Filter help

[SHaller]

I was just about to place an order for some filters off Amazon, and then i looked at some of the pictures of the basic tiffen uv filter . The pictures showed that the filter caused ghosting and flaring. So i have a few questions regarding filters.

1) How much do I need to spend on a uv filter that will eliminate ghosting? Any recomendations?

2) How exactly is ghosting caused?

3) With what ive seen, it seems like ghosting is only seen in low light situations where there is an un natural light source. If this is true, Is it a better idea just to use a less expensive filter while shooting during the day (85% of my photos) and just take it off if im using the lens at night?

4) I was aslo looking at some fairly inexpensive gnd filters and some nd filters. Will this problem happen with them also?

 

[photocist]

Why would you get a UV filter? All they do is cause ghosting and lens flare...

 

[SHaller]

To protect my investments.

 

[photocist]

Just get a lens cap and you should be fine. Unless you toss your equipment around...

 

[WesternGuy]

4) I was aslo looking at some fairly inexpensive gnd filters and some nd filters. Will this problem happen with them also?

Not sure if they will cause ghosting, I have used ND filters for years and have never had anything that I could attribute to ghosting on my digital images, nor on film when I shot it, so I will leave that answer to others who may have more experience - just that I never had any problems with it on ND filters. The only point I would make is in reference to your comment regarding "inexpensive...filters". Filters are just like any other glass - you get what you pay for and I would strongly urge you to buy the best filters that you can afford. Since you have not said what sort of lenses you have, it is a bit difficult to give you much advice on what to buy, but, for example,if you have more than one lens of different sizes then buy a filter to fit the largest lens (in diameter) and then buy stepup/stepdown rings to fit the filter to your smaller lenses. If you tell us what you have and what you want to do with the GND and ND filters, then you may get more definitive advice from the folks here.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[SHaller]

Not sure if they will cause ghosting, I have used ND filters for years and have never had anything that I could attribute to ghosting on my digital images, nor on film when I shot it, so I will leave that answer to others who may have more experience - just that I never had any problems with it on ND filters. The only point I would make is in reference to your comment regarding "inexpensive...filters". Filters are just like any other glass - you get what you pay for and I would strongly urge you to buy the best filters that you can afford. Since you have not said what sort of lenses you have, it is a bit difficult to give you much advice on what to buy, but, for example,if you have more than one lens of different sizes then buy a filter to fit the largest lens (in diameter) and then buy stepup/stepdown rings to fit the filter to your smaller lenses. If you tell us what you have and what you want to do with the GND and ND filters, then you may get more definitive advice from the folks here.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

Thanks for the response. In regards to what lenses i will be using with the filters, They will mostly be on a tokina 12-24, canon 24-105(rented), and 70-200 2.8. All which have a 77mm filter size. I will be using the ND for landscapes and the ND for mostly blurring water flow. I also came to my senses a little bit and decided to skip out on the cheap amazon GND/ND filters. I hope that will help so I can get some recommendations.

 

[SHaller]

Also, forget about the uv filter discussion since i know that causes quite a stir

 

[photocist]

Some food for thought.

The Filter Flare Factor

 

[Stryker]

Not sure if they will cause ghosting, I have used ND filters for years and have never had anything that I could attribute to ghosting on my digital images, nor on film when I shot it, so I will leave that answer to others who may have more experience - just that I never had any problems with it on ND filters. The only point I would make is in reference to your comment regarding "inexpensive...filters". Filters are just like any other glass - you get what you pay for and I would strongly urge you to buy the best filters that you can afford. Since you have not said what sort of lenses you have, it is a bit difficult to give you much advice on what to buy, but, for example,if you have more than one lens of different sizes then buy a filter to fit the largest lens (in diameter) and then buy stepup/stepdown rings to fit the filter to your smaller lenses. If you tell us what you have and what you want to do with the GND and ND filters, then you may get more definitive advice from the folks here.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

Thanks for the response. In regards to what lenses i will be using with the filters, They will mostly be on a tokina 12-24, canon 24-105(rented), and 70-200 2.8. All which have a 77mm filter size. I will be using the ND for landscapes and the ND for mostly blurring water flow. I also came to my senses a little bit and decided to skip out on the cheap amazon GND/ND filters. I hope that will help so I can get some recommendations.

You are going to have ghosting if you use cheap UV filters especially when shooting almost against the light. Get the more expensive 1 to 2mm thin multi coated ones. Tiffin has this and are reasonably priced. For ND, and CPL, look for Hoya and Kenko. They are priced reasonably too. I use B+W, a lot more expensive but it is the best brand for me. For GND, you may want to look at the 100mm z-pro of Cokin. Just dont use them for long exposures or you'll have black spots. Lee square filters are better but a lot more expensive.

If you want to blur the water, you have to have a 6-stop ND filter at the very least. You also need a sturdy tripod with a good ballhead because your exposure time must be 10 seconds minimum. Sturdy aluminum tripods would cost you around $150 while the lightweight carbon fiber may reach $250.

Easy for me and the rest to give you recommendations. However, I've been following your posts on what filters and lenses to bring to your Paris trip for sometime. I think what you really need is a crash course on how the camera, lenses, and filters work together for that perfect exposure and picture. An expensive set of B+W ND, GND, UV, and CPL filters in the hands of an inexperienced shooter will only produce bad photos, under exposed or blown out shots, or dark corners. You only have 3 weeks to prepare and it will be tough to go to battle with little knowledge AND EXPERIENCE how to use your artillery

Get the equipment and find someone who could teach you to use them all of them ASAP.