Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/08/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Must say I avoid "protection" filters like the plague. I have suffered damage to a lens caused by a filter shattering - I've never had any lens damage that a filter would protect against. I use front and rear caps when a lens is not in use, a hood when it is, and that's worked for the last 20 years. And FWIW, I find that unfiltered lenses need less cleaning than the filters used to, particularly Hoya HMC ones, although it's true for B+W as well. I fit filters for protection now only when there's an increased risk of saltwater splash or sand abrasion - i.e. at the beach. Nick ----- Original Message ---- From: SonC@aol.com To: lug@leica-users.org Sent: Wednesday, 16 August, 2006 3:41:51 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] Lens caps In a message dated 8/15/2006 9:15:34 P.M. Central Daylight Time, walt@waltjohnson.com writes: Was slightly kidding about spitting on filters but would do that a dozen times rather than wipe the front of a Noctilux with anything, ------- I do not use filters. I do not use front caps. I use back caps on my M lenses, also my Pentax lenses. I use micro-fiber cloths to clean the glass surfaces including my Noctilux. Blow the dust off, haze the lens with breath and wipe gently. I have several microfiber cloths , and keep them clean. I stopped using filters the day I was touring the Leica factory, and the fellow guiding us noticed I had a UV filter on the 28mm Elmarit. (Chris, that is the one you own now.) Anyhow, he took my camera, and rubbed a pencil eraser over the surface of the front element. He said, "See, there is no damage. You are losing quality by using filters. The coatings of modern Leica lenses are strong." I damaged one lens in a manner that a glass filter might have protected it since I started shooting in 1960. I dropped an object accidentally into my 90mm tele-elmarit, and put a chink in the lens. It does not show up in photos. I now keep lenses in pouches in my camera bag. On the other hand, I've had filters seize three times, and damaged lenses trying to get them off. (not Leica) Regards, Sonny http://www.sonc.com Natchitoches, Louisiana Oldest continuous settlement in La Louisiane ?galit?, libert?, crawfish _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information