Filters and Diametre

Zillah

So, my main lens is 62mm, as are my macro converters. I have another zoom lens thats 50mm (i think) and I'm planning on another one thats 77m (or was it 72...).

My question is, what do you do about lens diametres and filters. Do you buy filters of lots of different sizes as you need them, or do you try to get lenses that all have the same diametre?

Its annoys me that I either have to buy double/triple sets of filters or drastically limit my lens choices.

Roen

You can get step up and step down rings for your existing filters.
Bear in mind a very wide angle lens used with a smaller filter than it would natively take may result in vignetting.

Fajitas!

I just buy plenty of filters.

Always handy to have.

Buy the B+W one´s though. Fantastic quality.

Morlar

Some filters are square shaped - they slot into a plastic thing that sits directly on the lens.

So if you went with that system you would only need one set of filters for all your different lenses.

You would though need a different plastic connector for different lens diameters you want to use them with.

mathias

If by chance , you are looking at just buying UV filters , my advice would be not to bother , they only have a functional benefit for film , otherwise its just a protection for the lens , and you have a lens cap for that! free with every lens too!

I costed getting UV filters for all my lenses and it came to about 290 euro , way too much , I decided to make do with the cap , no issues so far.

Fajitas!

Have to completly disagree with you mathias...

You can get digital optimised UV filters, but not exactly sure if they make that much of a difference...

But...I'd rather smash 290 quids worth of UV filters, which don't make a difference to my photos, than get one scratch on a piece of lens glass...

Fenster

UV filters are most definately worth it

Fajitas!

Some info here on it...

http://www.photo.net/equipment/filters/

mathias

But...I'd rather smash 290 quids worth of UV filters, which don't make a difference to my photos, than get one scratch on a piece of lens glass...

As regards protecting lenses from scratches just think about that for a moment ,....
Anything thats going to hit your camera with enough force to break the filter is going to damage the lens anyway , for light scrapes , the lens cap will do ..... so whats the point in a UV filter used as protection ?

This is typical marketing induced paranoia allowing the likes of camera cabin to charge you 45 euro for a disk of glass ...I dont buy it , the lens caps have served me well for years , I have never had a scratched lens and thats carting my gear as far as the grand canyon and the great wall , and Im a bit clumsy to boot , so in my opinion , UV filters as protection for a lens are a rip off ....

As Far as Functionality goes , Fajitas posted an excellent reference there !!

Zillah

mathias wrote:

Anything thats going to hit your camera with enough force to break the filter is going to damage the lens anyway

Most probably will...

By no means all. Its quite possible something could leave a nasty crack in the filter and not touch the lens.

for light scrapes , the lens cap will do

And for when the lens cap isn't on...? Like, when you're shooting? The period in which 99% of potential lens damaging events are likely to occur.

311

The last uv filter I got for a 72mm lens ,cost me 11.95 in pixels:)

Fajitas!

mathias wrote:

As regards protecting lenses from scratches just think about that for a moment ,....
Anything thats going to hit your camera with enough force to break the filter is going to damage the lens anyway , for light scrapes , the lens cap will do ..... so whats the point in a UV filter used as protection ?

This is typical marketing induced paranoia allowing the likes of camera cabin to charge you 45 euro for a disk of glass ...I dont buy it , the lens caps have served me well for years , I have never had a scratched lens and thats carting my gear as far as the grand canyon and the great wall , and Im a bit clumsy to boot , so in my opinion , UV filters as protection for a lens are a rip off ....

As Far as Functionality goes , Fajitas posted an excellent reference there !!

45 quid? for what size? Only B+H Pro's are about that - at the most they are about 20 quid for a 58mm one, or 30 to 40 for 77mm good quality ones.

Lens caps are fantastic and all, but if I'm walking around town, I don't want a lens cap on, add to the fact that I'm often moving through groups of people...

Breaking the filter, fair enough, but it's the scratching, scuffing, salt-water spraying, sneezing,baby's finger, beer spilling poking elements of life I like to have protection from... I have experience of a UV filter stopping plenty of scratching etc of my lens, never mind the value of being able to clean or replace the filter, rather than the lens.

elven

Fajitas! wrote:

never mind the value of being able to clean or replace the filter, rather than the lens.

Not that you ever do clean it

I think it depends on the value of your lenses tbh. I don't have anything worth more than 200 quid so I'm not too fussed, and could do without the extra layer of glass and inevitable dirt. But if I had one of the lenses that these guys have, I'd be UVing up straight away... is it really worth taking the chance?

Fajitas!

elven wrote:

Not that you ever do clean it

Hush.

I just buy new ones

mathias

45 quid? for what size?

For some no name piece of glass to go on to a kit lens thats what for , Ive seen the practice many a time in Camera Centre on Grafton st , last time at christmas , giving some girl who new nothing about cameras some tale about scratching lens and then charging 35-45 euros for something barely worth a fiver.

It happens , you'll see it almost every time you walk into a busy high st camera shop , it sickens me !!
I posted here about that before !!

rabbitinlights

mathias wrote:

the lens cap will do

Not a chance, I was in a market last week taking a few shots and a stone flicked up from a passing tuk tuk that bounced straight off the UV Filter on my 17-85mm IS lense, the filter had a hairline crack but my lense was safe, Ive never been so happy with something so cheap.

S.

Sebzy

For all you people who clean their glass with tissue, jumpers and rags a filter is a must. Every time you rub off dust sand grime even oil from the lens you are actually using an incredibly mild abrasive which over years will tarnish the high polish finish of your lens decreasing the ability of light to flow.

Use a filter and protect your lens for life.

I let my camera drop a while back and it smashed the lens hood but stopped at the filter just dinting. Worth the 18 euro over and over and over.


Seb.

mtracey

Just buy Cokin P-type filters and a holder. Then all you need are the correct size rings for the lens, which are cheap.