Filters for Macro Lens??

[mauimike]

i'm tempted to get the 100 f2.8 during the current rebate period and curious if uv, polarizer or nd filters are necessary, or helpful in specific situations for macro photography.

thanks in advance.

[LordV]

Originally Posted by mauimike

i'm tempted to get the 100 f2.8 during the current rebate period and curious if uv, polarizer or nd filters are necessary, or helpful in specific situations for macro photography.

thanks in advance.

Only filter I've used to any extent when shooting macro is a CPolariser filter and that's fairly rare - limited to over water shots or shooting natural light in strong sun.
Brian v.

[gatorlink]

I think most people do not use filters on their macro lenses, but that doesn't mean you should not try it. I did not ever use a filter on my 100mm, and the lens was constantly getting dirty as a result. I find it more difficult (and scary, given the cost of accidentally raking a sand grain across it) to clean the lens directly than to clean a filter. When I upgraded to the 180L macro, I put a filter on it, and I have not found that the images are degraded to a noticeable degree. Moreover, when using it as a telephoto on hikes in the wilderness, I like the security of knowing the glass is protected.

That said, if you do consider a filter, you will need to get an expensive one to avoid image degradation. I use B+W MRC UV filters. A lesser filter will likely cause image degradation.

I can't comment on using a CP filter (although I do own one) for macro work, but I have seen people like Brian get some nice results using that strategy. It's not going to make or break your shots, though.

[mauimike]

thanks Brian and Ryan for your input. I have a 77mm B&W CP so I could get a step up ring for that. A UV filter for lens protection is good advice for me as I tend to go out hiking and to the beach.

Mike

[Windsun33]

The only filter I ever use for macro is the CP one, and even that rarely unless something like water reflection is a real issue. It quite often does also help colors show up better, but at the same time it cuts the light down enough so that depth of field can be a problem.