hepcat
Former PH, USN
It really won't make much difference with the CV 50 f/1.5 as far as your image goes, unless you're in a situation where you really need one. I typically leave hoods attached to the lenses, and since I alternate the M8 and M9-P I just leave the UV/IR cut filters on all the time anyway. I figure that the less I have to touch my front elements the better off I am. I'm appalled at how many used lenses are sold with "cleaning marks" in the coatings that DO affect flare and contrast.
Richard G
Veteran
Hood and filter is my default. The X100 I have with its cap and use the leather case for protection so I don't have a filter except in seaspray, and put up with the tedium of removing the thread ring and mounting the hood and adapter when I am using it extensively or where the lens might get bumped or rubbed. Sometimes shoot a lens with just the filter and no hood. And very rarely one of the Zeiss lenses without a filter or a hood. Something like the C Sonnar I would be unhappy to have without a filter. So easy to touch such a big thing like that, similar to your 1.5 Nokton. And my Sonnar has been saved once by a filter and once by the hood when I've dropped it.
My original stolen V2 Summilux and current V4 tabbed 50 Summicron are ergonomically fantastic with the reversed and capped hoods always present. Always use the hood because it's there.
My original stolen V2 Summilux and current V4 tabbed 50 Summicron are ergonomically fantastic with the reversed and capped hoods always present. Always use the hood because it's there.
Harry S.
Well-known
Hood yes, filter no.
Im dubious that a $100 filter will not impede a $2,000 optic.
Im dubious that a $100 filter will not impede a $2,000 optic.
crsantin
Established
No hood no filter. All the time. I would never ever put a filter over a lens. Hoods I would use but if I don't have one handy I don't care.
Pioneer
Veteran
Hood; sometimes.
Filter; only if necessary for a specific purpose.
Lens Cap; All the time. After toasting 2 Leica shutters I always use the lens cap. Of course, if I am shooting with my Contax II or ZI then I don't have to worry about it. But if I am shooting a Leica I won't use the lens unless it has a lens cap.
Filter; only if necessary for a specific purpose.
Lens Cap; All the time. After toasting 2 Leica shutters I always use the lens cap. Of course, if I am shooting with my Contax II or ZI then I don't have to worry about it. But if I am shooting a Leica I won't use the lens unless it has a lens cap.
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
Same here.
A hood protects the front element of the lens from most physical contact or damage. It also improves the quality of your images by controlling stray light from entering the lens at oblique angles. This enhances contrast.
If I am shooting in an outdoor setting where there is wind and dust/dirt blowing about, I will use a UV filter in addition to using the lens hod. I will also attach a UV filter if I am in an environment where people are tightly packed around me to prevent accidental contact with the front element.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Harry, forty years of shooting with and without filters have taught me that they make little difference to image quality under most situations, but they make a huge difference in taking care of that $2000 optic. And in the case of the M9, the UV/IR cut filter makes an amazing difference in color rendering.
Never be concerned about using a filter; especially a high quality MC filter.
notraces
Bob Smith
almost never a filter - unless i need an ND filter when shooting in the summer light -- and very rarely a hood -- never a problem in 40+ years --
MrFujicaman
Well-known
Filters are cheap....Leica lenses sure aren't.
Pablito
coco frío
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Mostly I use both filters and hoods, especially on lenses I use all the time (35/1.4, 50/1.5). But with more specialist lenses, with which I'm seldom wandering about, I'll often use a lens cap instead of a filter (75/2, 90/2.2) but still with a hood.And with a very few lenses I either can't or don't use filters or hoods, so I use the cap a lot.
A really brilliant cap, that you can use with the hood on, is the OpTech "Hood Hat": see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/review optech shower cap.html
Cheers,
R.
A really brilliant cap, that you can use with the hood on, is the OpTech "Hood Hat": see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/review optech shower cap.html
Cheers,
R.
kpembo
Member
The answer is .... sometimes
The answer is .... sometimes
In general, I try to use both. Sometimes, it doesn't work out for different reasons.
I use hoods that come with my LTM VC lenses because they're packaged that way. It's harder not to use the hood since I would have to buy a different cap.
I use filters on my lenses until experience proves the filter to cause strange flare and reflections problems. I used to own a VC Nokton 35/1.4, which showed strange reflections and flare rather frequently. It was a high quality filter, but apparently the combo was prone to this problem. I stopped using the filter and didn't have the problem anymore. I probably could have switched to another brand of filter or a standard filter instead of slim design, etc. to see if it solved the problem.
I have occasionally seen similar reflection and flare issues on my FSU lenses, which are cheap enough to leave the filter off and not worry about it. I also have one LTM VC lens that I could not use the filter and the standard hood.
I have hoods for my other (non VC) lenses, but tend not to use them unless I know I will be in strong lighting situations that could be problematic. In this case, I think it's because the hood is not an integral part of the design like the LTM VC lenses, so it's less convenient. Chances are, I simply forgot to bring the hood. I think that's what made the original concept of making the hoods integral to LTM VC lenses so brilliant.
The answer is .... sometimes
In general, I try to use both. Sometimes, it doesn't work out for different reasons.
I use hoods that come with my LTM VC lenses because they're packaged that way. It's harder not to use the hood since I would have to buy a different cap.
I use filters on my lenses until experience proves the filter to cause strange flare and reflections problems. I used to own a VC Nokton 35/1.4, which showed strange reflections and flare rather frequently. It was a high quality filter, but apparently the combo was prone to this problem. I stopped using the filter and didn't have the problem anymore. I probably could have switched to another brand of filter or a standard filter instead of slim design, etc. to see if it solved the problem.
