{"id":56538,"date":"2024-06-11T22:55:27","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T21:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=56538"},"modified":"2024-06-12T21:51:41","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T20:51:41","slug":"different-filter-stacks-and-what-they-mean-for-us-sony-e-nikon-z-leica-m-kolari-ut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/different-filter-stacks-and-what-they-mean-for-us-sony-e-nikon-z-leica-m-kolari-ut\/","title":{"rendered":"Different Filter Stacks and what they mean for us: Sony E | Nikon Z | Leica M | Kolari UT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

\"filter<\/p>\n

When Sony released the first affordable fullframe camera with the A7 in 2013 almost none of the enthusiast photographers were aware of issues related to filter stack differences. Filter stack describes what is in front of the sensor and different manufacturers decided to go for different thicknesses here that can influence how our lenses perform. If you stay within just one system this is usually not something to care about, but when adapting lenses it is very helpful to be aware of this topic.<\/p>\n

In this article I try to tell you about these differences and for what lenses they matter, so you can find out if it is something that might affect you.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Filter stack trivia<\/h2>\n

Why is there even a filter stack? It can serve several different purposes. The first is, that it protects the delicate sensor. It usually also features a built-in IR\/UV filter and for many cameras also a low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cover glass from the Sony A7, A7II, Kolari version 2 mod, and Kolari Ultra-Thin mod \u00a9Kolari<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you are shooting analogue film there obviously is no such filter, so for these lenses to perform properly on a digital sensor that filter stack in front of it should be as thin as possible. For SLR lenses it doesn’t matter that much, as thanks to the mirrorbox the rear element of SLR lenses is far away from the sensor, which means the light cannot hit the sensor at angles acute enough to cause any problems.<\/p>\n

With small rangefinder lenses (e.g. M-mount or Contax-G lenses) the situation is different. Rangefinder cameras do not have a mirror box and to realize lenses as small as possible their rear elements are often very close to the sensor. This is especially true for wide angle lenses.<\/p>\n

There are even companies like Kolari that – for a substantial amount of money – will exchange the filter glass of your camera<\/a> for a different\/thinner one. This is a modification that many people were interested in to get the most out of their compact M-mount lenses on a Sony E or Nikon Z camera.<\/p>\n

Cameras included in this comparison<\/h2>\n
\"filter
Sony A7III | Nikon Z6 | Leica M10 | Sony A7rII UT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For this comparison I used the following four cameras:<\/p>\n