09/02/2026 8:30 pm
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Hey everyone — I’m trying to get my Leica kit dialed in and I keep going back and forth on whether lens filters are actually “must-have” or just optional accessories.
For context, I shoot with a Leica M (mostly street + travel) and my main lenses are a 35mm f/2 and a 50mm f/1.4. I’m careful with my gear but I’m not precious about it — the camera ends up in a bag a lot, and I’m out in all kinds of weather. Part of me wants a clear/UV filter on everything just for protection, but I’ve also read plenty of opinions saying a filter can mess with contrast, add flare, or slightly soften things (which feels painful when you’ve spent Leica money on glass).
At the same time, I’m running into situations where a creative filter feels genuinely useful. On bright days I’d love to shoot wide open at f/1.4 without pushing my shutter speed to the limit, so ND filters seem practical. And when I’m near water or shooting city scenes with lots of glass reflections, a polarizer sounds like it could be a game changer — but I’ve never used one on a rangefinder and I’m not sure how annoying it is to adjust, especially since I’m often moving quickly.
I’m also unsure about the “stacking filters” thing (like UV + ND) and whether that’s just asking for vignetting or extra flare on a 35mm.
If you had to pick only one type of filter for Leica M lenses — UV/clear for protection, ND for wide-open shooting, or a polarizer for reflections/sky — what would you consider truly worth it, and why?
7 Answers
12
09/02/2026 8:55 pm
Story time: I went thru this with my M + 35/50. TL;DR: I stopped using UV/clear unless I’m in sand/salt… I swear it bumped flare/ghosting at night (street lamps, neon). ND was the most “practical” for f/1.4 in sun, but I hated stacking—more vignetting + extra reflections. CPL is magic on water/glass, but on an M it’s fiddly and slows me down, so it lived in the bag a lot lol. cheers
11
09/02/2026 9:15 pm
> If you had to pick only one type of filter for Leica M lenses — UV/clear for protection, ND for wide-open shooting, or a polarizer...
Hmm, I’ve had a different experience vs the “CPL is the must-have” takes. For *street + travel*, I’d actually pick a **solid ND** as the one filter that earns its keep most days. It’s boring, but it works: lets you stay at f/1.4 in harsh sun without riding max shutter/ISO, and it doesn’t need constant fiddling like a CPL on a rangefinder.
Why it matters: with Ms you’re moving fast, and adjusting a polarizer angle while the moment’s happening is… kinda a vibe killer.
Practical tip: skip stacking. If you want protection, use the hood + cap. If you buy one, get B+W 77mm ND 3.0 (1000x) MRC nano plus cheap step-up rings for both lenses (less vignetting than step-down). cheers
5
09/02/2026 9:05 pm
Hmm, I’ve had a different experience vs the “CPL is the one filter” crowd — respectfully, for street/travel I’m safety-first and I’d pick a **clear/UV** as the *one* that’s actually worth it.
- **Background:** On an M, you’re moving fast, camera’s in/out of bags, rubbing against zippers, jackets, dust… and Leica front elements/hoods aren’t magic. A filter is basically a sacrificial window.
- **Why it matters (reliability > theory):** I’ve seen too many ruined days from a tiny front-element scratch or salt spray haze. Yes, cheap filters can flare/ghost. But a *good* multicoated one? Pretty much invisible in most daylight, and I’m satisfied with the trade.
- **Budget-focused solution:** Don’t buy “Leica-branded” glass. Just get one high-quality clear per lens and call it done.
- B+W 007 Clear MRC nano Filter 46mm (often like $35–$60)
- Hoya HD3 UV Filter 46mm (usually $40–$70)
- Breakthrough Photography X4 UV Filter 46mm (more like $80–$120, but tough)
- **ND/CPL as occasional tools:** I’d rent/borrow a CPL first. It’s awesome but fiddly on a rangefinder, and effect changes with angle. ND? Only buy if you *constantly* hit shutter-speed limits.
- **Stacking:** I dont stack on a 35 unless I have to. More surfaces = more flare. If you need ND, swap the clear off, put ND on, done.
gl! cheers
3
09/02/2026 8:30 pm
For your situation, I’d pick a **polarizer** as the one “must-have” (even tho its the most annoying on an M).
- **Why CPL wins:** it does something you can’t really fake in post—cuts reflections on water/glass and boosts contrast. Super useful for travel + city.
- **Rangefinder downside:** unfortunately I’ve had issues with fast shooting… you kinda have to adjust, chimp, adjust again. I use a slim mount to keep it less fiddly.
- **ND reality check:** honestly ND is great for f/1.4 in sun, but you can also just run faster film (or accept 1/1000-ish limits). I’ve gotten flare from NDs more than CPLs.
- **UV/clear:** idk, I stopped—hood + cap gave better protection and less flare.
If you stack, keep it slim and expect more flare/vignette on 35mm. cheers
3
12/02/2026 5:15 pm
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20/02/2026 3:35 am
Yeah I'm realy new to the Leica world but honestly after spending so much on my 35mm I'm definately in the "protection first" camp because I just cant imagine a scratch on that glass and I worry about it every time I take it out of the bag. I know people say filters ruin the contrast but as someone who is super cautious I found that getting the actual Leica E46 UVa II Filter made me feel way better since it matches the lens finish and the lens cap still fits perfectly which was a big deal for me. Tbh I tried a cheaper brand first and it felt loose and wierd but the official Leica one or even the B+W T-PRO UV Filter has been great and I dont see any weird reflections even at night. TL;DR: For long term peace of mind I'd go with a high-end UV filter because fixing a scratched front element is way too scary lol.
1
22/02/2026 6:27 pm
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