[Leica] Leica lenses and filter use?

["Albert Wang" <leica_phile@hotmail.com>]

Hi Leica folks,

A few summary questions:

1) If I buy a Leica lens with a dented filter rings, how much would it cost 
to straighten it out to install a filter? Would it be fairly complicated?

2) I was wondering whether a filter on a Leica lens can "degrade" the lens 
resolution and image and increase vignetting. Perhaps this varies among 
filter brands from Promaster (lower end which I use without too much 
trouble, used on my Nikons previously) to B and W, Hoya, and Heliopan which 
are multicoasted and very exceptional. Being a photojournalist, I need the 
filter pretty much all of the time since I work in rough spots and can't 
spare my lenses to the potential abuse (or poking fingers and bayonets).

3) Do you use a filter on your Leica lenses all of the time, some of the 
time, or never! If not at all, I guess that you keep the cap on in that 
case?

4) I know that a UV filter can increase flare but in most cases the hood has 
been totally helpful in that respect. Unless you're a sour Noctilux fan 
here.

5) Which filter brands do you recommend? Or experienced? Or hated? Or 
disrecommend?

Thanks for your commentaries and hopefully some positive enusing can occur.

Alfie

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