B+W 007M 1066108 Leaflet
Product codes
1066108
PRESS
RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 2006 · FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
Business Unit Photo
Ringstr. ¡32 · D-55543 Bad Kreuznach
Phone: +49 67¡ 60¡-¡25
Fax:
Business Unit Photo
Ringstr. ¡32 · D-55543 Bad Kreuznach
Phone: +49 67¡ 60¡-¡25
Fax:
+49 67¡ 60¡-302
foto@schneiderkreuznach.com
www.schneiderkreuznach.com
www.schneiderkreuznach.com
Page 2
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 a precision in the order of nano-
meters (¡ nm = ¡/¡000 µm = ¡/¡,000,000 mm) because unevenness and irregularities of the individual
layers build up on one another and amplify one another. SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH therefore uses
a plasma-assisted evaporation coating process in which inert gas ions accelerated in an electrical field
compact the material (thin dielectric films which are each only ¡0 to ¡00 nm thin) deposited on the
lens surface in the vacuum chamber. It thus becomes more resistant, just like hammered steel. How-
ever, the key feature of the MRC coating is its top coat of fluorinated siloxane. It has a thickness of
only a few nanometers; it is therefore much thinner than the other layers and so does not impair the
reflection-reducing optical properties (based on “destructive interference”) of the underlying layers.
However, the siloxane also has a very low surface tension and so produces very low adhesion and
thus results in a regular “rejection” of water droplets. While wetting water droplets on normal glass
or conventional coatings form a mini-hilltop with a relatively shallow slope, a high wetting angle of
approximately ¡20° is formed on the fluorinated siloxane which shapes the droplets to a sphere in a
similar manner to mercury and causes them to roll off.
MRC coating remains clean longer, can be wiped clean a lot easier and is resistant to scratching
with a multilayer coating which requires a much higher effort and a precision in the order of nano-
meters (¡ nm = ¡/¡000 µm = ¡/¡,000,000 mm) because unevenness and irregularities of the individual
layers build up on one another and amplify one another. SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH therefore uses
a plasma-assisted evaporation coating process in which inert gas ions accelerated in an electrical field
compact the material (thin dielectric films which are each only ¡0 to ¡00 nm thin) deposited on the
lens surface in the vacuum chamber. It thus becomes more resistant, just like hammered steel. How-
ever, the key feature of the MRC coating is its top coat of fluorinated siloxane. It has a thickness of
only a few nanometers; it is therefore much thinner than the other layers and so does not impair the
reflection-reducing optical properties (based on “destructive interference”) of the underlying layers.
However, the siloxane also has a very low surface tension and so produces very low adhesion and
thus results in a regular “rejection” of water droplets. While wetting water droplets on normal glass
or conventional coatings form a mini-hilltop with a relatively shallow slope, a high wetting angle of
approximately ¡20° is formed on the fluorinated siloxane which shapes the droplets to a sphere in a
similar manner to mercury and causes them to roll off.
MRC coating remains clean longer, can be wiped clean a lot easier and is resistant to scratching
The advantage of the MRC coating on the front lens elements of SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH
lenses and on filters from B+W for users is, first, that their lenses or filters remain free of dirt longer
so that they do not have to be cleaned so often. If this does become necessary from time to time, it
is a lot easier to wipe off the dirt, because it does not stick on so strongly and can therefore fre-
quently be removed with a blower brush. This also reduces the risk of micro-scratches which can
occur during cleaning. Photographers who keep their lenses and filters in tip-top condition and so
clean them more frequently than others particularly suffer from this problem which is further
reduced by the extreme hardness of this MRC coating.
so that they do not have to be cleaned so often. If this does become necessary from time to time, it
is a lot easier to wipe off the dirt, because it does not stick on so strongly and can therefore fre-
quently be removed with a blower brush. This also reduces the risk of micro-scratches which can
occur during cleaning. Photographers who keep their lenses and filters in tip-top condition and so
clean them more frequently than others particularly suffer from this problem which is further
reduced by the extreme hardness of this MRC coating.
All these beneficial properties of the MRC coating, which is now celebrating its “0th anniver-
sary” were the reason why SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH also provided its B+W clear glass protective
filter 007 Clear with the MRC coating as the perfect mechanical front lens protection some years
ago. It is available in all commercial thread sizes from ¡9 mm to 86 mm and can thus be used with tiny
digital cameras or large field scopes.
filter 007 Clear with the MRC coating as the perfect mechanical front lens protection some years
ago. It is available in all commercial thread sizes from ¡9 mm to 86 mm and can thus be used with tiny
digital cameras or large field scopes.
The left half of this filter glass plate has a conventional coating. The
water has wet the surface. The right half has an MRC coating and
lets the water run off.
The left half of this filter glass plate has a conventional coating. The
water has wet the surface. The right half has an MRC coating and
lets the water run off.
The water spheres are very visible here which are caused by the low
surface tension of the fluorinated siloxane layer.