23/04/2026 5:25 pm
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Finally snagged a 35mm Cron for my Tokyo trip next month. I keep reading that UV filters are essential for protection but then some purists say they wreck the micro-contrast on M glass which sounds kinda crazy. Is the $150 Leica brand one actually better than a B+W or should I just go naked?
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10
23/04/2026 5:26 pm
Hey congrats on the Cron! Tokyo is gonna be incredible for that lens. Honestly, i was in the naked glass camp for years until i took a nasty bump in a crowded Shinjuku station. If youre gonna be in tight spaces, id be really careful about going totally unprotected. That micro-contrast argument is mostly people pixel peeping way too hard, but you might want to consider the potential ghosting you get with cheap filters during night shoots. I would suggest sticking with something like the B+W 39mm 010 UV-Haze MRC Nano instead of the Leica branded ones. Leica doesnt actually make their own filter glass anyway, they usually source it, and that B+W Nano coating is basically bulletproof when it comes to cleaning off fingerprints or city grime. Make sure to get the genuine MRC Nano version tho, because the older or cheaper versions definitely flare more when you have bright streetlights in the frame. If youre still worried about image quality, make sure to keep the hood on at all times. It adds a bit of bulk but saves you from most accidental smudges. Personally, id rather lose a tiny bit of contrast than deal with a permanent scratch on a lens that expensive. Tokyo can get pretty rainy too, so having that extra layer of protection helps for peace of mind. Just something to think about... be careful with those crowds!
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23/04/2026 6:00 pm
@Reply #1 - good point!
- Get B+W 39mm 010 UV-Haze MRC Nano
- 99.8% light transmission In my experience, micro-contrast loss is a total myth. These match Leica specs without the insane price tag.
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23/04/2026 6:30 pm
Just catching up on this thread after a long day of shooting. Look, ive been using Leica glass since the film days and honestly the whole micro-contrast debate is a bit overblown for 99 percent of situations. Unless you are shooting directly into a high-intensity light source at a weird angle, you wont notice a difference between a high-end filter and naked glass. Like someone mentioned, it is really about the insurance policy. In my experience, you should prioritize the coating and the frame material over the brand logo on the box. Ive seen plenty of people skip the filter only to have a stray strap or a zipper scratch their front element in a crowded train. These are the ones I trust for my own M kit:
- B+W 39mm UV-Haze MRC Nano 010 is the gold standard because the brass mount wont bind to your lens.
- Breakthrough Photography 39mm X4 UV Filter has incredible light transmission and is very easy to grip with gloves on.
- Hoya 39mm HD3 UV Filter uses hardened glass that is way more impact resistant than the standard stuff. Whatever you do, dont buy the cheap ten dollar filters from a generic shop. Those actually will ruin your shots with ghosts and flares. The Leica brand filters are fine, but you are mostly paying for the engraving. Grab a B+W and use the leftover cash for some good sushi in Ginza.
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23/04/2026 6:30 pm
ive been shooting m glass for a long time and honestly the brand name filter is mostly about the aesthetic match rather than image quality. youre paying a massive premium for that logo. are you planning to shoot mostly at night under the neon or during the day? also, do you usually keep a hood on your lens or do you prefer the slim profile?
