Filter for old 35mm Summilux

LCL · 05-11-2005

I have an old f1.4 black paint Summilux. With it is a two-part lens hood - a 12504. I have been told that it takes a Series VII filter (whatever that is) and it fits between the two parts of the 12504. The hood part unscrews from the clip-on-lens part.

After careful measurement with vernier calipers, I conclude that I need a filter with outside diameter between 50.1mm and 51.1mm. With the two parts fully screwed together the filter would need to be 3.1mm or less at the rim, though if it were a little thicker there is enough thread to cater for a rim thickness up to, say, 4.0mm.

Note that the filter is captured, it needs no thread.

So where do I find such filters? If they are common, what is their "standard" description?

Alex

Roger Hicks · 05-11-2005

They are not common. New, they are expensive; used, they are hard to find. I have the same lens...

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com -- and Photo School is now up and running)

Thomaspin · 05-11-2005

I'm not sure if it's true that B+W makes Leica's filters (Roger?), but they can be found here.

I have used B+W German filters on a variety of lenses Leica lenses over the years without any problems.

HenningW · 05-11-2005

Series 7 filters used to be quite common, and can often be found in bins of used stuff, especially at camera swap meets. Problem is, filter quality control was often not very good, and many filters from the 60's and earlier when Series filters were common, didn't have parallel surfaces. I once checked through about 20 Harrison & Harrison filters before I found one with parallel surfaces (check by watching reflections from the two surfaces as you look at them from and angle and rotate them). Also coatings were a lot lower quality than they are now.

As a workaround, many 49mm filters fit in the 12504 hood. Just watch that it isn't askew.

Henning

Roger Hicks · 05-12-2005

Henning

Often?

You're luckier (or more diligent) than I...

And Thomaspin -- dunno, but they do look awfully similar.

Cheers,

Roger

HenningW · 05-12-2005

Roger

We had a camera swap meet/show here in Vancouver last weekend, and even though it was one of the smaller ones there would have been no problem picking up any number of series filters; especially 7 as it seems to be the most common. 6's are fairly common as well and were well represented, while 8's and 5' are scarcer and 9's are very scarce.

I wasn't looking for filters, but noticed various ones including Leica Series 8, lots of 7 and 6 among the other filters. Problem is, you see endless numbers of UV and skylight filters, the odd yellow and red, colour conversion and that's about it. Nothing much more interesting.

Henning

Roger Hicks · 05-12-2005

Dear Henning,

Wow. I was after filters at my last camera swap meet in Poitiers and found very few in the sizes I wanted. Ah, well...

Cheers,

Roger

cp_ste.croix · 05-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenningW

Roger

We had a camera swap meet/show here in Vancouver last weekendHenning

ACCK! How did I not know this?

Maybe it's for the best...as I am poorer by the day here.

HenningW · 05-13-2005

There is a camera show 4 times a year at the Kerrisdale Arena; the next one is middle to late August. I'll post the date after I look it up. About 60 to 80 tables. Always some Leica stuff, but this time manual focus Nikkors were seriously on the rise. Some Bessas (Cosinas), Feds, Canon RF and one table was full of old Voigtlaenders from the 50's.

The larger one at the Cameron Centre in Burnaby near Coquitlam is getting smaller; in part due to the manner in which it is run and the location. It's usually in March and November.

Henning

HenningW · 05-19-2005

The next swap meet/camera show at the Kerrisdale Arena is August 28 (Sunday), 9:00am for $15, 10:00am for $4.

Henning

laptoprob · 05-19-2005

Hi Alex,

according to the list

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/overview/listm.html

it should take E41 screw in filters. I have a light yellow Leitz one for you!

Rob.

LCL · 05-24-2005

Thanks Rob, but that list is not complete. For example it does not list the 5cm f1.5 Summarit (which DOES take 41mm filters), and I think my black paint 35mm Summilux is another omission.

Certainly my lens has no screw thread at all on the front. I believe some of the others do. Perhaps it is a black/chrome difference.

And the lens hood 12504, though it screws together, seems designed to capture a Series 7, or something about 51mm OD, between the halves.

Finally, I do have a Leitz Wetzlar Summarit filter (but no lens), it appears to be 41mm, and is threaded (some places talk about bayonet Summarit filters). It does not fit my Summilux nor its hood.

Alex