Installing UV filter

Hi all. My name is Fred and I'm from Maine. I'm new to photography, but being newly retired I find I have a bit of time on my hands and hope to become as proficient as possible in taking photographs of what I like.

I received a Canon EOS T2i for Christmas and just purchased a Tiffen filter UV protector. The provided Canon lens is an 18-55mm with a 58mm lens size as is the Tiffen filter. My problem is that both the filter and the lens have inside threads. Does the part where the provided Canon lens cap come off? I know I'm likely missing something simple and would appreciate being guided in the right direction.

Thank you.

Fred

The filter will have an inside thread on one side and an outside thread on the other.

Hi Fred,

And welcome to POTN.

This post might get better response under the lens forum.

And you might want to read https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=807555

I don't think I've seen a filter that didn't have a "male" thread. Some of the special "slim" filters don't have a "female" thread, though, which means you can't stack a filter on top of them, or put on a lens cap. (The lens has a "female" filter thread, too.)

fred3 wrote in post #11571502
I received a Canon EOS T2i for Christmas and just purchased a Tiffen filter UV protector.

Fred, you were sold a filter that may very well degrade the image quality of your photographs. I would strongly suggest that you test it to see if you want to use it or not. The problem is that if there are bright light sources in front of the camera, the filter may easily cause flare (bright blobs of light in your image).

An easy test would be to set up the camera for a night shot with street lights in the picture. Make one image with the filter on and another with the filter removed. If you see funny blobs of light in the shot with the filter on that are not there with it off, take the filter back to the store for a refund.

99% of the time, you will not need a filter for "protection" of your lens. A properly designed lens hood, though, can improve your images as well as provide mechanical protection (warding off the daily bumps a lens gets).

If you plan on shooting where there is blowing sand or water droplets (rain or seawater), THEN a good quality protective filter might be in order. I'll guarantee you, though, that a truly good filter will cost more than the price of the Tiffen filter.

neil_r wrote in post #11571526
The filter will have an inside thread on one side and an outside thread on the other.

D'oh! What a dope. Not you, me. Thanks. Been wearing glasses for years and still don't see small things...like threads.

Thanks again.

To: amfoto 1 & SkipD,

Thank you for the information and links. I will read the links and try the night shot with filter on and off. Since I will be hiking/walking a lot with my camera I was searching for something to protect the lens from dirt thrown up by wind and cars mostly. Since I am just beginning I will take many shots of the same thing with different settings as I become more comfortable with the cameras workings. I will also take shots with the filter on and off. Eventually I'll own a lens hood too, but there are so many options it's difficult to know where to start.

It's nice to have folks respond so quickly and I am willing to read, listen and try whatever it takes to try and maximize my ability to take photographs I enjoy. Thanks again.