XE-1 and Summicron

[Grubriella]

hi everyone
I recently got myself a Fuji XE-1 and got an adapter for a Summicron 35mm.

I started shooting with it and the pictures were very soft and the colour was far from correct. I was using a Leica UV filter that came with the lens.

Then I took off the UV filter and noticed that the pictures looked significantly better. Crisp and much better colours.

I have never noticed it with my film camera, so initially I thought it was some body issue.

I was wondering, if its because of the lens or the filter? If I get a newer UV filter, will the pictures come out like it did previously?

 

[Avotius]

Weird?

I have noticed that the auto white balance on the camera is a little slow to react to things. I would try setting shutter speed and ISO to manual and the white balance to manual and then shooting the same photo with the uv filter and without and see if that is really your problem.

Also use a tripod if you can and dont change the focus between shots. That should give you a good idea of whats going on.

 

[Grubriella]

Thanks for the reply
But I don't think I explained it properly.

By soft, I mean it looks foggy.
Really washed out.

I did try it with and without the filter with the same object.
It was quite odd

 

[burancap]

I took my first shots with an X-E1 yesterday. I shot an adapted 50/2.8 Elmar, and a J8. Any filtration was removed. My results were the same as yours. Very soft -lacking sharp focus anywhere, foggy and washed out -nothing like I have experienced with the same lenses adapted on my Nexi.

 

[Grubriella]

Hey Jeff
For me, it's only like that with the filter on.
Once I remove it, the picture quality improved significantly.

For anyone who's interested, it is a pre ASPH summicron

 

[rogue_designer]

Were you shooting into the sun? Or bright lights that might cause veiling flare?

Why are you using a UV filter? Are you shooting aerials or in the mountains? If you are just after lens protection, use a hood. Modern (e.g. post 1980) multicoated lenses are tougher than they appear.

 

[roundg]

I shot Summicron 35mm 6element on my XE1. THe picture is excellent. I didn't see the so called "foggy" on my pitures.

The lens has an UV on.

 

[paulfish4570]

adapter issue?

 

[daveleo]

I suspect it is flare off the filter glass.
Did you use a lens hood?

Also, shoot some stuff under soft difussed light and see if you get the same results.

 

[burancap]

adapter issue?

In my particular case -I think so! (The OP apparently had a filter issue). My shots with an OM-XF adapter were appreciably better. I have a bunch of adapters for Nex, EOS, and now XF. I have used Leica, Jupiter, Nikon, Hasselblad-Zeiss, OM, etc... lenses and never had an issue before. The only common element with the bad shots was my new LM-XF adapter.

It is strange. When I focus as normal (the X-E1 is excellent at this) or use the peak and/or zoom -everything looks great. As soon as I release the shutter the image looks overexposed a stop or so and the result looks nothing like what I saw in the EVF, focus wise.

 

[Grubriella]

I only used the filter because it came with it.
I guess it was for protection, but now it's off.
And yes, I used the plastic hood that came with it.

The images were foggy whether it was indoors, sunlight, back lit, etc.

I've decided to keep the filter off as it seems to solve the problem.
Thanks for all your help/suggestions guys

 

[GaryLH]

I have never had such a noticeable issue w/ a filter. I would take the setup into a local camera store and test out one of their filters. Bring in yours and have them take a good look at it.

I sounds like the filter has seen better days.
Gary