B+W 52mm UV/IR Cut with with Multi-Resistant Coating (486M)

by B&W

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000A1SVQ4
• Item model number: 65-014688
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Size: 52mm

From the Manufacturer

Protect Your Lens while Reducing UV Exposure (486M)

This B+W Interference Filter has a completely colorless glass carrier coated with a number of extremely thin, partially reflecting layers with precisely computed thicknesses, similar to MRC coating. It does not block by means of absorption, but by interference of the unwanted UV and IR radiation that is repeatedly reflected between these layers, affecting the wavelengths on both sides of the visible spectrum with a steep cut-off. It is used mainly on digital and video cameras with CCD sensors without an integrated IR protection filter, because the IR sensitivity of the CCD sensor would otherwise cause color changes and unsharpness. That unsharpness results from the chromatic aberration of the lenses that are only corrected for visible light. In the visible range, the transmission curve is very high and straight. This filter is completely clear and it requires no increase in exposure. It has a filter factor of 1.

Important Note Regarding Wide-Angle Lenses

Please note however that, in contrast to mass-colored (integrally colored) filter glass, the UV/IR Cut MRC (486M) filter is based on thin-film technology. More than 30 interference coatings are vapor-deposited on one side, while the opposite side is MRC-coated. In wide-angle lenses, the laws of physics lead to shallower incidence angles for peripheral rays. For geometric reasons these rays have to travel further through the interference coatings than rays traveling vertically through the coatings in the center of the lens. With increasing angle of incidence, this leads to a change in light color towards blue. This effect can clearly be seen by looking at an UV-IR barrier filter from an angle. The color of the reflected light changes, with a similar effect on the light traveling through the filter. The filter is therefore not suitable for lens systems with an angle of view greater than 60°. The pictures gain brilliance and disturbing blue casts are avoided. Because the glass is colorless, color rendition is not altered, aside from the elimination of the unwanted blue cast, and no increase in exposure is required. That makes a UV filter very suitable as protection of the front element of the taking lens against dust, flying sand, sea water spray, and the like, and it can be kept on the lens at all times. It is recommended for analog color and black-and-white, as well as digital photography.

MRC - A Special Scratch-Resistant, Water and Dirt Repelling Coating

The left half of this filter has a
traditional coating. The right half
has MRC coating.

The lens elements of high-quality lenses and the plano surfaces of filters require a perfect shape and smoothness to achieve the best optical quality. Dirt, greasy fingerprints, water marks and scratches reduce the image contrast and the sharpness, which can result in blooming at light sources and have an effect similar to a soft-focus lens. A clean front lens element and clean filter surfaces are therefore an absolute pre-requisite for demanding photographers.

MRC coating causes the water
to bead up and slide right off.

The MRC coating is first and foremost a broadband anti-reflection coating. This means that its reflection-reducing effect, which is thus also a transmission-increasing effect, i.e. one which suppresses scattered light and ghost images and transmits more light, has a broadband action over the full spectrum. In contrast, the (almost always blue) single-layer coating only has a high effect in the medium wavelength range around yellow and yellow-green where the eye is most sensitive to light, while its effect is greatly reduced toward the blue-violet and purple-red end regions of the visible spectrum. With the MRC coating, this blue, violet and red to deep-red light cannot produce any contrast reducing scattered light, spotty reflections or ghost images. A broadband effect can only be achieved with a multilayer coating which requires a much higher effort and precision because unevenness and irregularities of the individual layers build up on one another and amplify one another. Schneider therefore uses a plasma-assisted evaporation coating process in which inert gas ions accelerated in an electrical field compact the material deposited on the lens surface in the vacuum chamber.

For photographers, the main advantage of MRC coating, is it's ability to combat flare and ghosting. An added benefit is that their filters remain free of dirt longer, so that they do not have to be cleaned so often. When cleaning the filter does become necessary, it is a lot easier to wipe off the dirt with a blower brush, because of MRC's ability to repel dirt and moisture. This also reduces the risk of micro-scratches which can occur during cleaning.

Side view of F-Pro Mount.
Click for larger view.

F-Pro Brass Filter Mount

This filter uses our standard B+W F-Pro filter mount, which has a front accessory thread and is made of brass. Compared to the earlier standard mount, the F-Pro mount, introduced in 2001, has become thinner. Now it can be used with wide angle lenses, including most 24mm focal lengths on a full frame body, without vignetting. Another advantage of the F-Pro mount is its modified retaining ring, which is no longer threaded in from the front, but holds the filter glass in place from the back. When removing a filter or lens hood that has been screwed on too tight to the filter, the retaining ring is not at risk of loosening.

Product Description

High Quality German Filters

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, February 9, 2012

By 

[Jollibee] skorpio "Bob" (Fremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: B+W 72mm UV/IR Cut with Multi-Resistant Coating (486M) (Electronics)

I love this UV/IC Cut MRC (Multi-Resistant Coating) filter. This is the fifth B+W filter that I have bought. I am always impressed with the precision and glass quality. If you need Professional quality, the F-Pro does not disappoint.

Recently, my wife and I purchased a Rodenstock for her Canon L series lense, because the retailer in Palo Alto was out of B+W in a 77mm. The Brodenstock satisfies, but this new B+W pleases. This is an excellent investment to protect you expense professional series lenses. The glass is perfection, and the brass fits perfectly.

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