What protection filter to put on L glass

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martyp

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Marty
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Well, I thought the lens hood would be enough protection but I had a scare with the lens cap the other day (thought I lost it) and would like a filter to protect the element at all times and round off the weather-sealing.

I know this may have been talked about loads of times so I apologise but I forgot which one to go for.

I am looking at the Hoya Pro1 Digital UV filters. Is this going to be okay or is there better out there.

TIA! :thumbs:
 
This is going to open a can of worms.
Some people will ask why would you slap a cheap piece of glass in front of a lens that costs hundreds of pounds and others will argue against this train of thought.
Personally I did consider fitting Hoya Pro1 Digital UV filters to my L lenses but after thinking about it, as I've always used hoods and never managed to scratch a lens, I decided not to bother.
 
Yeah, I'm not trying to open any debate - seen loads here previously...

I'll go for the Hoya Super HMC Pro1 Digital 'Multi-coated' as looks the best one they do.

I do use the hood on my lenses constantly however, it'll be handy to have a filter just incase. If I do notice any loss to the IQ I will just use it when I'm having a bad day. :D

Thanks guys. :thumbs:
 
Just wanted to be sure I was making the right decision on the Hoya Andrew, if there was a better filter I would have considered it. :)
 
What thread size do you need?
 
To be fair the L lenses are pretty hard going, last lens I thought I had chipped Stu (cosmix3) has a look at called me a muppet and wiped the mark of the lens :bang:

That wasn't even an L lens...
 
I'm after 77mm Fracster for the 24-105.

If it looks okay I'll get a 72mm for the 70-200 too.


LOL, yeah I know what you mean. I cleaned the element on mine and after I looked at it a few days later I thought I scratched it - turned out to be a bit of hair from the cloth or something. :D
 
I have four of them somewhere, let me dig them out.

Not knowing where they are shows my opinion on protection filters........:lol:
 
I have got the 17-55mm which I know is not L glass but I have used the Hoya Pro1 digital and it seems fine. Got it from camera king on amazon
 
Just food for thought, but I did some (massively unscientific) testing with my lenses and their protection filters and I can detect a difference in contrast and sharpness with the ones that have the filters attached. Your mileage may vary but I treat my filters as additional protection whilst in transit and take them off to shoot.
 
fracster said:
I have four of them somewhere, let me dig them out.

Not knowing where they are shows my opinion on protection filters........:lol:
Click to expand...

D'oh, just bought one before you posted... :bang:

If you have any 72mm let me know and I might get in touch with you in a little while if I can see no difference in IQ.

Sting: I had a Jessops one on my last camera (500d w/kit lens) and couldn't really tell the difference either. I just figured that spending a little more would be worth while...

Hollis: Doesn't it need the front filter to fully complete the weather-proofing or am I thinking of another lens? Also the 70-200 isn't weather-sealed anyway, for that matter neither is my body. :D

Moos3h: Thanks for your input, if I see the same results I'll be doing something very similar to you and only using them when absolutely necessary...
 
Looking for better than Hoya

B+W 77mm MRC UV Filter

For the nay slayers use a 17-55 2.8 for a couple of years with out a filter and compare the dust inside with somebody's with a filter fitted from day one, you see a reason why to have them fitted.

Also some according to the instruction manual several Canon lenses NEED a filter to complete the weather sealing.
 
TheNissanMan said:
a friendly bunch of togs :shrug:
Click to expand...

Except that one. (Not directed at you nissan man...)

To the OP: You could give Hoya HD a try. The HD stands for heavy duty and if you Youtube them, you will see they can take a serious battering before giving up. Out of interest, which lens is it you wish to protect. Apologies if you said, but I can't see in your post.


TheNissanMan said:
To be fair the L lenses are pretty hard going, last lens I thought I had chipped Stu (cosmix3) has a look at called me a muppet and wiped the mark of the lens :bang:

That wasn't even an L lens...
Click to expand...

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzOLbMPe0u8[/YOUTUBE]

Unless each and everyone of those strikes with the hammer was a fluke, that's an 80 quid lens taking a battering - or not as the case was. Pretty impressive.
 
martyp said:
Just wanted to be sure I was making the right decision on the Hoya Andrew, if there was a better filter I would have considered it. :)
Click to expand...

...but you got two replies advising against a filter - and you decided to go ahead anyway - hence my question. Seems to happen all the time on here - people ask for advice - get good advice - ignore it. :thinking:
 
trencheel303 said:
Out of interest, which lens is it you wish to protect. Apologies if you said, but I can't see in your post..
Click to expand...

I'm looking to fit it to the 24-105.


awp said:
...but you got two replies advising against a filter - and you decided to go ahead anyway - hence my question. Seems to happen all the time on here - people ask for advice - get good advice - ignore it. :thinking:
Click to expand...

It's been filterless since I bought it, thinking the hood would serve as a protector. It's just 'if' I did lose the lens cap during a shoot - not hard really - I'd still have a filter which can protect the element. The lens won't fit in my camera bag with the hood on.

However, if I don't see any loss of quality it'll probably live on there and why not?

I was only asking for advice on whether the Pro1 was the right choice or if there was a better filter, not whether I should use one or not. I already know the hood offers a great deal of protection, I just wanted a backup.

