Leica M8 IR Filter / Leica M8 Infrared Filter
Leica M8 IR Filter (Marumi UV IR Cut Filter) (Test)
IR Filter for Leica M8
I own a Leica M8 as a backup Leica M digital camera body for my M9. I have only ever used the M8 for black and white photography so have never used a Leica M8 IR filter. Why only B&W? The colours from the Leica M8 digital sensor are not true to what I can see with my eye. The two most commonly documented examples of this are magenta blacks (seen taking photos of black synthetic materials such as a suit jacket. Quite a common sight at a wedding!) and yellowed greens (again green foliage is often all around during a wedding day here in the UK, whether the grass lawns of the wedding venue or surrounding gardens containing trees and shrubs).
Marumi UV IR Cut Filter Test
I tried to do my own research to see if a Leica M8 Infrared filter (IR blocking filter) actually worked but there was very little evidence easily findable on Google. I bought myself a 52mm Marumi UV IR Cut Filter anyway and hoped it would work. It arrived yesterday so today I got to try it on my M8.
Leica M8 Infrared Filter
Leica M8 Colours (with IR Filter)
Infrared Filter for Leica M8 – Conclusion
It is very clear from the images that the Marumi IR filter does a great job of correcting the Leica M8 colours so they now look like colours I would obtain using my Leica M9.
This will give the M8 a new lease of life as I can now use it for both colour photography and black and white images. I would recommend this lens if you are looking to buy an M8 as an entry camera into the Leica M world. It can take some fine images, especially in black and white (due to the lack of IR filter built into the camera).
Cheers
Matt