Canon LTM Lens hood with filter setup for Canon LTM 50mm 1.8?

[Forest_rain]

I'm looking to use a filter (CPL) with Canon LTM 1.8, and a hood. Wondering what the most ideal setup to use is.

My idea is to mount a 40mm to 40.5mm step-up ring, then mount a 40.5 CPL filter, then mount a screw in lens hood.

The other option is to use a 58mm CPL on the 58mm screw in threads. This would allow me to use this CPL filter on all my cameras with using a step up ring.

I've done this on my 20mm 1.7 Panasonic Micro 4/3 lens on digital - it works fine. However will mounting a filter on the front of the hood, rather than on the front of the lens, cause problems with flare on film?

I've heard the clamp on hood for the Canon lens doesn't work well.

Or perhaps a hood is not necessary at all if I'm using a CPL filter?

 

[dourbalistar]

You could try this vented hood, which has 52mm front filter threads:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/845905-REG/vello_lhf_x10_fuji_x10_lens_hood.html

 

[peterm1]

Over the years I have often used 40mm step up rings to mount various accessories (filters and hoods) on my Canon LTM lenses. My favored rig was not 40mm to 40.5 though, it was 40mm to 43mm. I found back then at least that 43mm was reasonably common for filters and hoods of various types and had the added advantage that 43mm was big enough in diameter to allow me to use the one filter and or hood with various lenses other than the Canon simply by swapping out the step up ring. (And why 43mm? well I found that 43mm is not so large as to be a bit ungainly in size but big enough to give lots of flexibility). My main purpose in using this combo in this way is that I can use the same accessories for 39mm (various Leica) lenses, 40mm (Canon) lenses, 40.5mm (Zeiss and Zeiss derivative) lenses, 41mm lenses (Leica Summarit). This was especially a factor when some filters could be pricey and hard to find - e.g. IR Cut filters for use on M8 cameras. But even if this is not a factor it is still a convenience.

Do you really need a hood as well as a filter? Maybe not but I like to use hoods anyway because they provide added protection for the front of the lens. Can placing a filter at the front of the hood cause flare. Yes in some situations it might - I mean technically that is what hoods are for - to shade the front element of the lens. So at the very least you are losing that benefit if you mount the filter at the front of the hood.........

 

[retinax]

You need to be able to see through a polarizer, so mounting one in front of a vented hood should work.

 

[zenza]

There's a Fuji hood that mounts to 40mm and gives 43mm filter threads (or was it 52mm?) to then mount filters onto. I believe it's for the X10 series.

I've been trying to find a 40-43 stepup for ages and they're impossible to find. Just decided to put a thin strip of electrical tape around the Lens filter ring so I can use my 39mm filters. Seems very strong and reliable but obviously not ideal.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

It would be easier to use a polarizer if you find a linear polarizer with index marks so you know your effect without having to see through it. Otherwise, the best solution would be to find one of the devices which swivel the polarizer 180 degrees away from the lens, in front of the viewfinder, so you can see both your composition and your amount of polarization. Attaching it all to that lens is going to be something different altogether. You may try Heavystar on ebay, who sells a lot of hoods and filter adapters, they may have one that fits your lens. You could always have one custom machined if you want to use the internal threads of the lens. A good option would be to modify a Leica 12585 hood to clamp on your Canon lens. Probably not a difficult task. Finding the original hood, probably a clamp-on, would be the best solution. You can always find a Series VI adapter for both the filter and the hood. That's what I use on motion picture lenses and many people still use them, in spite of their being fuddy duddy. Good luck.
Phil Forrest

 

[Forest_rain]

I didn't even think of that - you'd have to align the polarizer before attaching it to the lens, you're right. Some pain involved using rangefinders, I'm finding, even though I'm enjoying them more than SLRs, for some reason.

Probably the simplest way would be to get a polarizer with one of those knobs that turn it, align the polarizer by looking through it before attaching it to the lens, then make sure the turning knob is aligned properly after you screw it in.

Thanks for the info.

It would be easier to use a polarizer if you find a linear polarizer with index marks so you know your effect without having to see through it. Otherwise, the best solution would be to find one of the devices which swivel the polarizer 180 degrees away from the lens, in front of the viewfinder, so you can see both your composition and your amount of polarization. Attaching it all to that lens is going to be something different altogether. You may try Heavystar on ebay, who sells a lot of hoods and filter adapters, they may have one that fits your lens. You could always have one custom machined if you want to use the internal threads of the lens. A good option would be to modify a Leica 12585 hood to clamp on your Canon lens. Probably not a difficult task. Finding the original hood, probably a clamp-on, would be the best solution. You can always find a Series VI adapter for both the filter and the hood. That's what I use on motion picture lenses and many people still use them, in spite of their being fuddy duddy. Good luck.
Phil Forrest

 

[dourbalistar]

There's a Fuji hood that mounts to 40mm and gives 43mm filter threads (or was it 52mm?) to then mount filters onto. I believe it's for the X10 series.

