Is a S60mm filter the same as an E60mm filter??

beemermark · Jan 19, 2025

I have a Leica 180/3.4 Apo lens which is fantastic. I'm looking for some B&W contrast filters. Needless to same it's a weird size. A Leica E60mm filter ( I think E means European and is what 95% of filter threads are) costs the same as the lens. But there are numerous Zeiss filters in S60mm. Is this the same thread pitch or something different.

mshchem · Jan 19, 2025

E is the diameter of the filter E60, is 60mm diameter.

beemermark · Jan 19, 2025

mshchem said:
E is the diameter of the filter E60, is 60mm diameter.

E is the tread pitch.

mshchem · Jan 20, 2025

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1670883-REG/b_w_66_1102642_60mm_mrc_basic_yellow_495_022.html

Look for used. I use the B+W MRC basic filters on my Leica rangefinder lenses, brass ring, multi-coated, beautiful filters, better than the older uncoated Leica filters. Beware filters with aluminum rings, these can freeze up and get stuck on your beautiful lens!

RalphLambrecht · Jan 20, 2025

beemermark said:
E is the tread pitch.

I believe the 'E' stands for the German word 'einschraubfilter', meaning the filter has a male thread fitting a female thread in the lens. But I could be wrong

mshchem · Jan 20, 2025

beemermark said:
E is the tread pitch.

My Leica lenses that take 39mm filters say E39, 55mm filters say E55. And yes all the filters have male threads that thread into the female thread of the lens.

beemermark · Jan 20, 2025

mshchem said:
My Leica lenses that take 39mm filters say E39, 55mm filters say E55. And yes all the filters have male threads that thread into the female thread of the lens.

My concern is that S60 has a different pitch thread than E60.

mshchem · Jan 20, 2025

beemermark said:
My concern is that S60 has a different pitch thread than E60.

These lenses are not uncommon, KEH and others have them, lists 60mm thread. I'm not sure I've seen S descriptions, of course I forget a lot.

Ian C · Jan 20, 2025

Google Translate gives

“einschraubfilter” = screw-in filter

I found the following via Internet search. Whether it is accurate or not is unknown.

"On B+W filters, the letter "S" typically stands for "Slim," indicating that the filter is a thinner version of its standard counterpart, designed to be particularly low-profile and suitable for situations where space is limited on the lens.

Key points about the "S" designation on B+W filters:

Thin profile:

The primary characteristic of an "S" filter is its slimmer design compared to the standard version of the same filter type.

Application:

This feature makes "S" filters useful for situations where a camera body or lens has limited space for a filter, such as with wide-angle lenses or when using multiple filters stacked together.

Filter functionality:

The "S" designation does not change the filter's primary function (e.g., UV, ND, polarizer) - it only refers to its physical thickness."

MattKing · Jan 20, 2025

Some thin filters lack a front thread, making it impossible to screw in lens hoods or stack filters.
I don't know whether that concern applies to the particular filters you are looking at.

beemermark · Jan 20, 2025

Evidently my original post was not clear enough. I have a Leica R 180/3.4 Apo lens that requires an E60mm filter. Leica always (or at least used to) referred to their filters sizes as E39m, E46, E55, etc. The "E" refers to the common thread pitch originally used in Europe. For small diameter filters, like a 39mm, the thread pitch is 0.5mm. For larger filters (don't know exactly what diameter the change over occurs at) the thread pitch is 0.75mm. Thus a Leica E60, or just 60)mm filter has a diameter of 60mm and a thread pitch of 0.75mm. Thread pitch is the distance between threads on a screw or bolt (or filter). Today, and maybe the last 30 or 40 years, all filters utilize the same standard and photographers never think twice about thread pitch.

However once upon a time some lens companies utilized a proprietary thread pitch, not today's standard.

NOW PAY ATTENTION-

Does a filter made by Zeiss Ikon (the old German Company) designated as S60 use the 0.75mm pitch or does the "S" stand for different pitch? The "S" does not stand for slim. I can buy a S60mm filter for around $20, a new filter gets to be more like $65~100. The

eli griggs · Jan 20, 2025

It sounds to me like there is a 'nail', 'standing proud' and snagging a simple path to understanding the cure, not the "correct", traditional cure.

A newly mfg brass series filter ring and simple gel, nylon, oversized square plastic, will save a lot of space, packing, a larger assortment carried in a small packet, etc.

I happen to like Kodak Written gel filters, others, Lee.

This is the fastest path, IMO, to get that filter size, threaded or otherwise working for you.

