FILTERS for different LENSES

[FotoPhreak]

What size filters do I need for the following lenses?

50mm
17-40mm
16-35mm
70-200mm
28-135mm

Can I use filters from one for another?

Other than UV, are there any other recommended filters?

What brands do people respect?

[graceworks]

17-40mm -> 77mm
16-35mm -> 77mm
70-200mm f/2.8 -> 77mm
70-200mm f/4 -> 67mm
28-135mm -> 72mm
50mm f/1.8 -> 52mm
50mm f/1.4 -> 58mm

Its best that you get a UV lens for each of these lens that you own. As they provide UV protection as well as physical protection for your lenses.

As for filters like warmers, NDs, CirPls, you can share them by using a step up or step down ring.

The more respectable brands would include B+W, Hoya and Heliopan.

[FotoPhreak]

graceworks wrote:
17-40mm -> 77mm
16-35mm -> 77mm
70-200mm f/2.8 -> 77mm
70-200mm f/4 -> 67mm
28-135mm -> 72mm
50mm f/1.8 -> 52mm
50mm f/1.4 -> 58mm

Its best that you get a UV lens for each of these lens that you own. As they provide UV protection as well as physical protection for your lenses.

As for filters like warmers, NDs, CirPls, you can share them by using a step up or step down ring.

The more respectable brands would include B+W, Hoya and Heliopan.

What's the explanation behind the 77mm sizing?

Also, would you not include Canon in the respectable brands list?

What is your top ranking?

[graceworks]

Explanation behind the 77mm sizing? What explanation do you need?

I have never tried Heliopan, all my lenses use B+W...so I guess that ranks first.

[Jim_T]

What's the explanation behind the 77mm sizing?


:)


http://members.shaw.ca/jamestownsend/filter.jpg

[iwatkins]

FotoPhreak,

You may want a UV (or Skylight) filter for every lens you have for front element protection. I.e. if you walk into a wall you may prefer to trash a filter rather than the front element of the lens.

I don't bother, mainly as I can't be bothered. :)

But do buy a quality filter as they do vary in quality between makers. Hoya, B+W and Heliopan are all good "round" filters. I.e. ones that screw into the filter threads on the front of the lens. Heliopan are the best of these three IMHO.

Then you have "square" (which can be rectangular) filters. These are squares or rectangles of glass or more usually optical resin that slide into a filter holder. The filter holder in turn screws into the filter threads on the front of the lens. This allows the filter to be rotated and for the rectangular ones slide in and out for effects. Cokin and Lee are just two makers of these filters with Lee being the higher quality but much more expensive versions.

You don't say what kind of shooting you will be doing so I cannot recommend any filters.

However, in the bag I usually have a circular polariser for my two shorter lenses (both by Hoya) and I have an IR filter by Heliopan. On top of this I have eight or nine Cokin filters for my wide angle for landscape shots.

I guess with all these questions you are actually buying all this kit ? If you are buying a camera body and five lenses in one hit, get the shop to throw in stuff like filters for nothing. You don't ask, you don't get. :)

Hope to see some of your efforts over in "Share Photos" once you get all the kit.

Cheers

Ian

[PaulB]

If you need the best - ie. Canon - then they do filters for their lenses. And they do 'Protect' filters which I believe to be just multi-coated optical flats.

In fact on the 16-35/2.8L and 17-40/4L Canon do say that to complete the lens sealing you DO need to fit a filter on the front.

The longer L telephotos (300/2.8 and up) require a rear mounted filter - in the drop-in holder - to be fitted to complete the optical path; ie. the lens will not perform correctly without at least an optical flat fitted in the holder.

[CyberDyneSystems]

As others have suggested,. you may want to get a decent UV filter for all your lenses as added protection for the front elelement.. consider it a see through lens cap :)

When it comes to the pricey filters like a circular polarizer,. you need to buy only one of these,. a 77mm that will fit all of your largest lenses,.. then get "step-up" adapter rings that will allow your smaller diameter lenses to use the same 77mm circular polarizer.

This will save you a lot of cash (a 77mm polarizer can run around $90.00-$120.00 or so)

I have the same set-up,. most of my "good" lenses are 77mm so I have the 77mm polarizer only, and UV filters on all lenses.

The added good news is that with the 10Ds crop factor,. you can in fact actually use smaller filters on alrger lenses with adapters without fear of vignetting. (IE if you get a lens with an 82mm thread size, you may be able to use your 77mm filters on it with a step down ring)

[CyberDyneSystems]

p.s. the 70-200mm f/2.8 in both Canon and Sigma use a 77mm filter as well, as does the Canon 100-400mm of I remember correctly :)

[iwatkins]

I just got a price on a standard UV filter for the Sigma 50-500. 86mm filter thread = £50 = $87. GULP!

Needless to say, even with that UV filter on for protection I'll still need to be careful.

Cheers

Ian

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yeah,.. I actually spent the cash for a polarizer for the 86mm Sigma 50-500mm Ouch!

I wanted to try it with a step down ring and a 77mm.. I figured I never use the lens at the wide end.... so it may work.. BUT NO ONE seems to make a step down ring from 86mm :(

Anyway,. now that I have a 500mm prime.. I use a little 46mm internal filter instead :)

[KennyG]

iwatkins wrote:
I just got a price on a standard UV filter for the Sigma 50-500. 86mm filter thread = £50 = $87. GULP!

Needless to say, even with that UV filter on for protection I'll still need to be careful.

Cheers

Ian

Hi Ian, I never use filters for protection as they can introduce flare and sometimes effect AF. With the 50-500 you have a 'free' lens hood which gives far better protection than a filter ever would.

Even Canon lens hoods work out cheaper than filters.

[ChrisNardone]

Kenny,
I agree with you. I have UV filters for all but one of my lenses, but I am using them less and less. I haven't done any scientific testing, but my pictures look better without the filters.

I have various brands, mostly Tiffen. The Tiffen filters say made in USA on them. I have a Canon filter that is made in the Phillipines.

[iwatkins]

Kenny,

I agree actually. I have UV flters for all my lenses (as I insist they throw one in on the deal) but I never use them normally because of the risk of flare. When I have used them I tend to see a slight drop in colour rendition accuracy as well.

Anyway, on the 50-500 it is there purely as a safety. I only tend to use that lens at 350mm plus so wide angle flare isn't really a problem and in addition I'm generally shooting away from the sun.

Yes, the hood helps in protection of walking into flat stuff like walls but doesn't help with thin stuff like fence posts, tree branches, 7.62mm assult rifle rounds etc. :)

Cheers

Ian