'Protection Filter' Recommendations For High Quality Lens?

Any recommendations on what 'protection filter' to use for a high quality
lens such as a 70-200 (77mm)?

In the past, it is not something I have really cared about too much as my
lenses were nothing special and so have used Hoya HMC's, however Canon have
obviously spent a huge effort getting the lens right, so I am reluctant to
just throw any filter on there and hope for the best.

Burt wrote:
Any recommendations on what 'protection filter' to use for a high
quality lens such as a 70-200 (77mm)?

In the past, it is not something I have really cared about too much
as my lenses were nothing special and so have used Hoya HMC's,
however Canon have obviously spent a huge effort getting the lens
right, so I am reluctant to just throw any filter on there and hope
for the best.


Skylight, Haze and UV filters are much the same. They both block UV
light. You can't see UV light, but most films can. Those films see it as
blue or blue grey. There is no rule as to exactly what a UV or Skylight
filter is so different manufacturers often have different ideas. They
differ in exactly where they cut off the light and how smoothly they cut off
the light. Different films react differently so that complicates things
even more.

You can say in general that Skylight filters are a little stronger and
often will "warm" the colors because they generally cut off a little of the
blue light. Some manufacturers offer a number of different such filters of
different ?strengths? (higher of lower cut off points). The best part of
this is they all do about the same thing and they generally do their thing
best when needed most. That is if there is a lot of UV light they get ride
of it and if there is little, they don't do much.

In short, for the most part it does not make much difference in real life.

Most people buy, or should I say, most people are sold UV filters not to
correct light problems, but to "Protect Your Expensive Lens." Keep in mind
that for many years the guy behind the counter (I was one of them) may have
made more on the filter, than he made on the lens! His incentive was to
make money and sell you something. Fear of damage is a good sales tool.
Sort of like the paint protection package they will offer you on a new car.

In real life, with a few exceptions like a windy sandy beach or a
photographer who over-cleans his lenses, few photographers need the
protection of a filter. But then again, even a good one does not cost all
that much* and they are easy to use. The down side is they will very
slightly reduce sharpness and very slightly increase flare. It is a wash,
little gain and little loss.

Most of the time you would get better protection with a good lens shade and
it would be likely to reduce flare, but they are more difficult to use.

So if you want one and if you like warmer colored photos get a skylight, if
you like less warm photos go for a UV or Haze.

* On of the tricks of selling add ones like filters is to have the price low
enough that the buyer will say, even if it does not work I did not speed
that much on it. Which is why you will not often find the sales person
trying to sell you a B&W brand filter that is going to cost a few additional
$$$ but cause less image problems.

Given the real protection offered (on a small percentage of lenses will
suffer any damage to a lens preventable by a UV filter and the fact that the
UV filter is not free, especially if you buy a good one (a good UV for a
typical wide angle lens can cost of the $100 US range a lot more difference
than the $10 you suggest) the value factor is likely to be negative. In
addition the lose of optical ability of a lens which does suffer damage that
might have been prevented by a UV filter is generally very small.

What may well be worth the cost to most photographers is the feeling of
security, which is one of the real values of any insurance.

My training is in economics and accounting and I tend to go overboard on
the measurable facts. I also see that many people don't understand or
properly measure those economic facts.


Please note that this author is not the same Joseph Meehan who is a
professional author of Photograph materials.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

Any recommendations on what 'protection filter' to use for a high quality
lens such as a 70-200 (77mm)?

In the past, it is not something I have really cared about too much as my
lenses were nothing special and so have used Hoya HMC's, however Canon
have obviously spent a huge effort getting the lens right, so I am
reluctant to just throw any filter on there and hope for the best.



One filter will not provide lens protection better than another --
unless of course the filter quality is so bad that you won't keep it on
your lens and thus you continue to expose your lens glass directly to
the elements. I like B+W's MRC line myself just because I like the
build quality and like that they're thin. Hoya HMC's are fine, too.

I've done tests where I think a UV filter is really crappy and have
compared shots between using the "crappy" filter and using the more
expensive filter and found no real difference in image quality --
though there can be differences in light transmission (some filters
block more light than others). In extreme cases, there can be
differences in flare performance, etc. Really, though, the only time I
really come across a problem with a filter is when it's too thick for
my wide-angle and it shows up in the image edges.

You might find yourself even switching filters in the middle of a shoot
depending upon your need. Example, go to a beach and you might want a
polarizer. Of course, while you're switching filters (if you're not
stacking them), from the time you remove one to the time you put one
on, your lens will be vulnerable (that's precisely when the wind gusts
and blows sand into your lens).

Kevin

In article , Burt
wrote:

Any recommendations on what 'protection filter' to use for a high quality
lens such as a 70-200 (77mm)?

Get a big sheet of Plexiglas. Jeez! How often do we need this crap
posted?

In article , "Burt"
wrote:

Any recommendations on what 'protection filter' to use for a high quality
lens such as a 70-200 (77mm)?

In the past, it is not something I have really cared about too much as my
lenses were nothing special and so have used Hoya HMC's, however Canon have
obviously spent a huge effort getting the lens right, so I am reluctant to
just throw any filter on there and hope for the best.

How about a lens hood? Or be careful. Both work for me.

Any recommendations on what 'protection filter' to use for a high quality
lens such as a 70-200 (77mm)?

I bought a B+W MRC for mine. They're expensive, but still less than 10%
of the lens.

On most of my other lenses, I don't bother - but I use my 70-200 quite
often for photographing dogs, which means it gets covered in lots of water,
dirt, hair, slobber, mucous, mud... you get the picture. Even with a lens
hood, it would still get splattered. When there's that much crap (including
abrasive crap), it's a lot easier to just take off the filter and rinse it
in the sink than to try and carefully clean off the front element by hand.

You learn all kinds of fun things photographing dogs. For instance, when
you're kneeling down and a dog runs up to you, your lens is about to get
goobered. But don't point the lens up. That might prevent the initial
goobering, but water/slobber/mucous that gets shaken or flung into the air
will still come down on it. Point the camera at the ground to protect the
lens. That has the added benefit that if the dog doesn't stop, you won't
smack the camera on the ground when you land on your back. =)

steve

"Randall Ainsworth" wrote in message
...
In article , Burt
wrote:

Any recommendations on what 'protection filter' to use for a high
quality
lens such as a 70-200 (77mm)?

Get a big sheet of Plexiglas. Jeez! How often do we need this crap
posted?

Randall,
You're right to get upset, but let's face it, there are certain questions
that keep coming up all the time in such an NG. Best type of camera, lens
comparison, etc. Just read the posts and ignore those that keep coming back
;-) Take care,
Marcel