re: filter for 35/f 2 asph???

[wen]

re: filter for 35/f 2 asph???

hello,

I always got uv or sky filter for lens...not for saturate or correct color, etc. but feel better that there is a protection...

when I tried to buy the filter for this new 35/f2 lens, the photo store dealer said is not recommand...said something like leica lens is design to shoot like it is, putting a filter will reduce it's performance...I have never heard that before...really like what he is talking about???

 

[erikhaugsby]

"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link" fits this very well.

Filters are pieces of glass (or crystal, if you want to be specific on some of the cheaper filters), and when this glass (crystal) is not made at the same level of quality as the lens, the apparent quality of the lens+filter combination is degraded from what the quality of the lens alone is.

Hope that helps.

By the way, some people say you should always use a UV or Skylight filter to protect the fromt element of a lens, I don't as I find a quality lens hood works just as well.

 

[Rod Fung]

In my shooting over the last 25 years I have always used a UV on the front of my glass. Especially considering the cost and value of my Leica glass I feel I need to protect it. I also highly distain using lens caps when working on the street and in the field (I hate looking for them, putting them someplace, or having it on when a shot arises, etc...) so having something clear protecting the front of my lens gives me that extra level of security. I'm willing to sacrifice any degradation that people might say that I get by adding the additional glass in front of my lens, but honeslty I can't see any difference in my picture results with or without the UV. I also shoot motion-picture and use various pieces of glass in front of those arri's and aatons (nets, 85's, ND's etc...) and have never been worried about picture quality. On my Leica lenses I use only Leica filters but I think they are OEM'd by B&W. An additional side benefit of using UV's in front of my glass is that I'm not cleaning the front element of the lens very often (if ever) as I think improper cleaning will do more harm to your lens than leaving them alone.

 

[jaapv]

The official Leica recommendation is to use a filter only if you need to, as a small degradation will take place, especially with wideangle lenses. I never use one and never damaged a lens through not using one in 35 years, but on the other hand, if it buys you peace of mind, why not? If the degradation, that really does exist btw, can be actually seen is a point of debate.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[E_Aiken]

i always use one. Grime, acid rain, soot, splashing, sand in the wind, bumps against fences/gates, accidental finger smudges, spit from those not wanting their pictures taken, materials flying through the air either festive or aggressive, smog... I've got good lenses at the cost of several ruined filters. I get B+W and feel good with them, and it's a lot easier to trash one of those than my 35.

 

[wen]

thanks so much for all the advices...I think I am going to go for it...

so, when putting a filter (UV), will this change the meter reading??? I have a MP. Do I need to ingore the reading the MP gives me, and open up???

 

[E_Aiken]

nah, UV filter shouldn't affect your metering unless you're going to get down to like 1/11th of a stop...

 

[photocrazy]

I always attach a UV/Skylight filter in front of my lens, whether it's Leica, Nikkor or whatever. Without it, I have to frequently clean the lens surface which is prone to attract dusts, grimes, stains...In a long run, this would damage the coating or scratch the glass. Actually, a filter's impact on the final image quality is minimal and could be neglected if the filter is of high quality. The only obvious problem is when you shoot with a filter against a light source, which could make the lens flare severely.

 

[Andrew Touchon]

I always attach a UV/Skylight filter in front of my lens, whether it's Leica, Nikkor or whatever. Without it, I have to frequently clean the lens surface which is prone to attract dusts, grimes, stains...In a long run, this would damage the coating or scratch the glass. Actually, a filter's impact on the final image quality is minimal and could be neglected if the filter is of high quality. The only obvious problem is when you shoot with a filter against a light source, which could make the lens flare severely.

The B+W MRC filters have better anti flare coatings than a lot of the lenses out there. I seriously doubt that if you use a high quality multi-coated filter, you will be able to tell its there.