Filter Questions: UV versus Clear Protector. Hood versus No Hood Plus Filter.

Hello

I would appreciate some opinions or advice on my filter needs if you don't mind!

I have decided to go with the Hoya Pro1 series. My current and near future filter requirements will be three 77mm, one 67mm and two 58mm.

I want to get just one circular polarizer, plus one clear or UV filter for each additional lens, so I can just put the polarizer on whichever lens I need it on at the time, leaving the rest of my lenses protected with a plain filter.

For the CPL filter, shall I get just one 77mm size filter and the appropriate step-down adapter rings, so I can use it on all my lenses? The only problem I can see there is that I wouldn't be able to use my lens hoods with a 77mm filter on a lens that requires a 67mm or 58mm filter. Will I lose image quality if removing the hood to use the CPL, or would the CPL serve a similar purpose as the then missing hood?

If the UV part of UV filters apparently serve no purpose on digital cameras, shall I just get clear protector filters instead of UV ones?

Thanks very much,

Mike

k - First UV filters are unnecessary on most digital cameras (and I think ALL Canon ones) as the ccd has a UV protective layer anyway. I would therefore (& do) buy Hoya Pro 1 Protectors for all of them. Some people will claim that any extra glass will reduce image quality, but I'd personally rather wipe a filter clean than the actual lens & I get sharp images with Hoya Pro filters - warning though, I have had image quality problems with a cheaper Hoya filter on my 300 F4 IS L - gave some very funny patterns in OOF areas.

As for the polarizer, 3 different ones is a bit expensive, but I'd always recommend a hood for outdoor photography in sunlight - exactly the time you want the polarizer. A better option might be to buy a filter holder with hood (Cokin / Lee) and then buy one polarizer to fit + the three adapter rings you need. This will also serve you well if you want any other creative filters - you'll only need to buy them once!

Hope this helps

Phil

Thanks for your reply Phil.

I'll go with Pro1 clear protectors for my lenses then. I won't be looking at the cheaper options as I don't want any messed up photos. I'm capable of messing them up myself, without any help from a dodgy filter!

Good suggestion about the filter holder with the hood for the polarizer/hood problem. I wouldn't have thought of that one. I'll look into that option because I intend to get some ND filters in the not too distant future.

Mike

Read the Protective Filter Sticky at the top of the page. For beginners I suggest a Protective filter on all lenses, hoods on at all times (unless doing flash.)

Thanks Gasrocks. Some more good information from Lester there.

I have never bothered with protective filters before, but I am now putting some money into some really expensive (to me) lenses, so I want to minimize the chances of damaging anything. Having said that I have never scratched a front element before, although now I have just said that, I probably will!

Mike

For the first 15 years I took pictures I always had a filter on each lens. Then when I got good, I didn't bother anymore. You just never know when something will happen. You might get attacked by a 4 yr old with peanut butter on his fingers.

I have a polarizer for each lens; I really don't want to have to change filters every time I change lenses. Yes, that means I have 3x77 mm B+W MRC CPs. It also means I can use the factory hoods with all my lenses.

gasrocks wrote in post #5340511
For the first 15 years I took pictures I always had a filter on each lens. Then when I got good, I didn't bother anymore. You just never know when something will happen. You might get attacked by a 4 yr old with peanut butter on his fingers.

Along the same lines for me. I have UV filters on all of my older lenses, then as I got better, and got better glass, I don't have filters on them. I would like to add that I ALWAYS have my lens hood on the lens, in the correct direction, when using them. Even indoors. The lens hood also adds a bit of an extension for bump protection.

Also, I usually end up being that little kid with the peanut butter on my fingers
Just yesterday, I was taking a few photos at work as they were moving a piece of equipment out, and I touched the lens element on my 10-22.
Bummer. Oh well, it cleans up nice.

Read: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=368177

Double Negative wrote in post #5340665
Read: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=368177

Funny thing is, I just finished reading that , and was about to go to the B&H site and check out the filters.

...I use a hood on EVERY lens, all the time.

As for filters, I believe in using the best filters and have yet to have any issues; Heliopan SH-PMC UV filters. A close second are B+W MRC, but their slim filters don't have front threads (no lens caps). Though I really just use them on my weathersealed zooms where they complete the sealing as per the Canon docs. I used to use them on primes, but considering I use them in more modest environmental conditions and are seeking the absolute best IQ I can get - no longer do. (That's not to say I wouldn't hesitate to slap a Heliopan on them)

I was interested to read in Lester's article that the Hoya Pro1 filters have (as far as I can make out) only three coating layers. I previously assumed they were the best grade available.

Mike

Hoya's come in multiple flavors... The lower-end, so called "green box" filters, and better ones with more coatings. Their best isn't bad, and the price is good - I'm a little surprised also that their Pro 1 filters have only three coatings?

But they don't compare to Heliopan/B+W in any way - including glass used, coatings or frame material.

I quit using "protective" filters on my lenses years ago when I discovered they were causing horrible vignetting problems on my wide angle lenses. Since then I always use a proper hood on my lenses, even indoors. I can just imagine how much money I've saved on filters over the years...

Double Negative wrote in post #5347476
Hoya's come in multiple flavors... The lower-end, so called "green box" filters, and better ones with more coatings. Their best isn't bad, and the price is good - I'm a little surprised also that their Pro 1 filters have only three coatings?

But they don't compare to Heliopan/B+W in any way - including glass used, coatings or frame material.

Yes, according to the descriptions of the filter types in Lester's article the Pro1 series have only three coatings and the Hoya that matched the specification of the other top-rated brands has been discontinued.

I am surprised though about Pro1s not being top grade.

Mike