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LEICA Filters

SUMMITAR   A36

E39    E41    E43    E46    E48

E49    E55   E58   E60   E67   

Serie VI    Serie VII

March 2018    LEICA Reviews   LEICA Lenses   All Reviews

SUMMITAR Filters         top

The LEICA SUMMITAR 50mm f/2 (1939-1953) uses these funny little filters that screw deeply into the inside of the front element retaining ring. They have a conical rear that tapers-down to a thread somewhat smaller than 39mm.

Orange SUMMITAR filter. enlarge.

Most people today use the LEICA SNHOO adapter to let the SUMMITAR take ordinary 39mm E39 filters. The filters below fit only the SUMMITAR lens.

If you have these SUMMITAR (type L) filters, you can use an SOOTF (13 079) adapter to use them on older A36 (type H) lenses.

To use SUMMITAR filters on a modern E39 lens, use an SOOQR (13 153) adapter. Since SUMMITAR filters are smaller than 39mm, using these filters with an SOOQR adapter on wide lenses isn't a good idea.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

A36 Filters         top

LEICA's first lenses like the 50/3.5 ELMAR and 50/2 SUMMAR took A36 filters. These were the standard from the 1920s through the early 1950s.

A36 filters snap or clamp around the front of the lens. There are no threads.

To use today's standard E39 filters on these older lenses, use the SOOGZ adapter.

If your lens has its aperture adjustent on the front, use the VOOLA adapter to be able to twist the filter to set the aperture.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

39mm E39 p=0.5mm Filters         top

These have been the standard filter for most LEICA lenses made from 1952 through today.

In 2015 LEICA reintrioduced three colosr, Yellow (13 062), Green (13 063) and Orange (13 061), again in 39mm. Oddly it gave them new part numbers.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

Today, I'd use a 39mm 81A B+W brand filter for slide film.

I'd use any 39mm B+W brand yellow filter for B&W film outdoors, or a 39mm Leica brand 13 131 UV filter indoors.

I'd use a 39mm Leica brand 13 131 UV filter for color print film, but why would anyone shoot color print film in a LEICA?

If you are crazy, you can use the no-longer available LEICA 11 251 adapter and use even less available Series 5.5 filters instead on E39 lenses.

Golden-era chrome E39 filters with the engraving in lower case are uncoated, but have much deeper front threads. The same filters engraved in upper-case have a very shallow front thread, coated surfaces with a black front retaining ring.

41mm E41 Filters         top

These were used on the 50/1.5 SUMMARIT (1949-1960) and that's about it.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

43mm E43 p=0.5mm Filters         top

These fit the 1961-1991 LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4.

LEICA 43mm filters use extra-slim and small-diameter mount rings designed to fit inside the hood of the LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4, both in the shooting and reversed positions, without interference. Even the special slim cap of the original 12 521 G hood fits on the hood in the reversed position, with the filter in place, as well as the modern 12 586 hood.

The maximum outside diameter of these 43mm-threaded filters is just 43.8mm, and they extend only 3.00mm forward from the lens' front filter-mounting flange.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

46mm E46 p=0.75mm Filters         top

These are the second most common LEICA filter, used on most of their larger recent lenees made since about 1990, like the 21/3.4 SUPER-ELMAR-M, 35/1.4 ASPH, 50/1.4 since 1992, 50/1.4 ASPH, 90/2.8 ELMARIT-M and 135/4 TELE-ELMAR-M.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

48mm E48 Filters         top

These are used on the SUMMICRON 90mm f/2 (1959-1980), the SUPER-ANGULON 21mm f/3.4 (1963-1980) and the TELYT 20cm.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

49mm E49 Filters         top

These are used on a few lenses like the 1980-1981 90/2 SUMMICRON-M, 75/2 APO-SUMMICRON-M and 135/3.4 APO-TELTY-M.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

55mm E55 p=0.75mm Filters         top

These are used on some of LEICA's larger lenses like the 21/2.8 ASPH, 1981-1998 90/2 SUMMICRON-M, 90/2 APO-SUMMICRON-M and 1977-1998 135/2.8 ELMARIT-M.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

58mm E58 p=0.75mm Filters         top

58mm filters were found on the 200mm and SUMMAREX 85mm f/1.5 (1943-1960).

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

60mm E60 Filters         top

60mm fuilters are used on big lenses like the 50/1 NOCTILUX, 50/0.95 NOCTILUX and 75/1.4 SUMMILUX-M.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

67mm E67 Filters         top

These are found on the 16-18-21mm TRI-ELMAR.

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

Serie VI         top

* with black-and-white films of the 1960s.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

Serie VII         top

As used on the LEICA SUMMICRON 35mm f/1.4, or any 35mm or 50mm LEICA lens with the 12 504 hood.

*When using the circular polarizer, the yellow dot must face the lens. Hint: the yellow dot usually points towards the sun for strongest results.

** only for the long-forgotten M8.

Leica also made Series VII adapters for E54 (14 161) and E55 (14 255) threads.

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