Filter for EF 17-40

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

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

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

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

What is a gel filter?

dputz wrote in post #2147948
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.

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

Pat wrote in post #2147932
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).

dputz wrote in post #2148031
Just took a peek in there, and indeed there is...never noticed before.

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

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)...

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

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

Will do, thanks again

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

Pat wrote in post #2147932
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.