ASPH, and the hood goes on over it OK. A bit tight yes, but it goes on. The filter is the F-Pro, and its diameter is infinitesimally smaller than the front lens diameter, so that the hood fits into the notch on the lens nicely. The B+W product nr. is 66070216.

 

[Wiyum]

I use hoods instead of UV filters for protection and I've certainly noticed the difference in my pictures.

Meanwhile, in instances where I need filters I tend to use Hoyas instead of B+W (which I'd likely prefer) because for many exotic filters B+W doesn't offer them coated at all. I find this insane, because the filters we're talking about are those that normal consumers won't frequently reach for, and those that pros would pay more for to ensure they are coated.

 

[dovevadar]

I use hoods instead of UV filters for protection and I've certainly noticed the difference in my pictures.

Meanwhile, in instances where I need filters I tend to use Hoyas instead of B+W (which I'd likely prefer) because for many exotic filters B+W doesn't offer them coated at all. I find this insane, because the filters we're talking about are those that normal consumers won't frequently reach for, and those that pros would pay more for to ensure they are coated.

hmm.. thats a good point.. I notice the exotic filters arent coated too. but you mentioned "difference" in your pictures.. what kind of difference? It will be interesting to know.. contrast or more flare?

Hmm.. seems like B+W is the prefered filter yet Leica's are still so expensive. I have heard of people claiming that the Leica modern filters are superb optically, much better than B+W.. i wonder how true....

 

[sahe69]

Meanwhile, in instances where I need filters I tend to use Hoyas instead of B+W (which I'd likely prefer) because for many exotic filters B+W doesn't offer them coated at all.

Could you elaborate on this?

 

[sahe69]

Been there done that! I think I am allergic to raki or something... I couldn't stop sneezing after the damn thing!

It's not supposed to be sniffed! 😛

 

[peter_n]

Hmm.. seems like B+W is the prefered filter yet Leica's are still so expensive. I have heard of people claiming that the Leica modern filters are superb optically, much better than B+W.. i wonder how true....

AFAIK the Leica filters are single-coated from B+W (i.e. Schott glass). You have to pay extra if it says L E I C A on the filter ring.

 

[ampguy]

Any filter can be bad if shooting towards the sun or certain types of backlight. Check my latest blog photo for an example with the 15/4.5 on M8 - couldn't have been taken and looked this way with a filter, IME.

 

[thomasw_]

AFAIK the Leica filters are single-coated from B+W (i.e. Schott glass). You have to pay extra if it says L E I C A on the filter ring.

This is my understanding, too.

I use B+W UV filters on every lens. Excellent product. Sometimes I use a red, green, yellow or orange filter if the mood warrants.

 

[ferider]

Newer Leica filters (UV/IR) are made by Hoya.

Note that MRC Hoya filters are very good. I prefer B+W though since I find them easier to clean.

Roland.

 

[Brad Maestas]

I voted 'commando' because lately I have been going sans-UV's even though I own both B+W and Leica filters. In the past, with my D/SLR's, I'd often find myself in dusty or otherwise compromising situations so I would always have a filter on my lenses. It became habit to buy a filter with a new lens and keep it on forever. Later, I began using them only when they were really needed.

My 35 Cron IV came with a Leica UV filter and when I recently bought my 50 Cron I got a used B+W UV to go with it. Being very small and light, they ride along with me when I bring a bag and are deployed when the time is right. After having been one of the UV stalwarts, I was curious as to how things might change omitting the two additional transmission surfaces. The Leica filter is definitely machined out of aluminum and compared to the brass B+W, it feels light and flimsy.

There is something to be said about them protecting the coatings over the long-term, especially from overly-aggressive cleaning. Usually a lens will be more valuable if it was (certifiably) protected for its entire life. Of course this can be hard to prove but with some careful examination with a flashlight, one can see if it has ever been touched (or at least if any marks have been left behind). This gave me some peace of mind when I bought my 35 Cron. In the end I guess it just depends on how much of a klutz you are and if you are prone to spilling or otherwise contaminating your lenses. It's a bit of a mash-up really. There will always be the UV advocates, klutzes and collectors alike and likewise, there will always be the no-filter advocates, oftentimes old-skoolers or optics geeks. To each his own!

 

[kywong]

We owe it to future generations to protect these gems.

 

[next1]

It's not supposed to be sniffed! 😛

Ahhhhhhhh!😱

 

[Chris101]

Ahhhhhhhh!😱

I might be wrong, but you mean sipping sake, right? Cause isn't raki where they massage you without contact?