I'd never ignore advice from this forum, everyone is helpful no matter how long they've been here and I've only gained knowledge from being on here.
 
martyp said:
Well, I thought the lens hood would be enough protection but I had a scare with the lens cap the other day (thought I lost it) and would like a filter to protect the element at all times and round off the weather-sealing.

I know this may have been talked about loads of times so I apologise but I forgot which one to go for.

I am looking at the Hoya Pro1 Digital UV filters. Is this going to be okay or is there better out there.

TIA! :thumbs:
Click to expand...

There has always been two camps of thought on this one (And always will).

Personally, whenever I buy ANY new gear be it Camera, Phones, Lenses, Iphone, I ALWAYS protect LCD screens (Or the plastic in front of the LCD screen), UV(0) filters on ALL my lenses. Yes, technically the filter "Could" introduce "Internal" reflections, but if I was standing beside someone taking pics at a Rally when a car came flying round a corner throwing up some gravel and mud toward me and the other guy/gal, I would have a sly grin on my face as I whipped out a spare B&W or Hoya Pro(1) filter and changed in in front of them while I look at the horror on their face deciding how they will safely clean the mud off or repair the chips in their front element ! I have All L series lenses (7 of them). I have some fine scratches on 3 out of 7 of the B & W filters and have NO Idea when they occurred. Hey, 3 x $90 ? Cheap as chips.

Also, I have seen many "Professionals" selling their "Slight scratch on the front element" lenses on He he hEbay, and they almost ALWAYS attain 20% or less $'s than lenses which have always been protected by a UV filter. It's a psychological thing too :)


See here;

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/B-W-UV-Filter.aspx


Simon
 
martyp said:
I'll go for the Hoya Super HMC Pro1 Digital 'Multi-coated' as looks the best one they do.
Click to expand...

What was the point in this post? Not only do we have yet another bloody "what filter" question (seriously, SEARCH!) you ignore the advice given.

What was the point in asking if you just go right ahead and ignore people?
 
I don't think martyp was asking whether to use one, as he had already decided to use one. He was asking about the best one to choose.

I don't personally use them, but if you have one, take a shot on a tripod into strong light and repeat with the filter attached. If you can see no difference, it is fine. But let the list price be a guide and only buy the best.

Graham
 
awp said:
...but you got two replies advising against a filter - and you decided to go ahead anyway - hence my question. Seems to happen all the time on here - people ask for advice - get good advice - ignore it. :thinking:
Click to expand...

In the OP's defence, the thread title is "What protection filter to put on L glass?" not "Should I use a protection filter on L glass?"......
 
He didn't ignore all the advice, just that advice which he didn't think answered his question...

Honestly, some people...:cuckoo:

Get over yourselves FFS...

The Question was:

OP wants to put a filter on his lens...which one?

not:

OP wants to to know whether or not to put a filter on his lens...

To the OP:
B+W; Hoya HMC or HD - all of them are pretty good and will cause very few issues - those that are caused have been thrashed over on here a million times already.
For the best: Hoya Pro-1, but may be a bit flimsy for serious battering if that's your thing.

I've been a Pro/Semi-Pro for going on 30 years and no client has ever said to me - "Ooh we'd really like to use this image but unfortunately you've used a filter so it's a bit Shi'ite..."
 
I really didn't think this topic would get so heated considering I was only asking if the Hoya Pro1 or another filter was the best choice. Not should I fit a filter, at no stage did I ask that as I know its a heated topic.

Blue max, Chris, Rob and Laurence; thanks guys! :thumbs:

I was actually going to cancel the order for the Pro1 and get a B+W since the review Simon linked said it was "the best in the world" but at the bottom said "High end Hoya filters are also good, but can be a pain to clean (they tend to smear)."

That's fine with me as I'm good at cleaning and pretty much everyone here has said its a good choice - I don't mind if its a little flimsy as I hope it will never a serious knock and if it does well, it's better to lose a cheap filter than a expensive element right?
 
I found Hoya HMC filters could be a bit 'squeaky' until they'd been cleaned a few times, but had no such issues with the Pro-1...
 
Awesome, I went for the Pro1 so hopefully I can try it out on Tuesday to see if it makes much (if any) difference to the photos. :)
 
Simon-Australia said:
I have some fine scratches on 3 out of 7 of the B & W filters and have NO Idea when they occurred. Hey, 3 x $90 ? Cheap as chips.

Simon
Click to expand...

Actually I made a boo boo. I just double checked. ALL three filters that I have scratches on are the Hoya Pro 1's. NONE of the B&W filters (Four) have any marks on them. It looks like the Hoya outer coating is pretty sensitive or maybe the B&W's don't have an outer coating (Or have a very tough coating - Germans make tough stuff :) I will have to do some research on the coatings for both types.

The only way I can think I scratched them was cleaning with Lens tissues.:shrug:

Hey, If lens tissues can do that to a filter, how do you go about cleaning a front element of a unprotected lens ? Is the coating tougher on a MC lens than a MC filter ?

Simon
 
Hoya would say their HD range is best. If you must ;) :D

Don't get a 72mm for your 70-200L, it won't fit.

Edit: actually, if the terrible panic is because you thought you'd lost a lens cap, why not get a spare one of those?
 
ive always been told to use protection, but that was in school.. :p
 
Just arrived, 2x Hoya Pro 1 Digital Protectors, 77mm, £43:27 from CameraKing, for my 100-400 and 24-105,
Jim
 
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