Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/09/23

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Noctilux
From: "Ted Grant" <tedgrant@home.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 16:41:57 -0700
References: <200109231946.f8NJkY227422@sushi.toad.net>

Steve LeHuray wrote:
>>> Yes the Horror!! Not only do I NEVER us a filter on any of my Leica
lenses,  I do not even use lens caps--love those wonderful Leica lens
hoods.<

Hi Steve,
Lens caps? Please explain lens caps, is that some form of head apparel? ;-)

Don't feel lonely my man, I don't use filters nor lens caps unless for a
special moment like a polarizer and even that is extremely rare as the times
I find myself shooting the travel stuff is limited. But any other filters I
did/do have I think I either threw them away or gave them to unsuspecting
amateurs! ;-)

I use the polarizer and a softer when photographing women, mature or the
young ones! Softens them out beautiful and makes the old broads feel like
they're young pupettes again! ;-)

Leica glass is meant to be used, "filterless!"

And those paranoid about scratching and all that other silliness about
"protecting the surface of the their expensive" Leica lenses, let me say in
50 years I've only had one lens get a mark from an electric welding torch
and you know why?

Because I was too stupid to realize that those "pretty sparks" when the guy
is welding carry little bits of molten metals that mark your beautiful Leica
lenses if they land on the glass surface. The lesson learned wasn't to put
filters on the next time, but use a longer lens, stay farther back, which
incidentally gives a much better perspective and dramatic photograph..

However, my R 2.8 28 had this nice little zit burned right in the surface
after one episode and sure I was upset.

But you know what? ...... it never showed anywhere from wide open to closed
right down! My good luck.  Did I sell it because I was a tad image lens
quality panicked?  Yep! And my buddy that I sold it to for a song has for
many years jazzed me about it because he's shot thousands of rolls of film
and at no time has he ever seen any degradation at all.

So filters for protection? Don't waste your money for filters, just
becareful and shoot lots of film and stop all the worrying .  Now I'm well
aware there will be 8,999 1/2 posts about how a filter saved a front
element... yep and they're probably right as sometimes they do and have in
the past, and quite probably in the future.

However, it's not worth the money they cost, if you're careful around
hazardous situations.
"no filter" ted ;-)

Ted Grant Photography Limited
www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant

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In reply to: Message from "Steve LeHuray" <icommag@toad.net> (Re: [Leica] Noctilux)