Canon \"L\" Lenses and Filters

[Whaler]

Like most of you I want to protect my lenses with a UV type filter and keep a Circular Polarizing filter in my bag . My question are:

1. Are the Canon filters adequate?

2. How about Hoya or Tiffen?

2. If price matters, B & W seems to be the "gold standard" but, what grade of B & W glass should I use in front of a Canon "L" zooms? Is 010 MCR adequate?

3. I beleive that you get what you pay for however what is overkill?

Thanx

Mike

[Vegas Poboy]

I've never tried canon filters, I do have Hoya & B&W. My 70-200 F/4 has the B&W UV & CPL on it and I feel they was worth the $$$, but this is also my favorite lens. I don't feel I lost any clarity or sharpness with the B&W filters.

The rest of my lense has Hoya filters I do prefer the high end filters the least expensive ones don't seem to be as clear as the others. My thoughts is if you're going to pay big bucks for your lense might as well purchase at least midgrade filters. From what I hear Tiffens carry good filters I just have'nt gone that way yet. Not to sure of what my next lense will be but I'm sure I'll have B&W or Hoya filters on it. What ever you purchase make sure they have multi coated glass thats very important also if you can take your camera into a shop & try out the filters.
Hopefully this will help

[Canuck]

whaler wrote:
Like most of you I want to protect my lenses with a UV type filter and keep a Circular Polarizing filter in my bag . My question are:

1. Are the Canon filters adequate?

2. How about Hoya or Tiffen?

2. If price matters, B & W seems to be the "gold standard" but, what grade of B & W glass should I use in front of a Canon "L" zooms? Is 010 MCR adequate?

3. I beleive that you get what you pay for however what is overkill?

Thanx

Mike



Mike,
I use the Canon filters on the 16-35 F2.8 L lens and they are no problem. No noticable difference for the UV filter. I haven't had a need for the CPL. There isn't anything here that I have tried it on, or needed it yet for. This is England, you know, land of no sun.
The Canon UV filter was like #30 for the UV and $100 for the CPL from B&H. Purely FYI.

[defordphoto]

Well, B&W are certainly the class of the field but man they are horribly expensive. I use Canon UV's on all my lenses and you all have seen my photos. Definitely no issues about degraded sharpness that's for sure.

So, I did not hesitate in getting Canon polarizers too. Sorry, but I refuse to pay the kind of money for B&W polarizers. Heck you can almost buy a lens for the price of their best polarizer.

My Canon filters have treated me well.

[CoolToolGuy]

I have chosen to go with nothing but B+W filters. My reasoning is that if I spend what some would consider to be outrageous money for 'L' glass I should not put something really cheap in front of it, since all of the light has to go through the filter(s) to get to the lens. I'm not saying that anything less than B+W is inadequate, just consider what you put in front of the lens.

Another point to keep in mind - B+W as well as others sell 'slim' filters to prevent vignetting when stacking filters. This is a good thing if you're shooting film, but it is unnecessary with the crop factor, so don't pay extra to get the 'slim' filters. With the B+W slim polarizers, you also lose the front filter thread, so they give you a special lens cap to use. That's too much for me, so that's another reason to stay away from the slim polarizers.

Have Fun,
Rick

[Jim_T]

I use Canon sharp cut UV filters on my lenses..

I figure if Canon can build a decent lens, they might be able to manage to build an adequate filter :)

I have a Hoya circular polarizer (58mm) that fits my 28-105. I don't use it much..

[westfalcon1]

Many years ago, one of the photo magazines did an article on the effect of filters on lens sharpness. the conclusion was that they had no measureable effect on the picture. Thus, Hoya, B&W, Canon etc all tested the same. I personally use Hoyas and Canons and see no effect. Hoyas are great and I can always get a good price on them on Ebay.

[Burninfilm2]

For what it is worth, I have used Hoya & Tiffen filters for years. I would certainly not be afraid to use Canon filters or B & W..Bob

[CyberDyneSystems]

I think if you go with a good name brand you should be fine. I too use Hoya,. Canon , and in one case a Tiffen..

Oddly the priciest I bought,. a Hoya77mm UV,. was the only one that ever seems to offer any trouble.. on my Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX the filter can throw the autofocus off by a very large margin... (under certain lighting conditions) If i remove the filter,. the fault goes away!

So far this has NOT happend with the same filter on any of my other lenses. (needless to say, it no longer goes on the 70-200mm, I have a number of 77mm lenses)

DO avoid the generic cheap @$$ ones like "Crystal Optics" etc... very bad news and I doubt they actually even filter the UV!!!!! :)

[Whaler]

Thank you all very much. I think that if I go with a median priced filter from a major manufacturer I'll be fine. Again thank you.

Mike

[Burninfilm2]

Hi Mike, For what it's worth. B & H often has used, but in new condition, filters. I ordered three 77mm filters yesterday(two Hoyas & one Tiffen) from them & saved enough $$ to buy some other goodies. They always offer a guarantee on their used stuff, and tell you it's condition up front (8+, 9, 9+ ect). Often it is really new, but from a closing dealer or a salesman's demo kit. In the past, I have purchased an EOS 3 and a 540 EZ flash from them...both used & both in original boxes with the stickers still there. Incidently, a camera store salesman once told me that Canon filters were made by Tiffen. I don't know if it is true or not. Hope this doesn't muddy the water..Bob

[Burninfilm2]

Hi Mike, For what it's worth. B & H often has used, but in new condition, filters. I ordered three 77mm filters yesterday(two Hoyas & one Tiffen) from them & saved enough $$ to buy some other goodies. They always offer a guarantee on their used stuff, and tell you it's condition up front (8+, 9, 9+ ect). Often it is really new, but from a closing dealer or a salesman's demo kit. In the past, I have purchased an EOS 3 and a 540 EZ flash from them...both used & both in original boxes with the stickers still there. Incidently, a camera store salesman once told me that Canon filters were made by Tiffen. I don't know if it is true or not. Hope this doesn't muddy the water..Bob