Filter for EF 17-40

[Pat]

Have just ordered a Canon EF 17-40 lense, says it has a drop-in gelatin filter fitted at rear, uh! my first SLR and would like a UV filter for it, what do I buy and how do I fit it :(

[dputz]

there's no drop-in filter...just a 77mm thread.

[inthedeck]

Get a circular polarizer instead...money better spent. Congrats on the lens.

[cosworth]

Yes to the polarizer. As for the rear, yes it supports a slide in gel filter.

[Pat]

What is a gel filter? :o

[Tony-S]

there's no drop-in filter...just a 77mm thread.

Not true. The 17-40L has a gelatin holder at the rear of the lens.

[dputz]

Just took a peek in there, and indeed there is...never noticed before. :-P

[Tony-S]

Have just ordered a Canon EF 17-40 lense, says it has a drop-in gelatin filter fitted at rear, uh! my first SLR and would like a UV filter for it, what do I buy and how do I fit it :(

As others suggested, get a 77mm circular polarizer. You should get a thin multicoated one that's threaded on the front side, such as Sigma's. By getting a thin filter you would be able to use it on the Canon EF 10-22 or Sigma 10-20 ultra wide angles if you should decide to buy one at a future date (this is assuming you use a crop body).

[Tony-S]

Just took a peek in there, and indeed there is...never noticed before. :-P

Easy to miss - they are, after all, rather old-school.

[Permagrin]

I never noticed either...how weird.

To the OP, I use a circular polarizer almost constantly on that lens. (because I use it for landscape...I have a uv filter but I never stack glass for fear of extra vignetting so it rarely gets used)...

[Pat]

Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated - will buy the polariser :lol:

[inthedeck]

Make sure it's a thin circ. pol. Otherwise, it may cause vignetting.

[Pat]

Will do, thanks again :)

[rklepper]

Get a good CP filter such as a B+W. The best prices that I have found are at www.maxsaver.net

[Lester Wareham]

Have just ordered a Canon EF 17-40 lense, says it has a drop-in gelatin filter fitted at rear, uh! my first SLR and would like a UV filter for it, what do I buy and how do I fit it :(

Canon sell drop-in filter holders for these sort of lenses. The word is not to bother with them except for the ones for the super telephotos, aparantly they are part of the lens design in those cases.

If you want a protective filter get a top end multicoated filter for the 77mmm thread, make sure it is coated on both sides of the glass. You might need a low profile one if you have a full frame camera, no issue for crop cameras.

I use Hoya SHPC Pro 1 UVs.

[jojacos]

Or get the kenko wide-band cpl...better value for money :)

[SkipD]

And... be sure to always use the lens hood that comes with the lens. That will provide significant mechanical protection for the lens in addition to blocking stray light.

[Lester Wareham]

BTW if you are using a crop camera like me you might be interested to get the hood for the 24mm f1.4L, this is a closer match to the wide end field of view than the supplied full frame hood.

[neil_r]

Just took a peek in there, and indeed there is...never noticed before. :-P


Perhaps you should have checked before you answered !

[Tony-S]

Perhaps you should have checked before you answered !

It's really easy to miss. No need for admonishment; he's already admitted to not noticing, and many other 17-40L users don't know it's there, either.

[samsen]

From answers, it is apparent that this was a good wake up call.

[steved110]

At risk of re igniting the filter/ non filter row, I always use a good , designed for digital, multi coated UV filter on my lenses. The lens hood that ships with this lens is very shallow indeed and won't protect worth a da*!n.

Lester's advice to look at the lens hood for the 24mm f/1.4 L is good advice - it is the EW 83-D II you need for this. I got moine from an ebay seller based in Hong kong for half price. I have also heard that the hood for the 24-105 f/4 IS L fits too. these hoods don't vignette on a crop camera, but they will on a full-frame.

They provide much more shading of the lens ( actual purpose of hoods) and better physical protection from bumps and knocks.

But for protection from finger smudges and dirt, I use UV filters.

[neil_r]

It's really easy to miss. No need for admonishment; he's already admitted to not noticing, and many other 17-40L users don't know it's there, either.

I disagree, someone asked for advice the wrong advice was given. No "grey area" here, no "open to misinterpretation" he was just plain wrong. If you don't know the answer then don't answer the question. This is happening more and more on here and it does nothing for individual or collective credibility.

Also it is not easy to miss, it is stated in the specs and I see it every time I take off or put on that particular lens.

[Permagrin]

I disagree, someone asked for advice the wrong advice was given. No "grey area" here, no "open to misinterpretation" he was just plain wrong. If you don't know the answer then don't answer the question. This is happening more and more on here and it does nothing for individual or collective credibility.

Also it is not easy to miss, it is stated in the specs and I see it every time I take off or put on that particular lens.


Neil, you're being pretty hard on dputz. He did state that there was a 77mm screw in, which is what is commonly used. And it's very easy to miss...I've used that lens for a year and never seen that drop-in thing. People make mistakes...it wasn't an intent to mislead...go easy.

[neil_r]

Neil, you're being pretty hard on dputz.

On reflection you are right, but we are seeing this more and more, people rushing to answer and giving wrong and misleading information. In this case I guess it is no big deal. Some of the other dodgy advice I have seen (not from dputz I hasten to add) could cause problems or send people off in the wrong direction. So apologies if me getting on my high horse has caused offence to anyone.

N

[curiousgeorge]

SO people give wrong info every now and then, it's not deliberate and not the end of the world.

Relax!

[Permagrin]

SO people give wrong info every now and then, it's not deliberate and not the end of the world.

Relax!

It's a good point that Neil makes...there are several posters that say something w/o knowledge (I'm not referring to this thread either). A mistake is a mistake but sometimes people will say something for effect, or to sound knowledgable when it's obvious they aren't or even worse in my book, just to argue. So when a question is asked, it's asked to those who can answer it. Like I said, a mistake is a far cry from any of the other things I've mentioned. (I personally have thought that I've understood a question and answered it, only to find that I didn't understand the original question...and made a wrong answer.) But lately on the forum, there's been a lot of the other kind going around and it is very frustrating.

[Pat]

Thanks once again for the advice, I have been reading this forum for several weeks now and that's why I decided to go for the 400D with the 17-40 Lense plus the nifty fifty for my first SLR. I will also buy the Lens Hood EW 83-D 11 as suggested by Lester, thanks. Oh! I also enjoy the difference of opinions, this is what makes this forum so great.