What is the best lens filter for a Canon EF50mm f/1.4 USM

[scott_southard]

My wife bought me a Canon EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens for X-Mas.

 

What is the best lens filter for this lens?

 

If you can send a link I would appreciate it very much.

 

Thanks.

 

Scott Southard

[JDMvW]

It's just one source, but they sell name brands: http://www.camerafilters.com/

 

I have no connection with them except as a satisfied customer.

[frankz]

If you're asking re: quality, B+W or Heliopan are good brands, but anything using Shott glass is the best - this assumes you just want a protection-type filter, clear or UV coated.

[frankz]

My bad - that's Schott.

[jo7hs2]

What kind of filter do you need?

 

UV/Protection? ND? Grad-ND? Polarizer? Something else?

 

Read this to determine what type of filter you need first.

http://www.tiffen.com/camera_filters.htm

http://www.searlstudio.com/digital-photo-blog02080505.htm

 

Your lens uses a 58mm filter.

[jo7hs2]

Those are two separate links... Sorry for the jumble there. Clicking on them works...

[KenPapai]

Film or Digital? For digital you need just one: a polarizer filter.

 

As you advance in skill, an ND would be helpful.

[gdanmitchell]

The most useful filter on a DSLR for color photography is probably a high quality circular

polarizer - though you certainly don't want to use it all the time. It can be used to reduce

reflections and glare in some situations, and it is also useful for darkening skies.

[michaela_chan1]

I have a circular polarizing filter which works nice when the sun is too bright and causing a haze. useful when you want some nice vibrant saturation as well

[colinsouthern]

"If you're asking re: quality, B+W or Heliopan are good brands, but anything using Schott glass is the best - this assumes you just want a protection-type filter, clear or UV coated."

 

I couldn't agree more - here's a link to the Heliopan one at B&H (this is the type of filter I use) ...

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/232469-REG/Heliopan_705811_58_mm_UV_Haze_.html

[hjoseph7]

For the 50mm f1.4, I would get a Hoya filter.

 

http://www.hoyafilter.com/

[yakim_peled1]

Why do you feel you need a filter? For protection? My motto is: Either the best (B+W MRC) or nothing. Personally I chose the latter option and use the lens hoods for this. The only filer I use is a CPL.

 

BTW, this is a FAQ. A search would yield many hits.

 

Happy shooting,

Yakim.

[keith_lubow]

What effect do you want from the filter?

 

Keith

[mendel_leisk]

For general protection with minimum impact I alway put B+W MRC UV filters on, right away.

[gdanmitchell]

"For general protection with minimum impact I alway put B+W MRC UV filters on, right away."

 

 

That filter with a 58mm thread diameter costs about $100... to put on a lens that cost less

than $300? Hmm...

 

Dan

[colinsouthern]

"That filter with a 58mm thread diameter costs about $100... to put on a lens that cost less than $300?"

 

Total cost $approx $400.

 

Alternative - save $100 up front - have an accident - have to buy new lens (and a filter now that the lesson has finally been learned) - Total cost approx $700. Hmm...

[marknagel]

Hoya Super HMC sells for about $30 on Ebay.

 

m

[steve_grant1]

Actually, the 58mm B+W UV MRC filter is about $35 at B+H. Not $100. That's what I'm

using.

[gdanmitchell]

<p>Suppose it makes sense if you think there is a one in three chance that you'll break the front element of you $300

lens...

 

<blockquote><i>"That filter with a 58mm thread diameter costs about $100... to put on a lens that cost less than $300?"

 

<br><br>Total cost $approx $400.

 

<br><br>Alternative - save $100 up front - have an accident - have to buy new lens (and a filter now that the lesson has

finally been learned) - Total cost approx $700. Hmm"</i></blockquote>

 

<p>My thinking on this issue is <a href="http://www.gdanmitchell.com/2007/12/27/uv-filter-or-not/#more-

1783">posted here</a>.

 

<p>Dan

 

<p>BTW: Here is a link to <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?

O=search&A=search&Q=&sb=bs%2Cupper%28ds%29&sq=asc&ac=&bsi=&shs=&ci=112&at=Size_58mm&at=Brand_B%2BW&

fakeSubmitButton=Submit">all B+W 58mm UV filters</a>.

[jim_a]

I've used B&W, Heliopan, Leica and other filters over the years. Of the big name filters I've never noticed a difference. I've been buying the B&W MRC filters for the last few lenses. It's the only filter I've used where you cannot see reflections coming off the glass when you look at it.

 

For $35 it's cheap insurance.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/11990-REG/B_W_66070222_58mm_UV_Haze_010.html

 

I recently sold off a few Leica lenses which I used for 15 years. All had filters on them since day one. The front elements were still like new, which I would think helped them bring the great prices I got for them.

 

Dan, BTW, nice write-up.

[andrew robertson]

NO FILTER is the best filter!

 

With a lens like the 50 f/1.4, you will be tempted to shoot low light scenes - the precise

kind of scene that will cause ugly reflections and ghost images with a filter! Modern lenses

block UV anyway, so why bother?

[lee_shively]

"NO FILTER is the best filter!"

 

I have a number of lenses I bought used that were owned by people with that philosophy. I got them cheap because they are covered with "cleaning marks"--dozens of tiny scratches. They don't degrade the image too much but they sure did lower the value of the lenses.

[colinsouthern]

"They don't degrade the image too much"

 

Perhaps that's a key difference between a lens that you're prepared to accept, but I'm not?

[mendel_leisk]

Just digging out some old bills: I bought a 58mm B+W MRC UV 18 months back (for a Canon 50mm f1.4), from B&H: thirty five bucks, then as now.

 

I've yet to drop a lens, and I doubt the effects of impact will be much dampened by a filter. My main object is to avoid having to clean the lens itself, of fingerprints, typically. And $35 seems reasonable for one of the best filters out there.

[lee_shively]

"Perhaps that's a key difference between a lens that you're prepared to accept, but I'm not?"

 

If your photos are so trite and boring that you notice a slight loss of technical sharpness, the best quality lenses available will not be of much help to you.