[Leica] Bad times without ilters.

[billcpearce at cox.net (Bill Pearce)]

There are times when a filter is easily called for.  I once learned this the 
hard way. I was working as an assistant to a commercial shooter, and was 
sent to take photos of something (I forget what) being welded. I went with a 
Hasselblad 500CM , a 40mm and an 80mm lens. I have always adhered to the 
advice about if my photos aren't' good enough, so not liking what I was 
seeing through the 80, I put on the 40. Wow, what great photos! Also, wow 
what great great pieces of slag were now bonded to the front element. 
Replacing the front element was more expensive than replacing a filter.

Bill Pearce, who now keeps good quality filters available.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Chris Williams
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 12:49 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] Good Times with Bad Filters. IT'S BETTER WITHA CLEANING 
CLOTH! :-)

Love the Dr.



Chris Williams
www.zoeicaimages.net
www.rebirthworkshops.com
504-231-6261




On Jun 20, 2011, at 12:47 AM, tedgrant at shaw.ca wrote:

> Lens shades and filters!!!!!!!
>
> I'm probably going to freak out many of you folks after you read  this 
> from 61 years of professional experience. :-)
>
> 1/ Noctilux f1.0!  This lens has never had a filter on it since it  was 
> purchased! The first Noctilux for sale in Canada somewhere  around 1972? 
> And used under so many weather, sand, oceans, dust and  operating rooms, 
> Olympics & you name it places and conditions. It's  been used during more 
> assignments than any of you can imagine.  Not  a mark on the glass even 
> when using a loupe to look for stuff. :-)
>
> Then about '81-'82 one of the pins holding the lens shade on fell  out of 
> the lens barrel and it was going to cost a fortune to have a  new one 
> installed by Leica. So in my great wisdom I threw the lens  shade in the 
> gear cabinet at that time and it's not had a filter nor  lenshood for 
> roughly 30 years and guess what? Still no marks under  the inspection by a 
> Loupe!
>
> And guess what again? Regardless of what may come back in comments  I'm 
> not changing my use routine no matter what anyone may offer as  good 
> advice! :-) So save your breathe ladies and gentlemen, please  enjoy your 
> time taking more productive photographs.Thank you. :-)
>
> As for filters & protection? Truly a bit of a myth if you drop a  brand 
> new 80-200 f4.0 twenty feet to a marble floor. Trust me the  filter never 
> helped one iota! :-) The lens & filter of course were  completely 
> destroyed! OOPS!!!!!! :-(
>
> Oh well such is life on some assignments. That's one of those life 
> testing moments in breathing! ;-) OR NOT! :-)
>
> Those who are adamant about using filters for protection generally  over 
> state their worth simply because... no matter who makes the  filter?  It 
> provides two more surfaces to interfere with the image  entering your 
> camera. Constantly keeping them clean is just another  pain during the 
> actions of taking photographs.
>
> I'm a great believer in using Polarizing filters to enhance a scene,  but 
> other than that it's about the only filter I've used on a  regular basis.
>
> Yes many many years ago I had the usual suggested "ONE MUST HAVE!" 
> filters for b&W film use, yellow, orange, red, UV various sizes for 
> various Leica sized lenses. But as the years went by they became  more of 
> display articles in the gear cabinet.
>
> Then thrown in my face many times are the.... "Cleaning people  comments!" 
> My reaction is..."Get over it!"  Blow the dust off the  lens, breath hot 
> and heavy on the glass then use your shirt tail and  clean it up. Or as 
> I've repeated many times on list over the past  years, this one!
>
> Those who wear cotton under shorts and you sit on them day after  day, 
> year after year, washed and worn, again and again, are creating  the 
> softest lens cleaning cloth imaginable. Hey come on I'm  serious! :-)
>
> How? Well your sitting on them until you or your wife tells you....  "You 
> need new under shorts!" :-) So you take the old ones and with a  pair of 
> scissors cut out the largest piece of sit upon material and  throw the 
> rest away. Don't panic they are well washed before you go  through this 
> routine, so relax! :-) I can hear some of you cringing   as though you are 
> about to use a baby's dirty diaper! Get over  it! :-) It's nice super soft 
> cotton material! No scratching,  guaranteed! :-)
>
> Now you put that cloth in a small plastic bag and keep it or them in  your 
> camera bag and you'll always have clean scratch free lenses!.
>
> I know you'll appreciate these words of wisdom from the old Doc! ;-)  Your 
> welcome! ;-) Thank you. :-)
>
> cheers,
> Dr. ted :-)
>


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