Best ND/CPL/UV Filters

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Joel
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Hi all,

I'm looking for a few filters for my 10-18 EFS. I do plan an on getting a 10 stopper but not just yet, I'm more interested in a UV Filter for my lens to protect it and also a CPL - although I've read that they can have an adverse on UWA lenses such as the 10-18? And an ND filter for waterfalls etc.

Would this be a decent buy?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hoya-Filte...00309ETO6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Cameraking are doing the same thing but not the "II" kit - but it's a bit cheaper - I was wondering what the difference is?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hoya-67mm...008631?hash=item3ac7d946f7:g:eMkAAOSw-0xYSsVx
 
I'd always advise against buying a "set" of filters. Are they three filters that you really need?

Perhaps someone can correct me but is the ND8 actually a 3 stop ND filter? If that is the case would you ever use it? Just posing the question......... A cheap one is likely to have a colour cast.

Regarding a polariser, I'd say it is probably the most indispensible bit of kit after your camera lenses and bag. So do go ahead and buy one. Whether this is the best is a different matter. It would probably be right at the bottom of the Hoya hierarchy of polarisers. They probably make several better ones! It is true that you do get uneven polarisation in skies with ultra-wide lenses - ie anything wider than 28mm. The wider the lens the more uneven it gets. Your 10-18 mm EFS is the equivalent of 16 - 29mm so it will cause problems. However you can now deal with it fairly easily using Lightroom (for example) so it's not the problem it once was.

As I remember it most polarisers are pretty similar optically the main difference being the standard of construction. I do have a cheap one as well (Hoya) and you can easily see why it was cheap!

Opinions are divided about whether to use a UV/protector filter. People get quite heated about it! personally I have a very good polariser (Marumi) with a hard finish and i use that to protect my standard (24-105) zoom lens, taking it off when necessary.

So there you go. It might be a good idea to go for the set (especially the cheaper one). It would give you a start into the world of filters but don't expect to keep them for very long! They will either break or you'll want to get better ones.
 
Hi

Thanks for the reply..

After researching some more today i've decided to steer away from UV lenses with the flare they can produce etc. but I am still interested in cleaning a filter on the lens rather than the lens itself - I have given the lens a clean today with a pec pad cloth and optical lens cleaning solution designed specifically for camera lenses but I don't want to make a habit of that. Therefore I'm thinking about going for the Hoya 67mm HD Digital Protector Filter... there shouldn't be any flare problems with that should there? ie. the image would be exactly as it was without the filter on pretty much? That's the first thing I want to do - protect the lens itself.

I have a lens hood as well to reduce flare etc.

As for CPL filters I do have a Marumi DHG Super Circular Polariser for my 18-55 lens and I have been impressed by it but after reading various articles I'd be fine with going for an expensive one with the least amount of vignetting issues to contend with and the maximum available IQ. That said I don't want to go mad on prices and as much as I'd like a B+W XS-Pro Digital HTC CPL I don't know if I want to spend £100 on it.

One thing I have noticed with my Hoya filters (Pro-ND)s etc. is that sometimes they get stuck to my lens and are quite difficult to remove, so with the B+W ones being constructed out of brass to negate this problem I am still wondering whether it might be worth it.
 
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I would steer clear of any cleaning fluids, I think. A microfibre cloth will get rid of any smears. You can buy them from places like Lidl dead cheap!

I'm not sure if there's much difference between protectors and uv filters. The latter always had minimal benefit on the image in my experience anyway. I do use a uv/protector on my Tamron 150-600 zoom despite the advice from several vociferous people on here! I'm happy with the results although I suppose there could be a slight degradation. (It's a Marumi.)

My 77mm polariser is a Marumi DHG Super Circular PLD, and I've been very happy with it...... same as yours? if so I would go for another for your UWA. It is not now their top range of polarisers. They do an even more super one but it didn't last five minutes. The outer surface was so prone to getting scratched that I sent it back almost immediately.

Sometimes you do get flare with a filter but you can use your hand or a lens hood to minimise that. I can't really comment on filters getting stuck on lenses as it has never really happened to me. Maybe don't tighten it up to the max?

Buying filters is a bit of minefield but if you buy cheap you will tend to buy twice. Good luck!
 
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