Must-have filters for Leica lenses: UV, ND, polarizer?

Question

Just picked up a couple Leica M lenses (35mm and 50mm) and I’m trying to keep my kit minimal without sacrificing image quality. Do you guys consider UV/protective filters a must, or do you skip them to avoid extra glass? Also, what ND strength is actually useful for daytime shooting, and is a polarizer worth it on rangefinder lenses? What would you buy first?

IonIcaria · Accepted Answer

For your situation, I’d keep it super simple. I tried the “filter on everything” thing and honestly… it was more hassle than help.

- **UV/protective:** not a must. Pros: saves your front element from random bumps/salt spray. Cons: extra flare/ghosting risk (esp night lights). If you do it, I’d only trust something like B+W XS-Pro Clear MRC Nano Filter.
- **ND:** actually useful. I get the most use from **3–6 stop** (ND8/ND64) for f/1.4-ish in sun. A B+W 106 ND 1.8 6-Stop MRC Filter is kinda the sweet spot.
- **Polarizer:** worth it mainly for reflections + skies, but on a rangefinder it’s annoying to set (no TTL view). I use one rarely.

If buying first? ND, then clear/protective only if you’re rough on gear. What aperture/shutter are you usually aiming for?

CobaltCricket · Answer

> “UV/protective: not a must… hood + keep one in the bag”

Hmm, I’ve had a different experience: I actually keep a *good* clear/protective on full-time (cheaper than a front element), then add an ND8 for day, skip polarizer on M idk (too fiddly).

Isadora Sky Campbell · Answer

Ok so I went through this w/ my M 35 + 50… started with a cheap “protective” filter and immediately got nasty ghosts around streetlights, so I stopped leaving one on full-time. Now I just use a hood + keep a B+W 010 UV-Haze MRC Filter 39mm in the bag for dusty/travel days. For ND, I found B+W 106 ND 1.8 (64x) MRC Filter 39mm is the sweet spot for daytime wide-open. Polarizer’s useful but fiddly on a rangefinder—B+W Käsemann Circular Polarizer MRC Filter 39mm works, just slow to set.