Top recommended protective filters for Summilux and Summicron lenses?

Question

I finally pulled the trigger on a used M10 and a couple of lenses - a 50mm Summilux and a 35mm Summicron - and honestly Im terrified of actually using them outside. I was out doing some street shots yesterday near the construction site by my apartment in Phoenix and the amount of dust blowing around was insane. I almost had a heart attack when I saw a smudge on the front element. I know people say filters degrade the image quality but I cant afford to repair these things if they get scratched up.

Ive been looking at the B+W Master Clear (the 007 one) because everyone says the brass mount is better but then I see the official Leica UVa II filters and they cost a fortune but maybe they match the glass better? Im also seeing some people swear by the Hoya HD3 series for being super tough but I dont want to put cheap glass on a Summilux. Im already way over budget after the camera purchase so I dont want to spend $150 per filter if the $80 B+W is actually better.

The glare is what really worries me though because I do a lot of night shooting and I dont want ghosting ruining my shots. Should I just stick with the Leica ones to be safe or is the B+W Master actually the way to go for the best coatings? My head is spinning with all these different series names...

YuzuYonder · Accepted Answer

> Since youre on a budget, dont just pay for the Leica name. Like someone mentioned, paying the Leica tax is a bit much when other high-end glass is just as good. Since youre dealing with that Phoenix grit, you really need a hard coating that lets you wipe away dust without scratching things up. Ive used the B+W 46mm Master Clear MRC Nano 007 on my own M setup for ages. The brass mount is a lifesaver because it wont bind to the lens threads like cheap aluminum ones do. The nano coating is super slick, so the dust basically slides right off. Another solid pick is the Heliopan 39mm Protection Filter SH-PMC. They use Schott glass, same as Leica, but for much less money. Its very low profile and the SH-PMC coating is top tier for avoiding ghosting during night street photography. Honestly, just grab the B+W and save your cash for a weekend trip.

Elias Ford · Answer

Re: "I spent a week comparing transmission charts after..." - totally agree on those stats. Reflectivity is the real killer for night shots... I almost ruined a whole set of neon photos in Vegas once. Since youre on a budget, dont just pay for the Leica name.

Hoya 46mm HD3 UV Filter is chem-hardened and basically bulletproof.

The multi-coating is great for ghosting.

Much cheaper than the Leica glass.

Emma Richardson · Answer

I spent a week comparing transmission charts after a night shoot in Seattle went south. Had nasty ghosting on my street shots until I looked at the actual reflectivity percentages. I eventually landed on the Breakthrough Photography X4 UV Filter because the lab data shows 99.4% transmission. The nano-coatings are legit tho... they make wiping off that Phoenix grit way easier than cleaning the Leica glass itself.