Cheers

runswithsizzers · Jan 20, 2025

I don't know if this will help or not but the website https://www.filterfind.net/Data.html shows the following. Then again, these designations may be specific to his website, and not necessarily standard nomenclature? Your might contact the owner of this website, contact information here: https://www.filterfind.net/Ordering.html

mshchem · Jan 21, 2025

beemermark said:
Evidently my original post was not clear enough. I have a Leica R 180/3.4 Apo lens that requires an E60mm filter. Leica always (or at least used to) referred to their filters sizes as E39m, E46, E55, etc. The "E" refers to the common thread pitch originally used in Europe. For small diameter filters, like a 39mm, the thread pitch is 0.5mm. For larger filters (don't know exactly what diameter the change over occurs at) the thread pitch is 0.75mm. Thus a Leica E60, or just 60)mm filter has a diameter of 60mm and a thread pitch of 0.75mm. Thread pitch is the distance between threads on a screw or bolt (or filter). Today, and maybe the last 30 or 40 years, all filters utilize the same standard and photographers never think twice about thread pitch.

However once upon a time some lens companies utilized a proprietary thread pitch, not today's standard.

NOW PAY ATTENTION-

Does a filter made by Zeiss Ikon (the old German Company) designated as S60 use the 0.75mm pitch or does the "S" stand for different pitch? The "S" does not stand for slim. I can buy a S60mm filter for around $20, a new filter gets to be more like $65~100. The

You have a reasonably modern, very nicely made Leica lens. Personally I would buy a new B&W, German made coated filter that matches the quality of your lens. The 60mm filter size is uncommon, quite so, which makes this more expensive to find.

Hopefully someone has a definitive answer on the Zeiss Ikon "S60" designation.

mshchem · Jan 21, 2025

Here's the poop. S60 filter is a screw over not screw in filter that was made for Zeiss Ikon Contaflex (c.1956) 85mm lens, the filter is female and screws onto the threaded outer knurled ring on the lens. So it won't fit your lens.

https://www.photo.net/forums/topic/469641-pro-tessar-filter-size-confused/

There's a lot more info on the camera and lenses here

Zeiss Ikon - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

camera-wiki.org

ant! · Jan 21, 2025

B&H lists new B&W and Heliopan filters in 60mm, and those would fit and are equal or better to old Leitz or Zeiss filters (I think both brands use brass and Schott glass, and are German made). Both should be available at many photo stores, at least on order. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...4026728353?filters=fct_circular-sizes_27:60mm

beemermark · Jan 21, 2025

ant! said:
B&H lists new B&W and Heliopan filters in 60mm, and those would fit and are equal or better to old Leitz or Zeiss filters (I think both brands use brass and Schott glass, and are German made). Both should be available at many photo stores, at least on order. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/black-white-filters/ci/113/N/4026728353?filters=fct_circular-sizes_27:60mm

I said I was cheap -. But once you add up some 3 B&W contrast filters, a ND, and a polarizer it adds up to more than I bought the lens for. Buy I'll end up going that route. BTW the Zeiss Ikon filters are German made also.

ant! · Jan 21, 2025

beemermark said:
I said I was cheap -. But once you add up some 3 B&W contrast filters, a ND, and a polarizer it adds up to more than I bought the lens for. Buy I'll end up going that route. BTW the Zeiss Ikon filters are German made also.

And I didn't say you have to buy new, but of course with a more exotic size the used market is probably a bit harder. Filterfinder was posted already above..m

beemermark · Jan 21, 2025

ant! said:
And I didn't say you have to buy new, but of course with a more exotic size the used market is probably a bit harder. Filterfinder was posted already above..m

First place I look. Where does Leica come up with these weird sizes. Some lenses (don't have any) take series 5.5 or 6.5?? These are R lenses so not that old.

Chuck1 · Jan 22, 2025

I ended up with an ES 67 heliopan, that is 67x .5 (i think) not 67x.75.
It been a while but I think it's for a schneider shift lens,(that I could never afford)

mshchem · Jan 22, 2025

beemermark said:
First place I look. Where does Leica come up with these weird sizes. Some lenses (don't have any) take series 5.5 or 6.5?? These are R lenses so not that old.

Well, could be they want you to buy Leica branded for $250

They have watches to sell you too

250swb · Jan 23, 2025

'S' stands for Series, meaning the filter is a drop in filter without threads that uses a retaining ring. Early versions of the OP's lens took a Series 7.5 filter, later versions used a screw in E60 (60mm) filter. Leica were pretty chaotic with their filter sizes putting overall lens design ahead of filter use, so E60 is a Leica only size as far as I know. But it does give you a thread in the lens to use, so in similar cases I use a 60mm to 67mm step-up ring and buy the far more common 67mm filters. If you need more depth because the thread is recessed find a B+W E60 UV filter (or the cheapest), take the glass out (unscrew the retaining ring) and screw the step up filter onto the B+W mount (I glue mine on), and then add your chosen 67mm filter on. Given it is a 180mm lens you shouldn't get any vignetting.

Kodachromeguy · Jan 24, 2025

beemermark said:
First place I look. Where does Leica come up with these weird sizes. Some lenses (don't have any) take series 5.5 or 6.5?? These are R lenses so not that old.

The outer part of the rubber hood of the 1980s 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit-M lens served as a retaining ring for Series 5.5 filters. But you could unscrew the entire rubber hood and use the common E39 filters. I had only one 5.5 filter, a skylight. I have no explanation for Leitz choosing this odd size.

Is a S60mm filter the same as an E60mm filter??

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