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02/28/2008 03:15:04 PM · #1 |
I am finding the topic of filters to be a little overwhelming and am hoping someone can give me some advice.
I always buy a UV filter for my lens for protection since there's a decent chance that the dog will stick his nose on it, etc. I guess I should have thought of this earlier, but the last time I bought a lens the camera store guy mentioned that the UV lens I intended to buy wasn't that great and would effectively turn my nice lens into a crappier one. So: (1.) How do I pick a basic UV/protection filter that isn't as expensive as the lens but won't drastically affect the quality of my shots. Any brand recommendations?
On a related note, I'm going to Dubai next month. I anticipate that there will be quite a bit of glare when we go out into the desert and I'd like to get a filter to cut the glare. I assume that the best choice is a circular polarizing filter, but that's about all I know. I've never used any filter except a UV one. So: (2.) advice on a couple of filters that might come in handy on this trip and generally? |
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02/28/2008 03:24:49 PM · #2 |
| Unless you are very rough and tumble with your lenses, there is really no need to use a UV filter simply to protect the front element. Lenses are pretty durable glass with good protective coatings. In the worst case scenario, a small scratch is not going to affect the optical quality at all. Use a lens hood, not a filter. Protects against stray light and gives the lens something of a bumper so the hood hits the wall, not your glass. |
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02/28/2008 03:39:50 PM · #3 |
I would use a protective UV filter on an expensive lens (and have for years on all lenses I own). The German-made B + W as well as Heliopan are the best (and also most expensive) filters you can buy. I don't use anything else. Others slap on anything they can find for a few bucks. It's quite painstaking and difficult to prove the difference. My contention is that you may not notice a difference with some shots, whereas you will with others, when good contrast and flare-resistance make the picture.
I would invest, as you are already considering, in both a decent circular polarizer and a UV filter made by either of the above manufacturers, if you a) can afford it and b) you value both your glass and the quality of your shots to the point of justifying the investment. |
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02/28/2008 04:09:25 PM · #4 |
I too went the B W route and have no regrets.
To save money I buy 77mm filters and then use stepdown rings for my smaller lenses. Much nicer to spend $20 or less on a stepdown mount than $150 for a duplicate filter. |
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