U/V Filter Recommendations

Freester

Freester

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,602
Name
Mark
Edit My Images
Yes
I have got myself a rather nice 70-200L and need a filter to put on it - for protection only. The recommendations on here seem to be 'if you've paid good money for glass don't skimp on a filter'. So what should I be looking at? Hoya Pro or something else? I really don't fancy spending £100+ on a Leica filter!

Thanks in advance!

Mark F
 
puddleduck said:
Why not read the several other threads asking the same question?

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=101990
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=101436
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=98566
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=98022
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=96925
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=93186
Click to expand...

Thanks. What words did you search with? I couldn't find any of these :shrug:

My advice - don't bother with one.
Click to expand...

That's my opinion but my colleagues on my C&G course all berated me for not fitting a U/V filter immediately!
 
Forget the filter and protect your lens with the lens hood. Always.
 
If you've spent a lot of money on a lens (circa £1,200 for that lens I think) then sure;y you'll look after it as though it's your first born child. Handle the lens carefully and never touch the glass with anything other than appropriate cleaning cloths and you'll be fine.

I used to have a UV filter on my lens but I got rid a long time ago.
 
I'm firmly in the fit a filter camp I'm afraid. On two seperate occasions I have saved a lens by having a filter fitted, a lens hood won't keep out rain or windblown items either, and unexpected things can happen. On a shoot with two togs and models, I'm following a model up the steps on a jetty, the other togs (at the top) calls out something I can't hear and as she goes into a pose she kicks up her leg and stileto heel behind her straight into the front of my Nikor 300 2.8, big scratch on the filter, that would have cost if I hadn't had a filter.
To be honest I can't say I have ever noticed any difference by using a filter, and I often print 2x3 foot. Wayne
 
I used to be a fan on Hoya Pro1 D filters, but now I use B&W MRC filters.
 
HOYA PRO1 Digital, Hong Kong, no probs, fast delivery, check out E-Bay.
Jim
 
Hi Freester,
I have a couple of Hoya Pro1 D filters. Most of the time, they sit in my bag. I'd probably only fit them if I knew I was going somewhere that there is a chance for something to harm my lens (sand, saltwater etc). For all other times I use just the lens hood.
 
I use Hoya Pro1D Protector filters that I keep on my lenses at all times.

Much better than the 'mean green' variant that was on my lenses before.
 
Thanks alot for all the replies.

I am really stuck in the 'do I fit one or not' quandry now! ;)
 
How sad is this? I have a Hoya Super Pro1 on my Nikkor 24-70f/2.8G ED. I take it off before I take a pic.

Yes, I know! I know, very fussy over that front element!:shrug::nuts:
 
I think a front protection filter is a useful thing to carry in your kit bag but not fitted all the time, there's no need. I always keep the lens hood attached and use LensCoat Hoodie lens caps but there are occasions when conditions are poor, such as blowing sand etc. when I will fit a filter for protection.
 
KavKav said:
How sad is this? I have a Hoya Super Pro1 on my Nikkor 24-70f/2.8G ED. I take it off before I take a pic.
Click to expand...

I have something similar, its made of black plastic and has "Nikon" written on it...
 
Freester said:
Thanks alot for all the replies.
I am really stuck in the 'do I fit one or not' quandry now! ;)
Click to expand...

And how many of us have been there before or are there with you right now?
(I'm not - I'm definitely having a no filter day!)

Seriously, I think you should buy a Pro1 quality item and take some shots with and without it and then decide how much difference you can detect. And do it in the kind of ambient conditions in which you'd expect to shoot: low light, with the sun in front of you, flash, street lighting, rain, whatever.

Those of us sitting on the "only when conditions demand it" fence ought to heed the words of swanseamale47: after all stuff happens ONLY when you're least expecting it:naughty:
 
I used to have my lenses wear protective filters until recently; now I only use them when I am shooting in places & situations that may see things thrown at me (no, not a journalist's shoes; but things like sea water, if I am too close to breaking shorelines; dirt from tires, being too close to cars in rally, etc.).

If you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, I would say get one and use it. However, when you find yourself shooting in difficult light situations then remove it as the filter will create all sort of weirdness.


Wayne, A model's shoe flying your way :thinking: ... picturing that cracked me up :lol:. On the flip side, if it was just rain falling on the front element then I wouldn't be too worried, as that's all too easy to wipe off .. but bird poop is another thing :p (don't ask how it got there).
 
eBay model?
Cheap and do the job!
 
Yes, but the cheap n nasty UV filter is exactly why some people say "it might protect the expensive lens but why put rubbish glass in front of an expensive lens"
 
I am in the "filter on" camp plus lens cap.

I stepped into mud once and up came a dollop right over the front element and more.

Not having that risk again.
 
no filters for me, but then my most expensive lens would only cost £150 to replace second hand. I noticed the difference with a green box hoya UV on my sigma 17-70 and there was no way I was spending pretty much the value of the lens on a pro model!
 
I have many protective UV filters. none of them have any scratches on them so I concluded that if I didn't scratch the filters then I wouldn't scratch the lens so now I don't bother.
 
swanseamale47 said:
I'm firmly in the fit a filter camp I'm afraid. On two seperate occasions I have saved a lens by having a filter fitted, a lens hood won't keep out rain or windblown items either, and unexpected things can happen. On a shoot with two togs and models, I'm following a model up the steps on a jetty, the other togs (at the top) calls out something I can't hear and as she goes into a pose she kicks up her leg and stileto heel behind her straight into the front of my Nikor 300 2.8, big scratch on the filter, that would have cost if I hadn't had a filter.
To be honest I can't say I have ever noticed any difference by using a filter, and I often print 2x3 foot. Wayne
Click to expand...


While I appreciate the 'no filter' camp's argument, I too have them on my most expensive lenses, and I too have had occasion to thank them for saving a lens from accidents, kid's sticky fingers & dogs' wet noses & tongues :eek:

Last year though, I found a new friend in them at the seaside. There was a heavy spray going on and despite taking great care everything was covered in sea-salt. Once away from the coast I simply threw the filter in my bag and carried on without it, and the filter was a swine to clean later too - had that been my £1,000 lens I'd have been very :(

And finally, to yet again agree with Swanseamale47, I've never noticed a drop in quality, vignetting, exposure, etc. either

DD
 
Why not go for a skylight filter instead of a UV filter? it will protect but not alter the lens .

Realspeed
 
Pretty much the same thing realspeed.

And you prissy lot should try rally or motorcross... you'd all be having kittens at the thought of it no doubt!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top