[Leica] Filter question on Screwmount Leica

[msmall at aya.yale.edu (Marc James Small)]

At 01:16 PM 10/21/05 -0700, David Cochran wrote:

>I have a question regarding filters and my Summitar 5cm f2.
>
>Does it need an adapter?
>
>The filter thread seems to be too close to the objective lens and I have
no idea what filter diameter it uses.
>
>After looking at GeeBee's photos and his use of filters on CN 400 I want
to try filters on my camera.

First, I rarely use filters, so this is not much of an issue for me.

The Summitar was designed to be used with the "barn door" folding lens hood
and filters in a special tapered 36mm filter thread called "E36" by Leitz.
The lens hoods and filters are often available inexpensively from dealers
who do not recognize their rarirty -- I have picked up most of the filters
that way over the past decade or so at prices of $5 each.  Patience pays.

Both Ednalite and Tiffen made screw-in adapters in this tapered E36 thread
for Serie VI filterrs, and these are the best way to go if you can find
one.  Tiffen made two types of these, an older one simply marked "for
Summarit" and a later black one, while Ednalite only made a black one.  I
forget the Tiffen and Ednalite designations and lack ready access to my
files on this.  I suspect that either B+W or Heliopan would produce a like
adapter for you for a price they deem to be adequate.

You can also use a slip-on Series VI adapter.  I believe that these would
be 39mm in diameter but you should measure your lens to be certain of this.
 Kodak, Tiffen, Ednalite, Hoya, and others have supplied these over the
years.  In today's market, I would contact Harrison and Harrison in
California, as their products are of the highest quality and are relatively
inexpensive.  I suspect that a Serie VI slip-on adapter, hood, and two
filters could be had for under $50.

I use a screw-in Tiffen adapter on the Summitar on my IIIc, a screw-in
Ednalite adapter on the Summarit on my IIIf RDST, and an E39 screw-in
adapter on the Summicron on my IIIg.  

Marc

msmall@aya.yale.edu 
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