Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]"Perfesser" Jim; Aha! Succinctly put... you need to cut, print, and save this note, and like the ever helpful CAMS 101, send it to late comers! I have found it's good advice, and you do indeed put it well. Dan'l dwpost@msn.com - -----Original Message----- From: Jim Brick <jim@brick.org> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Date: Sunday, March 22, 1998 10:49 PM Subject: Re: [Leica] Filters >Mr. Colen, > >Since you filter question was, and no fault of yours, untimely, I'll put >away my cynicism and politely answer your question. Just because you popped >in late, doesn't mean you don't disserve the truth. > > >>>At 04:14 PM 3/22/98 -0500, Craig W. Shier wrote: >>> >>>Conclusion, the filter is on most of the time. In tricky or >>>questionable lighting, off it comes. >>> >>>shier@mnsinc.com > > >Since Leica literature states "don't use ANY filter of ANY KIND during >these tricky and questionable lighting situations, and we all know Leica >put the UV inhibitor in the lens glue so you would NOT have to use a UV >filter, I'm having a very difficult time figuring out just when one should >use a UV filter. > >If the answer is "for protection", I have to ask "what about the time >during tricky and questionable lighting situations, when a filter will >indeed, screw-up your photograph?" Perhaps protection is only needed during >the time when tricky and questionable lighting situations don't occur. >Great concept. Probably a bunch of pregnant women out there that wish they >had similar luck. > >Usually, if shooting with an M camera, hand held, one does not stop an >think "is this a tricky and questionable lighting situation?", one just >shoots. If you are using an R camera, you can see the filter flare plain as >day through the viewfinder. It's in your face. > >About the ocean and desert. Salt water is not, in any way, going to harm >your front lens element. I've lived by the ocean for 60 years with no tales >of "ocean lens woe." Brooks Institute is in Santa Barbara (an ocean kind of >town) and Brookies spend a lot of time along the water's edge. With view >cameras, Hasselblads, leicas, Nikons, and no UV filters. > >What you need to protect, in a salt air or dust air environment, is the >INSIDES OF YOUR CAMERA and the INSIDES OF YOUR LENS. Salt air and/or dust >will not get into anything through the front lens element. It's sealed. The >UV filter does absolutely nothing. Clean your lens occasionally. What about >inside your camera. That's where the REAL DAMAGE IS DONE. > >If you dropped your camera into a lake (or ocean), would you be worried >about the front lens element. Hell no! You would be worried about the WATER >INSIDE YOUR CAMERA. So if water can easily get into your camera, don't you >think salt air and dusty air can get there as well? Actually, it has a much >easier time getting in. > >When photographing along the seashore or lakeshore, you have much more >reflected light. The sun reflecting from the water. This direct sun or high >contrast situation is EXACTLY the situation that Leica literature says "do >not use a filter". So you put on a UV filter to protect from the elements >(?) then have to take it off to photograph. Use a lens cap. It does it's >job and cannot possible screw-up your photograph. > >I mostly use an R camera. I use lots of filters. Useful filters. But I >cannot use any filters during tricky and questionable lighting situations. >I know from experience. I know because I can see the problem directly on >the ground glass in the viewfinder. It's right there. In your face. > >So, what are my thoughts about using filters? Glad you asked. Contrary to >popular belief, I use filters with my R camera almost most of the time. I >use filters when I need to alter the light in some way. Polarizer, warming, >cooling, ND, ND and color grad, soft focus, fog, enhancing. But as I said >earlier, there is UV inhibitor in Leica lens glue. So a UV filter is a >useless filter. > >The best advice is: > >Use real filters a lot. Don't use any filter in tricky and questionable >lighting situations. Throw away your UV filter. Use a lens cap and a lens >shade religiously. Keep your camera under wraps, when possible, in very wet >and humid or very windy and dusty situations. Your front lens element will >be fine. You should worry more about your camera body. Clean your camera >and lens often. Throw away your UV filter. It's absolutely useless. > >Thanks, > >Jim