Mike,
There is no physical danger to the Noctilux by using filters. In the Leica specification, the lens includes an E60 filter thread and if you look at the engineers drawing (or just look at the lens itself) on the spec PDF you can see the the back face of a filter would come nowhere near the front element to cause damage. The thin 60mm B&W are fine and protrude so little that they don't really add any discernable vignetting.
I can tell you this from experience as I have had a Noctilux for many years and at first was terrified of the large front element. I used to cover it with a UV filter! I since realized that in the last 10 years I haven't noticably scratched a lens and if I am going to damage one it is more likey that I wil drop it (and then cry a great deal). So the filter came off the Noctilux!
Leica wouldn't have put the thread on a lens that retails for over $3000 if their consumers were going to damage the lens by using it.
The link to the page of M lens spec pdf's on the Leica website is:-
http://www.leica-camera.com/produkte/msystem/objektive/normal/index_e.html
I use the Noctilux rarely, but enjoy it when I do (I have to confess I often admire it and then leave it at home).
BTW if you want to see a large front element check out the Canon 50mm F 0.95 for the Canon 7. I have one and it makes the Notcilux look quite compact.
Happy shooting
Steve
There is no physical danger to the Noctilux by using filters. In the Leica specification, the lens includes an E60 filter thread and if you look at the engineers drawing (or just look at the lens itself) on the spec PDF you can see the the back face of a filter would come nowhere near the front element to cause damage. The thin 60mm B&W are fine and protrude so little that they don't really add any discernable vignetting.
I can tell you this from experience as I have had a Noctilux for many years and at first was terrified of the large front element. I used to cover it with a UV filter! I since realized that in the last 10 years I haven't noticably scratched a lens and if I am going to damage one it is more likey that I wil drop it (and then cry a great deal). So the filter came off the Noctilux!
Leica wouldn't have put the thread on a lens that retails for over $3000 if their consumers were going to damage the lens by using it.
The link to the page of M lens spec pdf's on the Leica website is:-
http://www.leica-camera.com/produkte/msystem/objektive/normal/index_e.html
I use the Noctilux rarely, but enjoy it when I do (I have to confess I often admire it and then leave it at home).
BTW if you want to see a large front element check out the Canon 50mm F 0.95 for the Canon 7. I have one and it makes the Notcilux look quite compact.
Happy shooting
Steve