Filters, lens gaurds and so on...

[Kryptix]

What are filters? What do they do?

What do the plastic bits do that screw onto the end of the lens (like a sun guard or something)?

Can you get anything to protect the lens at all?

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Filters, if used as a protective measure, prevent the front element of the lens getting scratched or damaged.

What you call a "sun guard" is normally referred to as a lens hood, but basically all it does is help to prevent/reduce lens flair, in effect acting as....well, a sun guard

A lens hood will also offer some protection for the front of the lens if you drop it, but not much.

Best advice is not to drop the lens in the first place

 

[Jayst84]

Filters do lots of different things depending on what filter it is.

The plastic bits are lens hoods. They prevent extraneous light from entering the lens and creating flare in your images. They also do a good job of protecting the front element from grubby fingers and unwanted knocks.

I just use hoods on all my lenses. They make better images and protect the lens well. Filters I use as and when required, such as a polariser or neutral density filters. (A quick search will throw up descriptions and example photos). The only other occasional protection I use is a plastic bag with a hole in it, if I'm heading out in a storm.

 

[Jayst84]

Just to add, I dropped my 5D with 24-70L when I was checking in at the airport last year. Luckily the lens hood was on properly (ie not backwards for storage) and took the brunt of the blow. Everything survived unscathed and the hood just needed a bit of a squeeze back into shape.

 

[Kryptix]

What do people mean when they say 'with 2x attachment' or whatever. Is there something else you can attach to the lens to improve the zoom or whatever?

 

[Jayst84]

A tele-converter? If so, that's an extra bit of glass and magic that attaches between the lens and camera body to multiply the focal length by that amount. Eg a 2x converter behind a 400mm lens will give you 800mm. You also lose some image quality and light.

 

[Kryptix]

Where can you get those? And can you get like minus-x2?

 

[Jayst84]

Camera shops I think you can get wide angle filters, I'm not sure. An extra element you attach to the front of your lens. But I would imagine image quality would be fairly atrocious at best.