I have occasionally seen similar reflection and flare issues on my FSU lenses, which are cheap enough to leave the filter off and not worry about it. I also have one LTM VC lens that I could not use the filter and the standard hood.
I have hoods for my other (non VC) lenses, but tend not to use them unless I know I will be in strong lighting situations that could be problematic. In this case, I think it's because the hood is not an integral part of the design like the LTM VC lenses, so it's less convenient. Chances are, I simply forgot to bring the hood. I think that's what made the original concept of making the hoods integral to LTM VC lenses so brilliant.
slidesandthecity
Established
No filter, no hood - no matter the lens or camera.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
If I don't have a lens hood or filter, I shoot without a lens hood or filter. Sometimes I get more flare if I don't take it into account.
Be sure to have a lens cap for when you put the camera in a bag to protect the lens. And be careful not to bash the lens into anything.
This is not hard...
G
Be sure to have a lens cap for when you put the camera in a bag to protect the lens. And be careful not to bash the lens into anything.
This is not hard...
G
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
If I can, I will use a hood. If I need to, I will use a filter--typically this means color filters for BW film, a polarizer occasionally, and an ND filter less frequently.
If I can find a hood for my lenses, I will buy and use it.
I have lens caps for all my lenses and use them.
Rob
If I can find a hood for my lenses, I will buy and use it.
I have lens caps for all my lenses and use them.
Rob
David Hughes
David Hughes
Never used a hood or filter on any of my P&S's except the Contax Tix has a hood and I use that when necessary.
Waving a hat about to get its shadow on the lens but out of the shot works most times.
On other types of camera; CRF, SLR etc I use a hood now and then but not always. The lighting decides the matter.
I was going to say I never use filters but remembered there was one on the Summicron-C when I bought it and I've yet to take it off as I've nothing to store it in...
Regards, David
Waving a hat about to get its shadow on the lens but out of the shot works most times.
On other types of camera; CRF, SLR etc I use a hood now and then but not always. The lighting decides the matter.
I was going to say I never use filters but remembered there was one on the Summicron-C when I bought it and I've yet to take it off as I've nothing to store it in...
Regards, David
hendriphile
Well-known
The M3 owner's manual recommends using a protective filter, esp. outdoors, on the beach etc.
Of course lens coatings in 1960 were less resilient than today's.
Also Leitz probably figured its owners would be using their own filters, made of Wetzlar glass.
Why not take a test roll of pairs of images with various subjects and lighting, one with & one without filter, then compare for yourself. If there's no apparent difference, why not use protection?
Of course lens coatings in 1960 were less resilient than today's.
Also Leitz probably figured its owners would be using their own filters, made of Wetzlar glass.
Why not take a test roll of pairs of images with various subjects and lighting, one with & one without filter, then compare for yourself. If there's no apparent difference, why not use protection?
Robert Lai
Well-known
The original question was what can he expect if he goes without a filter and a hood. If we lived in a perfect world, nothing bad would occur, and things would be fine.
In the real world, expect fingerprints on the front glass when you try to change the aperture and one of your fingers ends up on the glass instead. Or, a handprint when someone doesn't want their picture taken and starts shoving your camera into your face by applying palm pressure to your lens.
Expect people to cough, laugh up their food, expectorate or vomit on your glass. Expect that when you try to clean up the goober from the above you'll scratch your front element. Expect that anyone spray painting or sandblasting nearby will leave residue on your front glass.
When you change lenses, expect that you could drop it, front element downwards on some nice jagged gravel. It's easier to replace a broken UV filter than a cracked front element. But, it's your money.
In case you think that these things couldn't possibly happen, they've all happened to me at one time or another. You don't have to be taking photographs in Afghanistan either. Just try taking pictures of your babies when they're eating and you'll know about the spitting and expectoration. My baby had the stomach flu yesterday, so he's been having projectile vomiting. Check!
I've happily thrown away shattered filters and put new ones on.
In the real world, expect fingerprints on the front glass when you try to change the aperture and one of your fingers ends up on the glass instead. Or, a handprint when someone doesn't want their picture taken and starts shoving your camera into your face by applying palm pressure to your lens.
Expect people to cough, laugh up their food, expectorate or vomit on your glass. Expect that when you try to clean up the goober from the above you'll scratch your front element. Expect that anyone spray painting or sandblasting nearby will leave residue on your front glass.
When you change lenses, expect that you could drop it, front element downwards on some nice jagged gravel. It's easier to replace a broken UV filter than a cracked front element. But, it's your money.
In case you think that these things couldn't possibly happen, they've all happened to me at one time or another. You don't have to be taking photographs in Afghanistan either. Just try taking pictures of your babies when they're eating and you'll know about the spitting and expectoration. My baby had the stomach flu yesterday, so he's been having projectile vomiting. Check!
I've happily thrown away shattered filters and put new ones on.
De_Corday
Eternal Student
Filter - never
Hood - for some lenses where the front element is way out there, like my Nikkor 28mm or my Nikkor DX 35mm, I'll have a hood on if I'm going to be walking around with the camera out and on my shoulder, or I'll be shooting in crowds.
My 50's never get a hood.
Hood - for some lenses where the front element is way out there, like my Nikkor 28mm or my Nikkor DX 35mm, I'll have a hood on if I'm going to be walking around with the camera out and on my shoulder, or I'll be shooting in crowds.
My 50's never get a hood.