Yup, I linked a generic Vello-branded one in Post #2. Fuji makes an OEM hood, cap, filter set, but it's more than triple the price. 😱

 

[Deleted member 65559]

. A good option would be to modify a Leica 12585 hood to clamp on your Canon lens. Probably not a difficult task. Finding the original hood, probably a clamp-on, would be the best solution. Good luck.
Phil Forrest

Phil, I don't think you'll see Forest springing for a 12585 hood. At their current price you could find a Canon 50 1.4 lens.

 

[peterm1]

I have just realized that you plan to use this set up with a rangefinder camera. For some reason I assumed you were planning to use a mirrorless digital. Sorry, my bad.

If using a rangefinder, which camera are you planning to use? If it is a Leica M one option is to try to find a Leica polarizer with a swing out arm (I forget the designation used by Leica). The swing out arm allows the polarizer to swing 180 degrees so it is able to be aligned in front of the rangefinder window making it easy to rotate the polarizer while viewing the effect through the finder. The polarizing lens is simply rotated till the correct effect is achieved then swung back in front of the lens to take the picture. As the lens holder rotates 180 degrees the polarizing effect "viewed" by the lens will be the same as that you saw through the finder.

It's often expensive (of course)though I found an old model cheaply as the polarizing lens was damaged. This was easily fixed by scavenging a replacement lens from a polarizing filter picked up for a couple of bucks from a camera store parts bin. Problem is this device is designed to mount on a 39mm not 40mm diameter lens so you may also need a 40-39mm step down ring and a 39mm UV filter to give the filter (which mounts with a thumb screw) something to grip onto. There is a chance that it will fit onto a Canon 50mm f1.8 without the above (I seem to recall I tried it at some stage). Mine is presently in storage but later in the day I will have a look.)

It is an expensive solution but it would work best for Leica M rangefinder use. Advantages - you can also use it with any 39mm diameter Leica lens if you have any and it gives you a polarizer and hood in one integrated piece of kit. Disadvantage - not cheap

The older model

A newer and undoubtedly much more expensive version. The pic shows how it works.

Another kind occasionally found is the one depicted below. Its a pain to use as the polarizer has index marks to help align the filter correctly. In use it requires you to take it off the lens, view the subject through the filter, rotate the front ring till you get the desired effect then reattach it to the lens in the same orientation. Again you would need a 40 to 39mm step down ring. Though it is screw in not clamp fit so may be slightly easier to mount on the Canon.

 

[davhill]

“Leitz Wetzlar Leica swing out polarizer 13352x”
Or “Leica E41 FINON Swing Out Polarizer”
Or “Leica FISUM Polarizer A41 Clamp-On Swing Out Polarizing Filter”
&etc, other designations

The indexed polarizer is
“Leica Leitz POOTR E39 39mm Polarizer”

Numerous choices on ebay, $16 .. $200

 

[peterm1]

Per my post below, I have found my early version (see photo 1 in my post, below) of the Leica polarizer and can confirm that it fits nicely on both the chrome and later black and chrome versions of the Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM lens without any struggle or need for a step down ring. I thought I had tried it and it had worked, but was not sure. Looks seriously cool too. So should you be tempted to go down this path just know that it is feasible.

One piece of maybe useful advice. As indicated below too, the polarizing lens is relatively new on mine as when I bought the gizmo, the original polarizing lens had what looked to be separation issues - it seems to be some kind of laminated lens which I presume is needed to polarize the incoming light. Replacing it was easy - the integral hood unscrews then the filter retaining ring unscrews too, allowing the old polarizing lens to be removed in preparation for a new one to be fitted. A new one was purchased and similarly I removed that from its mounting ring in the same way (you just need to buy a polarizing filter in which the retaining ring is removable so you can get the glass out easily - not all are.) I think it was 46mm?? If correctly sized it should drop in. I only mention this as I have seen a few old Leica polarizers with this kind of issue and its a cheap way of getting a good one to use as it is a 5 minute fix once you find a replacement lens in the correct size. Just try to estimate the actual diameter of the replacement glass so it matches the one you are replacing - not all filters of 46mm thread diameter have exactly the same glass size and if it is slightly too large, of course is will not fit.