09/02/2026 3:31 am
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I’ve been shooting with a couple Leica lenses lately (mostly a 35mm and 50mm) and I’m trying to figure out the “right” filter setup without turning my kit into a stack of glass. I keep hearing totally different takes: some people say a UV filter is basically just a protective clear filter now, others swear it’s pointless (or even hurts contrast), and then there’s ND and CPL which seem more “useful” but also easier to mess up.
My main use cases are: street/travel in bright sun where I’d love to stay closer to f/2–f/2.8, and occasional landscapes where I want better skies and less glare off windows/water. I’m also a little worried about vignetting on wider lenses if I go too thick, and I don’t want to degrade sharpness or introduce extra flare on backlit shots.
If you had to prioritize, what’s the best filter strategy for Leica lenses: UV for protection, ND for keeping apertures open, CPL for reflections/sky… or some combination? And are there specific types (standard vs slim, variable ND vs fixed) you’d recommend to avoid image quality issues?
4 Answers
12
09/02/2026 4:05 am
- honestly, extra glass = extra flare risk, so i treat **UV/clear as “only when chaos”**; if you must, use a slim, good-coated clear.
- for safety + reliability: carry **fixed 3–6 stop slim ND** + a **slim CPL**, avoid variable ND (can band/odd color), and youre basically covered, cheers
10
09/02/2026 3:31 am
For your situation, I’d prioritize **ND + CPL**, and skip UV unless you’re in sand/salt/chaos.
- **UV/clear**: meh… unfortunately I’ve had issues with extra flare/ghosting on backlit street shots. Only use a high-end clear if you *need* protection.
- **ND (fixed)**: best for f/2 in sun. Go **slim** to avoid vignetting. I trust B+W 803 ND 0.9 (3-Stop) MRC Nano Filter.
- **CPL**: great for water/windows/sky, but can look weird on wide. I like Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer Filter.
Variable ND? idk, not as good as expected—color shifts. cheers
3
09/02/2026 4:05 am
For your situation, I’d keep it simple: **ND + CPL**, and treat UV/clear as “only when needed.” I’ve shot Leica-ish setups for years and yeah… extra glass can bite you in backlight.
- **UV/clear**: mostly for physical protection. Useful in dust/salt/chaos, but otherwise it can add flare. If you do it, go high quality like B+W or Hoya and keep it clean.
- **ND**: best tool for sunny street at f/2. I’d go **fixed ND** (less weirdness) and **slim** to reduce vignette.
- **CPL**: amazing for water/windows + sky, but it can make skies look uneven on wider lenses. Also eats light.
Variable ND is convenient but idk, I’ve seen color shifts… good luck!
2
09/02/2026 4:15 am
Seconding the ND + CPL advice above. The “why” is simple: every extra surface can add flare, so I treat UV/clear as situational.
- **Street sun @ f/2**: grab a fixed **3-stop ND** like Hoya PROND 8 49mm Neutral Density Filter (cheap-ish, solid).
- **Landscapes/glare**: a decent CPL like Hoya HD3 Circular Polarizer 49mm.
- **Avoid** variable ND unless you really need it… can get cross patterns + wonky color.
- Go **slim ring**, and use a hood when you can, seriously helps.
