Accessories for the 70-200mm IS USM?

[symes]

I have long decided that I am making the plunge into the "L" market. I just need to know what you suggest I buy with the 70-200mm IS USM...B&H are ever so helpful in presenting a load of accessories including a 130.00 glass polarizer.

Do you need a UV Filter on this lens, is the hood not enough to protect it?

What is the difference between a glass and plastic polarizer?

Cheers...

[RJSorensen]

I would skip the UV, the hood should protect you fine. This is what I do . . . and many others. If you decide to get a CP, protect your investment in the "L" lens and get a good one. I got the 77mm Canon one but a B&W or Hoya might be better still. I am sorry that I can not help in the plastic vs. glass polarizer, as I am not sure of the exact differences one would see.

[primoz]

I don't know about UV. Many people say it's useless many say it's not. Personally I have it, since I'm shooting a lot on snow, rain, dust etc. and it's much easier (not to mention cheaper) to clean uv filter then lens. With uv filter I can use my t-shirt to clean it and when it's scratched I throw it away without much bad feeling. Afterall throwing away $50 is nothing, but paying few $100 for changing scratched front lens is something else.
But as I said I shoot mostly outside and a lot of times in bad conditions. So if you won't be shooting in such conditions I guess just lens hood will do too. But in any case, if you will buy UV filter, buy decent one. Hoya has nice Pro1 filter for around $50 (at least here in Slovenia). And $50 is not that much money that it would be worth going with cheaper plastic one.

[Tapeman]

A circular polarizer is a must. Be prepaired to spend a lot on a good one. Fortunatly the 77mm filters fit on a lot of L glass.

As far as UV filters go I keep one on every lens I have, but take them off often, mostly when I put on a lens hood.
If the shot matters, flare from an unnessary filter is avoidable.

I'd rather forget to take the filter off when it is not needed than forget to put it on when it is.

[DaveG]

I have long decided that I am making the plunge into the "L" market. I just need to know what you suggest I buy with the 70-200mm IS USM...B&H are ever so helpful in presenting a load of accessories including a 130.00 glass polarizer.

Do you need a UV Filter on this lens, is the hood not enough to protect it?

What is the difference between a glass and plastic polarizer?

Cheers...

A UV filter is a no brainer. I don't understand people that don't use them. If you could predict exactly when your lens was about to be scratched then you wouldn't need one, but you can't.

I know what a UV filter looks like after a couple of years of use and EVERY scratch on that filter would be on my front element without one. So what do you want, a pristine no filtered front element for a few weeks, or the ability to keep that front element pristine forever? As long as you are prepared to replace that UV filter from time to time you are getting both protection and clarity. And no I don't think that a good quality UV filter impairs the quality even a little. Besides wouldn't a damaged front element be worse?

A lens hood is going to help with flare. I think that a lot of times the lens get damaged IN THE BAG when something lands or rubs on the front element.

I don't know much about plastic Polarizing filters - Cokin perhaps? But I wouldn't be inclined to use one. You will need to get a circular Polarizing filter since the conventions P filters will mess up the Canon's Autofocus.

Canon makes good Polarizing filters as do Nikon, B&W and so forth. You could also buy some step down rings so that you could use the 77mm Polarizing filters on your other lenses. That way you could afford to buy one GREAT P filter instead of a bunch of OK ones.

I also use my 70-200 with a monopod. As I've said any number of times, it's not so much the stability - your IS will give you plenty of that - it's that all of the weight is off of your arms. The lens comes with a tripod collar so you hook up the monopod there and can flip from horizontal to vertical in seconds.

[symes]

Alright folks...this is all great information thanks...

Looks like I will be getting a quality UV filter and a quality Polarizer with it...

Thankfully I already have the monopad, just need the ball head now...

Anything else?