Protective filter - UV vs Clear

I've fially got my hands on my 17-40 f/4L, and am unsurprisingly amazed at the improvement in quality over my kit lens

I'm a bit wary at the moment because I'm using it without a protective filter (I can't get my hands on one right now as I'm touring the southwest US, and haven't yet stumbled on a camera shop). However, it gives my the luxury to ask for some advice.

I currently own a Hoya PRO1 Digital DMC "Protector" filter for my macro lens - I didn't choose it myself, but it appears to have done the job. Now I'm looking to get a protective filter for my 17-40, and I'm considering getting Hoya simply because I already own one. So first question: is there another brand any of you would recommend over Hoya?

Secondly... I know UV is comonly used as a protector, and since this lens will among other things be used for landscape shots, if I get the UV filter over the vanilla Protector, will that give me worse results in non-landscape shots, or will it not be noticeable? Both cost the same, and if anything the UV is more widely available...

Thanks for any replies. Internet is sporadic here, so I may not be able to check in regularly.

A lot of users on here also like the B+W filters, never tried them myself.

I have the "Protector" type on my 24-105L, no problems with landscape shots, its about as clear as a filter gets, a UV filter doesnt do much at the best of times.

If you have had good results with your Pro1 filter on your macro lens then I would stick with that.

Im sure we will see a flood of posts soon saying you dont need a protection filter & that they will degrade your images, bla bla bla, but thats normal when you post anything about filters, its a taboo subject it seems, funny how nobody ever posts any of their results though, instead they just imply they are bad!

Nick

Ehe yeah, I jut found a few filter posts (on the lens forum... what's with that? heh) and I can see the controversy.
I've got my answer to that for this lens though - if the 17-40 is only weather-sealed when it's got a filter on, clearly Canon intended for people to use filters on it! ... or something.

I use B+W MRC UVs on mine, I started using filters before the "protector" filters started coming out, so I'm staying with what I've got.

Rawling wrote in post #3708078
Ehe yeah, I jut found a few filter posts (on the lens forum... what's with that? heh) and I can see the controversy.
I've got my answer to that for this lens though - if the 17-40 is only weather-sealed when it's got a filter on, clearly Canon intended for people to use filters on it! ... or something.

I think its because they have been turned off of filters in the past & now will swear blind that they are all going to effect the image in some way, once bitten & all that, things like loss of sharpness, increased flare, ive heard it all so many times & yet the same people posting all these comments have no test results to back up what they are saying, where as I can post images all day showing that there are no differences, certainly not visible to the naked eye & I shoot in all conditions.

Yes I read that some L lenses require a filter to complete the weather sealing, so I guess even Canon must think there isnt any differences to be seen, im sure they could have put a little o ring seal around the front element if they really thought people will have problems using filters.

Nick

Don't use filters for protection unless there is stuff flying in the air that could hurt your lens (water, sand, snow) or unless you need to complete the weathersealing of your lens. Otherwise - they are, at best, almost as good as nothing and at worst they can muck with your AF, cause loss of contrast and give you flare problems. Hoods do a much better job of protecting and help all the other problems.

If you do buy ANY filter, make sure it is MRC coated.

See: http://www.kenandchris​tine.com/gallery/10543​87/1

Finally, here are my thought on UV filters:

http://www.prophotohom​e.com …php?userid=3425​2&entry=61

Finally, if you are buying a lens of any quality, it makes no sense to put a filter in front of it that is lower quality than the glass of the lens. Therefore, buy good filters (Canon brand are not considered good) such as B+W, top end Hoya, Heliopan.

J.

OK... so I guess consensus is... if I really decided I'm paranoid enough to want a filter, make it a good one, but don't bother with UV over Protector...
thanks for the responses, guys

Rawling wrote in post #3713379
OK... so I guess consensus is... if I really decided I'm paranoid enough to want a filter, make it a good one, but don't bother with UV over Protector...
thanks for the responses, guys

You dont HAVE to use a protection filter, but at the same time so long as you purchase a very good one you wont see any increase in flare or sharpness loss despite what some anti filter users will say.

In these cases I see no reason NOT to leave one on 100% of the time, apart from initial cost of the filter.

Nick

Hey guys, sorry I'm a filter newbie I've always refused to use filters on my lenses before... BUT there are times I shoot in some weather conditions where there is drizzle or just nature throwing dust around and its time I may want to put on a protective filter in those conditions.

I looked at B&H for the b+w mrcs you guys mentioned but only found B+W UV HAZE 010 MRC - I just want a protective coating without any warming or haziness? lol

Could someone point out the correct products that I would be interested in?

Better if there are well priced retailers in Canada. Henrys and Vistek seem to rob us especially on assessories!

Otherwise B&H photo will do.

Thanks!

Foggy

Foggy wrote in post #3752768
Hey guys, sorry I'm a filter newbie I've always refused to use filters on my lenses before... BUT there are times I shoot in some weather conditions where there is drizzle or just nature throwing dust around and its time I may want to put on a protective filter in those conditions.

I looked at B&H for the b+w mrcs you guys mentioned but only found B+W UV HAZE 010 MRC - I just want a protective coating without any warming or haziness? lol

Could someone point out the correct products that I would be interested in?

Better if there are well priced retailers in Canada. Henrys and Vistek seem to rob us especially on assessories!

Otherwise B&H photo will do.

Thanks!

Foggy

That filter you mention wont add haze, its designed to cut down the haze found on some days, whether it does much though is anyones guess, I doubt you would see anything drastic.

I use the Hoya Pro1 Digital DMC Protector filters for all my lenses. Can't say I've noticed any degradation in image quality so far.

http://www.hoyafilter.​com/products/hoya/pro1​d-02.html

I've also bought the Hoya Pro1 Digital DMC Circular Polarizer, but have not received it yet

nomorebs wrote in post #3753631
I use the Hoya Pro1 Digital DMC Protector filters for all my lenses. Can't say I've noticed any degradation in image quality so far.

http://www.hoyafilter.​com/products/hoya/pro1​d-02.html

I've also bought the Hoya Pro1 Digital DMC Circular Polarizer, but have not received it yet

My Pro1 CPL is currently saying "waiting to ship" on hvstar, no idea how long it will take to arrive but the price was so much cheaper, I have saved £100

I havent noticed any differences either, nothing that would show up in even the largest of prints, flare patterns are identical too, best filter for the price.

The other day I saw major flare spots showing up in the viewfinder, actually quite bad ones, but then I was pointing almost at the sun (just off to one side), just out of interest I removed the filter & the flare spots & patterns were identical, infact a quick on > off > on > off didnt show any change at all, pretty darn good!

I just got a B+W MRC KSM CP from them. Took about a week or so to get here and I saved something like $70. I'm buying from these guys again.

J

JohnJ80 wrote in post #3754013
I just got a B+W MRC KSM CP from them. Took about a week or so to get here and I saved something like $70. I'm buying from these guys again.

J

What country are you in?

Nick_C wrote in post #3754477
What country are you in?

USA.

J