Filter Help for a Newbie....and guidance

[Jewmonty]

Hey fellas. Just joined the forum and I'm fairly new to photography. I have been wanting to get into photography as a hobbie for years and I finally was able to get started. I purchased the Canon T1i and the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM and couldn't be happier with the results. I have been researching and reading up on filters and "think" i should lean toward B+W or Hoya. Thinking I need a circular polarizer and maybe a UV filter. I know I shouldn't buy the cheap ones so if I'm going to spend mony I want to make the right choice. What would you guys recommend? I found a combo offer on 2filter.com today.... $134....what do you think?

The Filter Connection LLC www.2filter.com (http://www.2filter.com/index.htm)
http://www.2filter.com/img/redbar.gif
B+W F Pro MrC Camera Filter Kit
with B+W F Pro UV Filter and B+W F Pro Circular Polarizer
plus Geniune Lenspen cleaning tool

Any other tips or advise would be great...

Thanks

[Naturalist]

Welcome to the forum.

You are correct that you most definitely do not want to get cheap with the filters. Personally, I only use a CP filter when it is needed and I bought the HOYA multi-coated one.

B+W & HOYA are both great brands just make sure what you do buy is multi-coated. Cheaper filters are usually coated on one side only and, well, you get what you pay for.

Welcome to the forum and I look forward to seeing some of your work.

[DANATTHEROCK]

2filter is awesome. Just got a new Hoya HD polarizer from them myself. I keep the Hoya Pro1 UV filters on all my lens. I have the Hoya HD UV on my macro. Just perfect UV filters and they protect my lenses without any noticable decrease in performance. Cheap insurance. I have the Hoya Pro1 circular polarizer. The "thin" model and it has front threads. Without front threads, you can't put your lens cap on. Or attach other filters. Like a holder for a 4x6" grad ND. For grad ND, I have the Singh Ray Galen Rowell 3 stop soft. Great for landscapes and it is often used along with the polarizer. This is why I mention the front threads being important. Many polarizers don't have front threads. The "thin" makes for better usage with wide angle lens. Anyway, the Hoya Pro1 or HD circular polarizer gets my vote. Good prices on 2filter why they last. They won't be selling Hoya any longer after Hoya complained about the low prices 2filter was selling the filters at. You can read the email from Hoya to 2filter at the 2filter website. Read on here before buying anything. So many old threads and so much advice. Long story short, any of the higher end models of Hoya, Heliopan, or B&W will make you happy. I would avoid most other brands. With filters, you get what you pay for. PM with any "stupid" questions you don't want to post. Happy to help if I can.

[DANATTHEROCK]

Good info on this site. Be sure to read over the "archives" for tons of photography info. Just a wealth of info....

Info specific to filters...

http://www.earthboundlight.com/photo...-thoughts.html (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/essential-filters-further-thoughts.html)

http://www.earthboundlight.com/photo...olarizers.html (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/polarizers.html)

http://www.earthboundlight.com/photo...duated-nd.html (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/neutral-density-and-graduated-nd.html)

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototip-archives.html (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototip-archives.html)

http://www.earthboundlight.com/photo...ed-filter.html (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/soft-or-hard-edge-graduated-filter.html)

http://www.earthboundlight.com/photo...d-filters.html (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/cokin-p-versus-lee-grad-nd-filters.html)

[JWright]

I'm looking to replace three CPLs I lost recently and I thought 2filter might be a possibility, but after looking at their site, I don't think so.

One, whoever designed their website has no concept of ease of navigation. Second, apparently they're in some kind of disagreement with a supplier in California and they've splashed their discontent all over the site.

No thanks...

[Jewmonty]

2filter is awesome. Just got a new Hoya HD polarizer from them myself. I keep the Hoya Pro1 UV filters on all my lens. I have the Hoya HD UV on my macro. Just perfect UV filters and they protect my lenses without any noticable decrease in performance. Cheap insurance. I have the Hoya Pro1 circular polarizer. The "thin" model and it has front threads. Without front threads, you can't put your lens cap on. Or attach other filters. Like a holder for a 4x6" grad ND. For grad ND, I have the Singh Ray Galen Rowell 3 stop soft. Great for landscapes and it is often used along with the polarizer. This is why I mention the front threads being important. Many polarizers don't have front threads. The "thin" makes for better usage with wide angle lens. Anyway, the Hoya Pro1 or HD circular polarizer gets my vote. Good prices on 2filter why they last. They won't be selling Hoya any longer after Hoya complained about the low prices 2filter was selling the filters at. You can read the email from Hoya to 2filter at the 2filter website. Read on here before buying anything. So many old threads and so much advice. Long story short, any of the higher end models of Hoya, Heliopan, or B&W will make you happy. I would avoid most other brands. With filters, you get what you pay for. PM with any "stupid" questions you don't want to post. Happy to help if I can.

Thanks very much Dan. I ordered today based on your recommendations. Great prices......