farlymac
PF McFarland
Is it worth it to get a set of Summitar filters, or would I be better off just sticking with an adapter, and newer E39 size filters such as B+W?
PF
PF
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I bought a used yellow Summitar filter the dedicated kind with the tapered shape. It doesn’t seem like it has any coating because it reflected like a mirror. I then got an E39 adapter and also the metal Leica screw on hood for the 50mm Elmar-M and like the combination.
peterm1
Veteran
An old Summitar filter will only be single coated (assuming it is post war - anything prewar would not be coated at all unless coatings were added in the 1950s - a service Leica offered - for lenses at least). If you are shooting a Summitar you need to accept that it too is only single coated. So I do not think it will make that much difference though there might be a small amount of extra flare if mounting an extra piece of single coated glass and shooting against the light. In general I would not worry. I have a Summitar (LTM - circa 1950) and use it with older filters and it has never bothered me.
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
I've shot with and without my Summitar orange filter. There's no more flare than before, and it looks spot on with the lens. If you ever move them on, a good set of Leica filters are more likely to retain value than aftermarket.
My Summitar is from 1940 and uncoated, I use it with an original Leica yellow filter. Perhaps a modern coated would be better, but my guess it is a very marginal improvement at best.
Bingley
Veteran
I have one or two Summitar filters, but getting an adapter so you can use 39mm filters will give you many more options. As a practical matter, I use an adapter and 39mm filters, with a generic hood that screws into the filter. Works great.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Thanks for all the replies. My main concern was for the filters possibly being a bit faded, thus changing the intensity of their effect, but the reflective qualities should also be taken into consideration. I've already got a 39mm adapter (cheap heavystar SNHOO knock-off which I painted the inside flat black), some B+W filters, and the 12585H hood that I read about in another post, so I'm set to go.
Yeah, Charles, my idea was if you're going to buy a vintage lens, then maybe having the filters designed for it would be a selling point further down the line (way down the line I hope), but then I passed on getting the SOOPD hood as more of a collectible oddity than something that would add to the overall value of the lens. I may still get one later on though, as well as a set of the filters. But only like one a month instead of all at once.
On another note, I found what likely was a late version of the SOOTF adapter which allows Summitar filters to be mounted on an A36 lens, but it includes a built in ring for E39 filters. All the other examples I saw only had the Summitar threads.
I've already shot a test roll where I used a vintage chrome ring E39 Yellow 2 Leitz filter I happened to have on some of the frames, and will get the film developed once I have another roll or two ready to send in.
Can't wait to get the IIIf back from an overhaul so I don't have to rely on the Bessa-R.
PF
Yeah, Charles, my idea was if you're going to buy a vintage lens, then maybe having the filters designed for it would be a selling point further down the line (way down the line I hope), but then I passed on getting the SOOPD hood as more of a collectible oddity than something that would add to the overall value of the lens. I may still get one later on though, as well as a set of the filters. But only like one a month instead of all at once.
On another note, I found what likely was a late version of the SOOTF adapter which allows Summitar filters to be mounted on an A36 lens, but it includes a built in ring for E39 filters. All the other examples I saw only had the Summitar threads.
I've already shot a test roll where I used a vintage chrome ring E39 Yellow 2 Leitz filter I happened to have on some of the frames, and will get the film developed once I have another roll or two ready to send in.
Can't wait to get the IIIf back from an overhaul so I don't have to rely on the Bessa-R.
PF
farlymac
PF McFarland
Okay, the SOOTF arrived today, and what I found was that besides the Summitar filter threads, it also includes a set of E41 (Summarit 50/1.5) threads, not E39. This must be a late version as all the others I saw only had the Summitar threads. Don't know as I'll get a Summarit anytime soon, but who knows. Cheapest one I came across in a quick search was just over $500 including both caps, an Auto-Up, SL filter, and XOONS hood. The filter was faded and separating, and the lens was a scratched up wreck. Time to walk away from that one.
PF
farlymac
PF McFarland
An Update: When I installed the SNHOO copy to the Summitar, it got stuck. Several times. So I worked the threads over with a Dremel tool bronze brush to sort of smooth them out, but that didn't help either. Then when I compared it with an actual Summitar filter, I found that it goes on the lens much deeper, and bottoms out. That's where the sticking occurs. So I'll have to bite the bullet, and get a proper Leitz 13078Y adapter. Reason for the adapter is the Summaron and Summitar lenses never had Red 25 filters, but a series of three strengths for IR photography. A Red 25 equivalent didn't arrive until the E39 size was introduced with the Summicron 50/2.
I eventually purchased enough Summitar filters to satisfy me, and went ahead and did the same in A36 for the Summaron 35/3.5, and 39E (B+H) for the Elmar 90/4. Maybe a bit of overkill, but it was easier than trying to find a hood to use with any adapter attached. And if I sell any of the lenses I have filters to go with them to sweeten the deal.
PF
I eventually purchased enough Summitar filters to satisfy me, and went ahead and did the same in A36 for the Summaron 35/3.5, and 39E (B+H) for the Elmar 90/4. Maybe a bit of overkill, but it was easier than trying to find a hood to use with any adapter attached. And if I sell any of the lenses I have filters to go with them to sweeten the deal.
PF