Need help with filter for a 50 Summilux (E43 version)

[awilder]

I'm looking for a UV filter to use with a 50 Summilux (E43) and it's clip-on Leica hood. Other than the Leica version of the UV filter, is the slim version of the Heliopan slim enough to work with the hood and is the Heliopan's thread pitch of 0.75 a problem? Any input from those actually using the Heliopan on this lens with hood would be nice. Thanks.

 

[sleepyhead]

I have not used a Heliopan slim on this lens, but I have used both a B+W UV and a Hoya UV with no problems (neither are slim, and neither interfered with the hood).

 

[awilder]

My biggest concern is with the thread pitch of 0.75 for the filter while the lens is supposedly 0.5. Unfortunately, I don't have the lens to try with the filter as it's being serviced. I have read on various posts that some 0.75 thread pitch filters work fine and others have had trouble either mounting them or with the length preventing hood use.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I have not used a Heliopan slim on this lens, but I have used both a B+W UV and a Hoya UV with no problems (neither are slim, and neither interfered with the hood).

Pardon me, but I don't think so... I purchased my 50mm LHSA Summilux shortly after they were released and tried a number of filters brands on it, including Hoya and B+W, and none worked properly with the reversible shade. I finally tracked down a used E43 Leitz UVa filter -- its diameter is slightly smaller compared to the front of the lens, allowing the reversible shade to ship over it... works like a charm.

There may be someone out there who currently makes a filter that works on this lens with the shade, but I am not aware of it.

 

[sleepyhead]

Pardon me, but I don't think so... I purchased my 50mm LHSA Summilux shortly after they were released and tried a number of filters brands on it, including Hoya and B+W, and none worked properly with the reversible shade. I finally tracked down a used E43 Leitz UVa filter -- its diameter is slightly smaller compared to the front of the lens, allowing the reversible shade to ship over it... works like a charm.

There may be someone out there who currently makes a filter that works on this lens with the shade, but I am not aware of it.

It could be that I'm confusing the E43 summilux and its shade with the 50mm Summicron and its reversible shade, if so I apologise. Will check this evening, as I have the E43 Summilux with a B+W filter on it, and I have the reversible shade.

 

[peter_n]

My biggest concern is with the thread pitch of 0.75 for the filter while the lens is supposedly 0.5. Unfortunately, I don't have the lens to try with the filter as it's being serviced. I have read on various posts that some 0.75 thread pitch filters work fine and others have had trouble either mounting them or with the length preventing hood use.

You are right on both counts. I have a B+W E43 on mine and a screw-in hood. Some of the B+W filters will screw in and some just spin around, it must be a tolerance issue. I have read that B+W make the E43 with a 0.5 thread pitch but I don't believe it - the thread density looks the same as other 0.75 pitch filters. OTOH all Hoya 0.75 filters will reliably screw in to the E43 50 Summilux.

The best solution is to buy an old E43 slim Leitz filter and replace the glass with B+W MRC glass. Then you have a modern filter plus the hood you want. 🙂

 

[awilder]

Just took delivery on a Leitz used chrome 13206 UVa from KEH. Definitely smaller in diameter (44mm vs 45mm) than a B+W or Heliopan, about 1 mm shorter height than the slim version of the Heliopan and it has a very fine thread pitch to match the 0.45mm pitch of the Summilux threads. I can see why they are sought after for this lens if one plans to use the Leitz hood.

 

[Rob-F]

I bought the B+W because I wanted the MRC coating. When the 12585 hood wouldn't clip to the lens with the filter in the way, I used my dremal moto-tool to cut a groove in the filter. Now the hood clips to the filter, instead of the lens, when this filter is mounted.

 

[awilder]

The coating on the Leitz filter isn't too bad, cerainly on par with the best single coated glass today despite it's age and frankly a little better in reflection suppression than a single coat Heliopan. I'd be more inclined to find a multicoated filter if the Summilux had multicoated glass, but it doesn't.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

The B+W Filter works fine on the original E43 lens i had and allows the lens hood to clip on. Since getting the LHSA 43 ASPH version, these B+W filters fit but not the supplied lenshade - it won't slide over the filter. So i have reverted to the Leica/Leitz filters instead. FWIW i did find that the Leica/Leitz had a slight ridge that kept the lenshade from slipping off, which it had a tendency to do on the original E43 lens when using the B+W filters. You can also use the Waltz Nikon 50/1.4 vented 43mm screw in lenshade on both versions of the lens if you want to use the Heliopan and B+W versions.