dont know what to buy...

hello everyone, im new to photography in the sense that i just pruchased my 30d w/ 17-85mm. i do not know what kind of filter i should buy for my lens. i know that its a 67mm filter but i dont know what brand or what "type" to buy. polarizer? netural density? uv haze? and what is clear protection? arnt they all clear? i dont know what each of these filters do and such so some help would be appreciated.

If you could, please suggest which filter i should buy for my lens. Somthing that if good quality but is a good deal or the bang for my buck.

Thanks to all who respond.

Whether or not to use filters has been debated at length on this forum. There will be some who will tell you to buy a hood rather than a UV filter (as they believe that filters may degrade image quality), and others will tell you to have both. Personally, I use both

I would recommend a lens hood, and the 17-85mm has its own specialised hood (EW-73B). A lens hood will provide protection for the front element of the lens and prevent stray light from affecting your image (lens flare). Re ND and CP filters - different filters have different purposes, which I'm sure others on this forum can advise you on. My only advice if you decide to go with a filters is to buy good quality filters - e.g. B+W , Heliopan

good point. i was lookin at the hood and i was looking to buy one. haha i can find what hood goes on the lens but not alot of info on the diffrent types of filters.

xairsoft808x wrote in post #4679088
good point. i was lookin at the hood and i was looking to buy one. haha i can find what hood goes on the lens but not alot of info on the diffrent types of filters.

if you are talking about a protective filter get a multi coated UV filter.

ed rader

being new to photography, i suggest reading and figuring out the camera functions, and how settings affect images before you start messing with filters

filters give a very specific effect that the shooter must want, not so much throw on and see what it does

thanks ed.
is multi coated UV filter the type of filter that i should buy for all my future lenses?

Fureinku, i realize that should be my focus. i have been reading lots and have some general knowlege but im asking about filters to protect my investment. (as well as a hood)

thanks

xairsoft808x wrote in post #4679103
thanks ed.
is multi coated UV filter the type of filter that i should buy for all my future lenses?

multi-coating is a surface treatment that is used by the best filter manufacturers on their better filters.

if you are going to use a protective filter make sure it is multi-coated and that is ditto for a circular polarizer.

multi-coated filters are more expensive but if you are going to put additonal glass between your lens and subject you don't want it to degrade image quality.

ed rader

xairsoft808x wrote in post #4679109
Fureinku, i realize that should be my focus. i have been reading lots and have some general knowlege but im asking about filters to protect my investment. (as well as a hood)

thanks

you didnt specify that was your intent in the 1st post

multicoated filters will give you less image quality loss, if you MUST put extra glass on, as ed rader has mention

I use hoya multi coated UV filters on my lens, at night though, you may notice additonal flaring from light bouncing off the filters

oh, and BHPHOTOVIDEO.com or amazon should have everything you need, but check ebay for discount hoods, some potn users will swear by their chinese discount hoods

sorry about the confusion. i saw those chinese hoods on ebay but i read about one guy who bought one and said it was a piece of doo-doo. so im not sure what my take on those are. ill look into it a bit.

thanks