What filters are on your lenses?

[Canon10D]

Dear forum members:
I am just curious. What brands and types of filters (UV, Skylight, Polarizer, etc.) do u use on your lenses? and why besides protecting your lenses? Pls be specific, i.e., Hoya Super HMC UV(0), Hoya Super HMC UV(0) Pro 1, etc. Thanks for your reply.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have UV filters for all lenses,. most of them are Hoya,.
One Canon, and I think a tiffen is in there somewhere. They are really there just to offer that layer of protection to the front element of the pricey lenses.

I have three circular polarizers now.. a Hoya 77mm that fits all my lenses (in some cases by using step up rings) but two.

The 50-500mm uses an 86mm polarizer (also Hoya)

and the Sigma 500mm f/4.5 prime uses an internal drop in 46mm,.. (or is it 49?) which is made by Sigma.

[slin100]

I have a Hoya Super HMC UV(0) non-Pro on my 17-40.

[vvizard]

Only got one lens so far. The 50mm f/1.4 USM. It's equipped with:

HOYA HMC 58mm SKYLIGHT(1B)
HOYA 58mm PL-CIR (polarizer)

That's the exact reading off the filters themself. I've stacked them. No vignetting on my 10D. Screwed the PL-CIR into the lens, and the SKYLIGHT onto that again, so that the skylight is to take potentional scratches. It's the cheapest :-P

I only take them off when I need the power of f/1.4, cause the polarizer steals some light.

[Vegas Poboy]

I have UV filters on all of my lense and they stay on them unless I'm using studio lights. I also carry CPL, for everything. The Canon 70-200 f/4 has B&W filters on it and I love them. The rest of my gear I have Hoya & I'm satisfied with them but as soon as I have to replace them it most likely will be with an B&W.
Best bet if you're going to buy locally go and try them on the spot.

[iwatkins]

I have UV filters (Hoya) for all my lenses but only fit them when needed (hazy days).

Otherwise I have a Hoya cir pol (82mm) for my wide zoom.

But the filters I use the most is a Cokin P Series filter kit that I attach to my wide zoom for landscape shots. I have several Cokin ND gards for this which I use to good effect.

Only other filter I will bother with is an IR filter at some point soon (mainly as I want to try it). Probably go for the Ilford IR filter that fits the Cokin P Series holder.

Cheers

Ian

[defordphoto]

All Canon UV's on all lenses.

[Longwatcher]

On my 70-200 IS and 100-400 IS, I have Canon UV. On 28-70 and 50/1.4, I have Hoya UV (not sure of specific), on 75-300 IS I have Tiffen UV. My 28-135 IS has no filter.

I have a 77mm canon circular polarizer and a Tiffen 58mm circular polarizer . Finally a Hoya R72 IR filter in both 77 and 58mm.

I keep the UV filters on the expensive glass for protection 90% and as filter 10%. 20/70 for the 75-300.

The only reason I keep one on the 75-300 is I have noted it makes a small difference with that lens sometimes, since I mainly use it outdoors. I don't keep one on the 28-135 IS, because a 72mm filter would be a significant percentage of the lens and I mainly use it indoors where the UV filter gets in the way more then it helps.

Just my opinion,

[DaveG]

Canon10D wrote:
Dear forum members:
I am just curious. What brands and types of filters (UV, Skylight, Polarizer, etc.) do u use on your lenses? and why besides protecting your lenses? Pls be specific, i.e., Hoya Super HMC UV(0), Hoya Super HMC UV(0) Pro 1, etc. Thanks for your reply.

I have Canon UV filters on all of my lenses except the 100 macro. The front element is so deeply set in that lens that I'm concerned that any grebe on a filter would be recorded on the film/CMOS.

A lot of photographers will not use UV/Skylight filters on their lenses and that becomes a personal choice. I'm selling all of my Nikon gear right now and having filters in place for all these years has greatly enhanced their re-sale value. Besides, I'd much rather spend a few dollars every few years on new filters, than to have to replace the front element of an "L" series lens.

One little story about filters: I bought a Nikkor 300 f4.5 about 13 years ago. It wasn't the ED glass version. I used it for work with a daily paper with amoung other lenses a Nikkor 180 f2.8. A lot of times I would use the 300 and then switch it off to the 180 for a different look. We were using nothing but Tri-X film then and I could SEE the lower contrast between the 180 and 300 negs. In Kodak variable contrast paper grades, the 300 was one full grade less in contrast. In any case, I just wrote this off to the difference between ED and non-ED glass.

One day, and for whatever reason, I did some shooting with the UV filter removed. The filter was a brand X - Toko or something - and in very good shape. When I processed those negs I had every bit as good contrast with the 300 as the 180! It had been the filter all along. After I realized what the problem was I examined the filter more closely and to my eye it still looked pristine. I bought a Nikon 72 mm L37C filter ($$$) and my problem stayed away. After that all of my filters have been camera brand or B&W.

[Canuck]

Hi!
I have a 105mm UV on the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 EX lens and have a 105mm CPL as well.

I used the 105mm CPL for the shots I did in Angle, Wales, on the water and it really cut down the glare.

On the Canon 16-35mm F2.8L it has a UV filter on it and have a CPL II for it as well. Haven't had the chance to use the CPL for the Canon lens. I've been too busy just shooting pics w/ a UV filter.

Mostly these are for protection. Which would you rather replace: a) a $1400 lens (the Canon), b) a $1900 lens (the Sigma), c) some part of the lens, d) a $100-$150 filter. I go for choice d. Another point to make and this is what Canon claims on their L glass lenses, something to the effect of ... to ensure water resistance, the use of a filter is highly reccommended."

No problems with any of the abovementioned filters.

Cheers from England,
Canuck

[imago57]

I just bought Hoya HMC Pro 1 for my 17-40 F4 L both UV and Polarizer, while for my 70-200 F4 L I got the Hoya HMC Ultra, since I wasn't concerned with a possible vignetting problem (and that saved me a few pennies). The reason I went for the Hoya HMC filters is the 6 layers of coating on the excellent quality of glass. Most replies on this forum to my previous inquire about filters agreed with the precept of not using cheap filters in front of expensive lenses. The professional reseller who advised me promised that there is virtually no difference today in the quality of glass and coating between Hoya and B+W, and I choose Hoya because the ring is aluminum and therefore less prone to bending and locking.

Good luck.

[boBquincy]

None, usually.
Unless the filter is multicoated I would really hesitate to use it on good glass, it *has* to cause some image degradation. If Canon used a non-coated element in a lens we would probably refuse to buy the lens!

When I am in rough conditions like blowing sand, rain, etc I do use a 1A filter.

I keep a multicoated polarizer (Hoya Super) in the bag for when I want a polarizer.


boB