EF500mm & Drop in UV filter

Does the use of a Drop in UV filter make much difference to the EF500mm f/4 IS USM? Or does the loss of one stop of light cause issues for AF & IQ?

A UV filter shouldn't cost you a stop at all.

There's really no need for a UV filter in the large primes. I use a .6 ND in mine to limit diffraction at small apertures.

You do need to use the clear drop in that comes with the lens in order to maintain the proper light path and to avoid a light leak where the filter fits.

Thanks for the info, I thought the Hoya pro UV stepped down one stop.

I will have a look at an ND.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #14357655
A UV filter shouldn't cost you a stop at all.

There's really no need for a UV filter in the large primes. I use a .6 ND in mine to limit diffraction at small apertures.

You do need to use the clear drop in that comes with the lens in order to maintain the proper light path and to avoid a light leak where the filter fits.

Does a .6 ND step down two stops of light?

smclaren wrote in post #14364928
Does a .6 ND step down two stops of light?

It certainly does.

Bob

Digital camera sensors have a UV filter, you dont need one. If you want darker then the drop in CPL may be better.

What is the top recommendation for the best filter?

You can't put a protective filter on the 500mm, the only other reason to filter is a ND or a polariser which you could do with a drop-in.

GND would be impractical just because of the huge filter size needed as it would have to be front mounted.

If you do not use gel filters, is it wroth changing the drop in filter with a clear canon or hoya filter?

You'll need to buy a drop-in holder for a screw in filter... The one that comes with the lens is for gel filters. It comes fitted with a clear or sky filter.

The 500/4 IS uses standard 52mm filters (the earlier, non-IS 500mm uses 48mm, if memory serves). Any good quality "skylight" or clear or UV filter will do... but there should be a filter in there all the time. It's part of the optical formula of the lens. I mostly use B+W, but Hoya, Marumi, Kenko and others make very good filters, too.

If you are trying to lose one or more stops of light for some reason (video?), you'll need to go with a Neutral Density filter. The same manufacturers offer them in a wide variety of strengths. A Circular Polarizer would lose one or more stops, too... but you have to buy a special drop-in version that's pretty expensive.

amfoto1 wrote in post #14382196
You'll need to buy a drop-in holder for a screw in filter... The one that comes with the lens is for gel filters. It comes fitted with a clear or sky filter.

The 500/4 IS uses standard 52mm filters (the earlier, non-IS 500mm uses 48mm, if memory serves). Any good quality "skylight" or clear or UV filter will do... but there should be a filter in there all the time. It's part of the optical formula of the lens. I mostly use B+W, but Hoya, Marumi, Kenko and others make very good filters, too.

If you are trying to lose one or more stops of light for some reason (video?), you'll need to go with a Neutral Density filter. The same manufacturers offer them in a wide variety of strengths. A Circular Polarizer would lose one or more stops, too... but you have to buy a special drop-in version that's pretty expensive.

Thanks, I have a drop-in holder which came with a Canon clear 52mm screw in filter. But I can find anything on th net about the quality of the glass, so I was thinking about replacing it with a Hoya Pro 1 clear? Although the Hoya Pro 1 clear is coated both sides?

Mke sure you buy a low profile filter because standard CPLs and such wont fit in the gap A UV or ND should be fine though.