Filters on wideangle lenses and flare ??

[Bertram2]

Hi to all,

from the beginning on I had a B&W UV filter on my CV 4/25 and did not even think about the possibility , that it could make the lens make prone to flare.

The lens showed an extreme sensitivity tho , any light source coming from an angle of view of about 90° ( that is almost the lens' complete angle of view) could cause serious flare and messed up pics totally. I thought abot buying a rectangular lens hood, but after a lot of going back and forth I didn't because it is so large and expensive and not really tailored to the 25, it fits for the 21 too.

Recently I read the complaints of an RD-1 user about his RD-1 producing strange effects and it turned out to be a cheap filter. Tho I always thought a B&W multicoated filter could not really cause probs I left it off while shooting in sunny Mallorca some weeks ago and , I can't believe it , the old probs are gone !!!
I did not try yet to point directly to the sun but i expect even this abuse will allow more acceptable results in future.

Theoretically I knew of course that all glass to air surfaces add a critical zone to alens design but I admit I am totally surprised to find this truth confirmed so brutally ?

Meanwhile I take the 72mm filter off for shooting which is usually mounted on my Tamron zoom and my impression is that if the light source is anywhere in the angle of the lens the pics get clearer than before .

Did any of you have similar experiences with (top quality) filters on wides producing such amazing negative effects ?

Worst is that I am feeling like a true idiot now because I always told those who asked me yes, take care, this lens is prone to flare ! 🙁

Regards,
Bertram

 

[djon]

I also answered your question on Gandy's list.

1) I do prefer to buy B+H and Hoya, but I don't believe they're better than Kenko or Tiffen. Just IMO.

2) My CV 25 has a Leica 39mm UV screwed into the standard shade...(perfect fit, doesn't clip corners of images).
3) My Canon 24 2.8 SSC (slr) has a Kenko and appropriate Canon shade.
4) The CV shade is much less adequate than the Canon shade. Too small.
5) When the Canon flares it does so under worse conditions and it makes a haze.
6) When the CV flares it does so suddenly under relatively non-challenging conditions and it makes sharply defined flare figures.
7) All of my 35mm camera lenses wear UV filters because I'm protective of their optical condition. I don't believe filters affect sharpness. They probably do affect flare.

 

[Poptart]

If you apply the 21mm's shade over (after) the filter, it should give you the extra necessary to make it a 25mm lens depth and help shade the filter glass.

 

[djon]

The 25/shade is designed for an internal filter (no increased depth due to shade on top of filter).

 

[Bertram2]

john,
>6) When the CV flares it does so suddenly under relatively non-challenging >conditions and it makes sharply defined flare figures.
Agreed, that's the way it happens. Especially annoying the often surprising and unexpected mess, which lets me tend to the filter beein the main prob.

>7) All of my 35mm camera lenses wear UV filters because I'm protective of their >optical condition. I don't believe filters affect sharpness. They probably do affect >flare.
Same here. I must test it more systematically to find out what effect on flare the filter has.
Best,
Bertram