mark_lagrange3 Posted October 8, 2001 Share Posted October 8, 2001 Two questions: 1) Every Canon long lens has a generic piece of glass as the drop in that comes with the lens. Every piece of extra glass that is unneccessary promotes the opportunity for sharpness degredation. Furthermore, I noticed some small nicks in my drop in glass. Would it hurt anything to simply remove the glass from the cartridge? Is it a bad thing to just leave the cartridge empty? The lens still appears to be closed from all dust. 2)Same lens ... slightly different question. I have found that Canon does make a polarizer for the 600/4 IS. However, I have not been able to find a warming filter. The drop in cartridge is built for "popping out" the glass that the lens comes with, but where do we get the filters to put in. ...not B&H or any of the national guys. Does anyone know who makes them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isaac sibson Posted October 8, 2001 Share Posted October 8, 2001 It is my understanding that the drop in cartridge takes regular 52mm filters (as opposed to 48mm in the previous generation of EF super-teles), so you should be able to purchase any 52mm warm-up or polariser, and use it (although turning the polariser has got to be a pain....). Canon don't make a huge range of filters, so you'd need to look elsewhere for a warm-up. However, I could of course be wrong about the whole thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clivecc Posted October 8, 2001 Share Posted October 8, 2001 I have the 600mm IS. It appears that the standard drop in filter cartridge opens up to accept another optional thin gel filter on top of the existing one (don't ask where you get them....I have no idea). So I bought a regular B&W 81A coated glass filter (can't remember the exact size....probably about 58mm) and removed the glass filter from the aluminum/bronze frame. Because the 81A was about 3mm thick I then modified the Canon drop in filter cartridge so that it could close with the 81A sandwiched against the original filter. I now have the option of taking the 81A out whenever I want or leaving it in. I have seen no visible optical degradation (sharpness)with the 81A under all circumstances. About the CPL....not sure. Maybe try a piece of 81A/B/C gel on top of the filter. I hardly ever use mine. Clive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt_heintzelman Posted October 8, 2001 Share Posted October 8, 2001 As I recall, the optical design of this type of lens assumes that the drop-in glass or filter is in place, and that it is not wise to remove it. If your drop-in glass element is scratched, you should buy a new one. Hopefully Bob Atkins will chime in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_goldfarb Posted October 8, 2001 Share Posted October 8, 2001 The reason Canon includes the filter is because a filter is part of the optical design of the lens. Removing it or using a gel filter alone or combining two glass filters could cause a slight focus shift. I believe Tiffen bought out Kodak's Wratten gel filter division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les maynard photography Posted October 8, 2001 Share Posted October 8, 2001 I also found this to be a problem. Until I found a filter thin enough to work. Try a Tiffen 81a-b-etc. It works for me. I tried others and found them to be too thick. Just remove the old filter and screw in the new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_lofquist Posted October 8, 2001 Share Posted October 8, 2001 If the focussing mount will allow focussing "past infinity", the lens should be OK without a drop-in filter. There is a slight difference in focus with respect to wavelength, but it is insignificant! Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_merriman1 Posted October 16, 2001 Share Posted October 16, 2001 Canon make an accessory "Drop-in Screw Filter Holder 52" for their new IS telephotos. This allows you to use a standard 52mm threaded filter screwed into the filter holder. I often use a regular Tiffen 52mm 812 warming filter with the Drop-in Screw Filter Holder 52 on my 600IS when shooting wildlife. For a polarizer you really need the dedicated Canon Drop-in Circular Polarizer 52. It has a little wheel on the outside of the filter holder that is geared to turn the polarizer inside to make it easy and quick to get the desired polarzing effect. Now if you want a warming polarizer, that is a another problem. Two solutions include trying to attach a warming gel filter over the Canon Drop-in CP or sending Bob Singh (Singh-Ray Corp) a Canon Drop-in CP and have him remove the filter (smash the CP- since it is glued into the holder) and replace it with one of his warming CP filters. Or for those digtally inclined, use Photoshop to apply a warming effect afterwards. Hope this helps. John Merriman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howard_grill Posted March 25, 2003 Share Posted March 25, 2003 This thread has not been added to in quite some time, but having run across it in a search I had a further question or three. 1)How "good" is the Canon drop in polarizer for their teles with drop in filters. I would presume that if they are offering it for lenses of this price it must be quite reasonable optically. I only ask because, normally speaking, I would not buy a Canon polarizer for my lenses. In this case though, if you want to be able to turn the polarizer while mounted internally there is not much choice. Anyone have experience with this filter? 2) I presume you can use any 52 mm polarizer with the screw in drop in tray. How much of a pain is it to hold the filter up already screwed into the tray, turn it to get the desired effect and then drop it in? 3) How useful is it to use a polarizer in a long tele for wildlife/bird photography? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen.schwartz Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 The Canon drop-in polarizer has a tiny thumb screw on the external part of the filter to rotate the circular polarizer, so it is not much of a pain to rotate it. Beware that the currently available PLC-52 does not fit the older 600mm/f4.0 lens (the previous version without IS). I now have a new filter unused which doesn't fit my lens to prove it. If anyone wants to buy it before I return it to B&H which will cost me shipping and a 15% restocking fee please speak up now. call me at 604-818-2251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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