Leica

Leica 13033 UVa II E46 Black Filter

5.0 (5 reviews)

Preserve every nuance of Leica glass — this E46 UVa II filter protects your front element without asking anything of your image quality.

$155.00*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

For photographers shooting with Leica glass, protecting the front element is a straightforward calculation: the cost of a scratch on an M Summicron or APO-Summicron-SL vastly outweighs the cost of a quality filter. The Leica UVa II in E46 is engineered for exactly this role — a permanently mounted protective filter that functions as an invisible shield rather than an optical compromise. Unlike generic UV filters that can introduce subtle color warming or reduce microcontrast in the kind of fine detail that Leica lenses resolve, the UVa II uses coated, high-transmission glass designed to the same optical standards as Leica's other accessories. The result is front element protection that you genuinely forget is there.

The filter's construction reflects Leica's typical attention to material quality: a matte black anodized aluminum ring with precise thread pitch that attaches and removes cleanly, without the galling that cheaper filters eventually develop after repeated use. The black finish absorbs stray light rather than reflecting it back through the element. The slim profile keeps vignetting off the table on most lenses even when stacked with a second filter, and the front thread accepts a standard Leica lens cap — so removing the filter from your workflow costs you nothing in daily convenience.

Key Features

Filter

It protects the front elements of the lens against scratches, marks and dirt

Full imaging quality, even in unfavourable lighting conditions

This UVa II filter can also be used in combination with other filters

It acts as permanent protection for your valuable filters

Specifications

Brand
Leica
Model
13033
Filter Type
UVa II (UV/protective)
Filter Thread Size
E46 (46mm)
Ring Finish
Black anodized aluminum
Stackable
Yes

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The UVa II's optical glass maintains Leica's renowned color neutrality, so warm-toned M-lens rendering is not shifted by a substandard coating.
  • Permanent front element protection against scratches, fingerprints, and dust — a meaningful assurance when protecting Leica glass worth multiples of the filter's cost.
  • Stackable design lets you add a polarizer or ND on top without forcing a filter swap between filter types during a session.
  • The slim black ring integrates visually with Leica's design language, keeping the front of the lens clean-looking in the field.

👎 Cons

  • At E46 sizing, this filter fits only lenses with a 46mm thread — photographers with multiple Leica lenses of varying diameters will need separate filters for each thread size.
  • Like any front filter, it introduces one additional air-to-glass surface, which in extreme backlit conditions can marginally increase flare compared to a bare element.
  • The filter offers no UV blocking capability beyond lens protection in digital photography, where camera sensors are insensitive to UV — its primary value is purely mechanical protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

No meaningful impact in practice. The UVa II is engineered specifically for Leica optics and uses high-transmission glass that passes visible light without introducing color casts or veiling flare — your lens's characteristic rendering stays intact. It's essentially invisible in the imaging chain.
Yes — the UVa II is designed to be stackable. Its slim profile minimizes the vignetting risk common with stacked filters, though on very wide lenses (below ~21mm equivalent) you should check for corner darkening before relying on any stack in critical shots.
The matte black finish is specifically chosen to minimize internal reflections. Shooting directly into the sun with any front filter can introduce minor flare, but the UVa II's optical coating suppresses this significantly compared to uncoated alternatives.
The E46 UVa II accepts a standard 46mm lens cap on its front thread. Compatibility with specific Leica lens hoods depends on the individual lens model — consult your lens's documentation to confirm hood attachment when the filter is in place.
The E46 designation means it fits any Leica lens with a 46mm front filter thread. Always verify your specific lens's filter thread diameter — Leica M lenses vary, and some use non-standard attachment methods like push-on caps rather than screw threads.