Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/04/22

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Subject: [Leica] Polarizing filter
From: hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson)
Date: Sun Apr 22 20:57:44 2007
References: <778FF2F0-F886-46F5-BE6F-7F50F150FBFF@mindspring.com><462BCF72.8060203@wanadoo.nl><200704222147.l3MLlmkD047647@server1.waverley.reid.org><003501c7854b$ca1f2a70$6401a8c0@asus930><200704230231.l3N2Vwkn095883@server1.waverley.reid.org><004201c78552$5328be20$6401a8c0@asus930> <200704230319.l3N3JOtG004192@server1.waverley.reid.org>

Marc, there's a lot of interesting detail there regarding the historical 
models.
Ric said "Can you guys tell me about using polarizing filters with M 
cameras?"
In my shopping for one to use with an M7, I have only noticed that early 
swing out model and the current one listed on the Bay.
Anyway, I'll leave it to Ric now. I hope my info was useful to him.

Cheers
Hoppy

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org 
[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Marc James Small
Sent: Monday, 23 April 2007 13:18
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: RE: [Leica] Polarizing filter

At 10:51 PM 4/22/2007, G Hopkinson wrote:
 >Yes, Marc ;-) However I'm pretty sure that Ric is shooting with a
 >modern M. Also he just wanted suggestions on how to use it. Same
 >technique for the old Leica types, nicht wahr?

You may know Ric and know his gear but, if not, 
assumptions of this sort on this group are 
dangerous:  someone might as well be asking about 
an UR-Leica with its Anastigmat lens as about an 
M8 with a CV lens.  I doubt that DRAGNET ever ran 
in Australia but the tag-line on that show 
through its long life was, "just the facts, 
ma'am".  And we do need to know the facts before giving advice.

Leitz has made a LOT of polarizing filters over 
the years.  Leica made some after it took over 
from Leitz.  But here is the killer.

Leitz made a swing-out polarizer in A36 (slip-on 
36mm) mount, the POOLN, but this was moribund due 
to market laughter before World War II and was 
quietly done in with extreme prejudice in 
1940.  That was the only swing-out polarizer made 
by Leitz or Leica until this current model to my 
relatively certain knowledge.  As recently as a 
decade back, Leica was marketing what they called 
"pol-filters" in the following sizes:

linear:  42mm slip-on (for E39 lenses)
circular:  E (screw-in) 55, E60, E67, E77, and in Serie 5.5, 6, 7, and 8

None of these were swing-out.

Every other polarizer made by Leitz or Leica to 
this point has been a simple slip-on or screw-in 
filter.  These are used in a completely different 
manner than would be this current filter.  And a 
bit depends on the type of camera being 
used.  Using a polarizer on an SLR is different 
than using a polarizer on a rangefinder.  Using a 
polarizer on a Leicaflex is different than using 
a polarizer on an R6.  Using a polarizer on an M3 
or a IIIc is different from using a polarizer on 
an M6.  It all depends on the gear being used, 
and Ric hasn't shared this knowledge with us, 
though I wish he would do so, as our collective wisdom will serve him well.

Let us presume that he has an R6.  In that event, 
he needs the appropriate circular polarizer for 
his camera.  He focuses the camera, turns the 
pola-screen to reach the desired effect, and 
clicks the shutter, and away we go:  the camera 
will automatically adjust the exposure.

Let us presume that he has an M3.  In that event, 
he has to unscrew the polarizer and turn it to 
figure out the best effect he is seeking.  (There 
are index marks on the edge of the filter so he 
can note which number is topmost.)  He can then 
screw the filter back into the lens, set the 
appropriate index mark to the top, figure out the 
appropriate exposure either by the preferred and 
more accurate <he grins> sunny-16 rule or by the 
use of a light meter, and then adjusts for the 
effect of the polarizer, and this varies a bit from type to type.

So, we do need to know the type of gear Ric is 
using before giving him advice, and it is 
dangerous to assume anything.  Hoppy's advice was 
dead-on for someone using one of the current 
Leica polarizers with a late M camera but would 
be dead wrong for other cameras.

Marc




msmall@aya.yale.edu
Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!



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Replies: Reply from marcsmall at comcast.net (Marc James Small) ([Leica] Polarizing filter)
In reply to: Message from ricc at mindspring.com (Ric Carter) ([Leica] Polarizing filter)
Message from michiel.fokkema at wanadoo.nl (Michiel Fokkema) ([Leica] Polarizing filter)
Message from marcsmall at comcast.net (Marc James Small) ([Leica] Polarizing filter)
Message from hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson) ([Leica] Polarizing filter)
Message from marcsmall at comcast.net (Marc James Small) ([Leica] Polarizing filter)
Message from hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson) ([Leica] Polarizing filter)
Message from marcsmall at comcast.net (Marc James Small) ([Leica] Polarizing filter)