Filter Advice

[Juggy]

I'm in the market to start my filter collection and need some advice.

1. Screw on or drop in? If I buy a reasonably sized drop in filter could I not use it on many different lens sizes by simply getting a different size drop in adapter?
2. Where can I find ND filters? I can't seem to find them on any of the usual suspects sites
3. Infra red looks quite nice but very pricey, can they be found fairly cheaply if I only want to try them out?
4. Polarisers, pretty much a must for anyone doing outdoor but hellishly expensive if you buy geniune Canon. Are Kenko and the other brands as good?

 

[bwana]

I'm not one for filters though I do have a few Kenko CPLs for some of my older lenses that seem to do a good job. If I was doing it again I'd look at getting drop in's and then buying different size holders or step down rings.

Im pretty sure IR involves some modification to the sensor area of the camera.

 

[Digilus]

1. I prefer screw on for my UV and Polariser - just easier to work with - for ND I have a drop-in

2. Orms has ND filters - and well if you want to go to the extreme - try using welding glass ! (I've taken a few pics with it .. broad day light - few minutes exposure .. weird ghostly green pictures). I need to get myself a gradient ND filter still. The thing about ND (and well drop ins) - is if you go for longer exposures it is not right against your lens .. so light does get in that way [edit] forgot .. if the front of your lens rotates .. then those drop in's are just awkward to use - but not an insurmountable problem.

3. No clue

4. Actually polarisers are really useful for glass / water - anything reflective. Also remember they only work with the sun at certain positions (mostly behind you) . Keep in mind they do drop your f-stop by 1 or 2 - so be careful when you get to marginal light situations - where you might prefer to have the F-stop instead of the cool polarised effect Kenko is more than fine.

I'm in the market to start my filter collection and need some advice.

1. Screw on or drop in? If I buy a reasonably sized drop in filter could I not use it on many different lens sizes by simply getting a different size drop in adapter?
2. Where can I find ND filters? I can't seem to find them on any of the usual suspects sites
3. Infra red looks quite nice but very pricey, can they be found fairly cheaply if I only want to try them out?
4. Polarisers, pretty much a must for anyone doing outdoor but hellishly expensive if you buy geniune Canon. Are Kenko and the other brands as good?

 

[MadMailMan]

I have a set of 3NDs and my CPL in 77mm and a 77 to 72 and 77 to 68 step down rings so my screw in filters can be attached to all my lenses. This way I can dangle downside up and not worry about filters falling out or anything like that. Not everybodies chouce but it works for me.

 

[Juggy]

Thanks for teh advice guys, so a large filter with step down rings seems the best way to go so I don't have to buy different sizes for each lens.

 

[bwana]

Thanks for teh advice guys, so a large filter with step down rings seems the best way to go so I don't have to buy different sizes for each lens.

Careful though that you don't end up with vignetting as a result.

 

[Juggy]

Careful though that you don't end up with vignetting as a result.

I'll get advice from the camera shop before I purchase.

I only have 82mm and 67mm requirements currently

 

[MadMailMan]

I'll get advice from the camera shop before I purchase.

I only have 82mm and 67mm requirements currently

82mm??? That's a big-ass lens. Which lens is that?

 

[Juggy]

82mm??? That's a big-ass lens. Which lens is that?

The screw in for the Sigma 100-300 F4 and the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 are both 82mm

24-70
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/24-70mm-f28-ex-dg-macro-sigma

100-300
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/100-300mm-f4-ex-dg-apo-hsm-sigma

 

[bwana]

The screw in for the Sigma 100-300 F4 and the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 are both 82mm

24-70
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/24-70mm-f28-ex-dg-macro-sigma

100-300
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/100-300mm-f4-ex-dg-apo-hsm-sigma

82mm is also a very common size for canon lenses.

Don't waste your money on UV filters, like tripods, they're for sissies.

 

[Juggy]

82mm is also a very common size for canon lenses.

Don't waste your money on UV filters, like tripods, they're for sissies.

That is good to know, the lenses came with UV filters but now I want ND and CPL's.

Don't UV filters protect against scratches more than anything else?

 

[ponder]

I don't think you really need anything more than UV and Polarising. Polarising for me being a must.

 

[MadMailMan]

Don't UV filters protect against scratches more than anything else?

Problem is a lot of people buy the most expensive lenses they can afford but the cheepest UV filters they can find. What's the point of putting cheep nasty glass in front of your expensive glass?

 

[Juggy]

I agree, I have Kenko, Hoya and Sigma UV filters. Not sure which ones are best though. Probably Hoya?

I'm considering an Infra Red filter with an 82mm ring and Cokin Z holder. I can then drop in any filter I chose.

 

[BigAl-sa]

I agree, I have Kenko, Hoya and Sigma UV filters. Not sure which ones are best though. Probably Hoya?

There are several variants of Hoya filters. The green ones are not too good. I can't remember the colour of their top end filters (either grey or black), but what I can tell you is that they are not too easy to get in SA. The colour I refer to is the colour of the label in the case.

I'm considering an Infra Red filter with an 82mm ring and Cokin Z holder. I can then drop in any filter I chose.

If you are using an SLR, you won't have TTL metering or viewing as a combination of ND and IR filters block out most of the visible light. This makes it very difficult to set up the shot. I haven't tried Live View, it may give TTL viewing. My old Sony F707 has an IR mode, which allows TTL viewing (and metering) with a Hoya R72 and combinations of ND filters.

Kruger in IR (R72+ND8):


The filters are 58mm diameter, so sometime when I'm bored I'll shove them onto the kit lens and see what it looks like in Live View.

 

[Juggy]

I'd be interested to know, I understand that the less the light the harder the shot.

 

[BigAl-sa]

I'd be interested to know, I understand that the less the light the harder the shot.

Doesn't look good. Can't see anything with Live View with the R72 filter on. I think you will have to have the camera modded to remove the IR filter on the sensor. I took some pics (blind) at various shutter speeds, and end up with a red pic, not the usual IR stuff I'm used with the Sony F707.

 

[Juggy]

Dammit, OK so ND and ND grads as well as CPL's are OK. I'm going to get an 82mm and a 67mm ring with a Cokin Z holder and simply buy drop ins. It's relatively inexpensive at 180 for the holder and 175 per ring. CPL's are pricey though at 900 each although ND's are as little as 350.