Questions about filters

Does anyone have strong feelings one way or another about the

quality of filters made by different companies? Can I just hop over

to Ritz and buy Quantaray, or is it worth it/important to buy Canon,

etc.? Also, what do people prefer for a filter that is being used

mostly for protecting the lens (not for creativity): ND, UV, or

something else? Thanks much.

i use a filter on my lens mostly not for protection but to keep the lens clean...if im out in the field and it gets dirty i just pop it off and throw it in my bag and dont have to clean the lens itsself. As for protection, the jury is still out.. i think if you do something to your lens that will break the filter, the chances of hurting the lens are extremely high...but on the other hand, it might help and i personally dont think it hurts to keep one on...just make sure its a good brand, you dont wanna ruin the photos by using a chepie e-bay filter. i try to use canon, Hoya or sing ray filters...just bought a singray Graduated (3 stop hard) ND filter... now to get a great polorizer..yeah, spend more money!

-zacker-

Protection lens : most will use a UV filter

 

Believe Tiften makes good UV filters

 

 

http://www.photo.net/equipment/filters/

 

http://www.photo.net/equipment/filters.html

Get a lenshood. It protect the lens without degrading it. And it also protects against flare.

Also do not own a UV filter and am also using a lens hood!

Bought a circ.polarizer instead.

As for protecting the front element from dust, scratches, etc.; most folks use a UV, Clear or Sky filter. An ND filter is useful for reducing the amount of light transmitted. There are many reasons why you might wish to use an ND filter, but it isn't for general protection. As for brand, usually budget plays a factor. I'd stick to well respected brands for the most part, such as: Tiffen, Hoya & B+W. If you work with a filter at night you may get a fair amout of ghosting and flaring from a cheap filter, It may be better to just remove a cheap filter for night-time shooting. Also, a hood is a good idea. Paul

There is some useful info as well at this well-known filter site.

 

http://www.singh-ray.com/index.html

 

You'll find opinions all over the spectrum about on-camera filter use especially considering the things you can do with digital (ie, PS and other programs) RAW editing. The Singh Ray products may seem pricey compared to other screw-on filters, but they seem to be quite popular with working photogs, especially the Grad/ND filters for landscapes.

 

Yes, find a good UV filter(s) for lens protection at the very least.

P.S. (post script, not photoshop this time).

 

Tiffen has been around a long time and is the brand most cinematographers use in film making.

 

http://www.tiffen.com

 

BTW...there is not a foot of feature film shot without some sort of filter.

I personally do not put any kind of filter on a lens unless it is of use in the quality of the image, such as polarizer, ND, crossscreen, or a warming filter. The thought of adding a piece of clear glass to the lens, to my way of thinking, for protection is inane. Especially a quality lens such as Canon L. Just a lens hood is all that is needed for protection IMO.

I don't know why people keep advocating Tiffen filters. Unless you're a patriotic American

and want to buy something made in the USA, I see no reason to buy Tiffen filters for one

reason - as far as I can tell, they do not have any coatings. Your lenses are coated - why

put uncoated glass in front of it?

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Personally I think the Hoya SMC line is the best choice for affordable decent quality, based

on the limited research I've done.

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<A HREF= "http://photonotes.org/articles/filters/" > http://photonotes.org/articles/

filters/ </A>

Don't use filters for protection,you should be using lens hoods which will maximize color,contrast and help with flare by keeping stray light off the front of the lens. Use of UV filters for lens protection is one of those old habits that hasn't died from the days when lens glass was much softer and easily scratched. Today,IMHO,a filter really doesn't help and may hurt images by causing flare under some circumstances.

I think that we'd all agree that filters can help in extreme environments like blowing sand or salt spray,but other than that,personally I stay away from them. Good luck.

Common sense will do far more to protect your lenses than any filter will. Use a hood, and buy B+W polarizers if needed.

Hop over to Ritz and buy Quantaray. I believe Tiffen makes the Canon filter and Hoya makes the Quantaray. I just purchased a circular polarizing filter for a new lens and needed the p.filter. It was just under $100.00 for a 77mm. Made in Japan. I am happy with it.

My vote goes to ... Singh-Ray... from a personal experience of using Canon/B+W/Heliopan filters and a long time ago.. Tiffen !

 

If you have the money.. go for Singh Ray.. you will love them !

 

e.g. Try their Circular polarizer with Color intensifier for a Fall foliage shot and you will not part with it! I dont think software corrected (originally bad) pictures can come even closer to a perfectly shot picture ! So, you need the filters !

Thanks, Everyone! I hadn't even considered a lens hood... one more decision to make!

Lisa,

 

It is simple.

 

Nothing to "CONSIDER". An appropriate lens hood for every lens is a "must must" if you care about your photos (and your lens protection).

 

End of story.

You can buy a happy medium Haze filter from B+W, I use them on all my lenses. Why would you put a low quality glass in front of your expensive high quality glass? Singhray might be an over kill IMHO.