Filter Question

[~myStical~]

Hello guys!

I just recently bought a sigma 85mm lens and I am looking for filter to protect the lens. How do I go about choosing a filter? From Sigma website I found out the filter size for this lens is 77mm . Which brand do i choose ? Can you guys recommend some for me ?
Also , another question ... How many filters can you put on a lens ? That's probably a silly question but i'm not familiar with filters at all .

Any help would be greatly appreciated . Thank you so much !

 

[tirediron]

My advice? Don't. The "protection filter" theory is a Ford/Chevy debate. Some people say it makes sense to protect the front element, others, like me, feel that (1) if I hit the front of the lens hard enough to damage a filter, I've probably done other damage as well, and (2) anything between the lens and subject is going to reduce IQ. That said, if you are set on doing this, then buy a clear optical element ("clear" filter) from a company such as B+W, Sigh-Ray or Lee. Most people use UV filters because they think that they are clear, but that's not in fact the case.

 

[~myStical~]

Thanks for replying . I think I'll go with a clear filter from b&w .

 

[MLeeK]

Make sure you purchase an excellent quality filter. It puts another glass element in front of your sensor and has the ability to seriously degrade your image and really screw with your focus. Just ask AMOMENT about it. She had HORRIBLE problems that no matter what all of us tried we couldn't fix it. She got rid of the "protective" filter and now look at what she posted.

 

[cgipson1]

You are much better off with no filter at all.... you lens hood will provide plenty of protection while using the lens, and the cap will protect it otherwise. Filters cause flare, hotspots and other aberrations, and can reduce overall Image Quality a lot. Film use to require a UV filter to protect the film from excess UV, and that is where this whole "Protective" filter thing got started. Digital does not need UV protection... and with normal, careful use... you lens does not need a "protective filter.

 

[cgipson1]

Make sure you purchase an excellent quality filter. It puts another glass element in front of your sensor and has the ability to seriously degrade your image and really screw with your focus. Just ask AMOMENT about it. She had HORRIBLE problems that no matter what all of us tried we couldn't fix it. She got rid of the "protective" filter and now look at what she posted.

oops.. potential hijack deleted...

 

[MLeeK]

I am pretty sure her filter had a major effect. We'll just agree to not hijack this thread with this discussion!

 

[Tee]

So what kind of filter are you looking for? UV, circular polarizer, neutral density? I'm in the group that "protective" filters are crap. Use a lens hood. For CP and ND filters I use B+W and Hoya and the ones I use run in the range of $100 -$150 each. A filter is an investment. Buy once, take care of it and it'll last.

 

[babyguiness]

at last someone had brought this topic up, sort it out though, cheers..

 

[.SimO.]

I just recently bought a sigma 85mm lens and I am looking for filter to protect the lens.

I purchased a Hoya UV filter in the past for my Sigma for "protection" and it doesn't offer much protection. Actually, I was doing double duty due to cleaning the filter and removing dust off the lens. I have a lens hood that came with my Sigma and that works perfectly fine. The only time I really utilize the UV filter is when i'm in terrible weather and even then, my images are degraded.

How many filters can you put on a lens ?

I was able to stack my Hoya UV filter and my Tiffen Circular Polarizer on accident before. So i've done two at the most but highly discourage it. AF will be nasty(was for me) and with manual focusing, it was hard for me to get a very sharp image with the sun out.

 

[gsgary]

Why buy a nice lens and then cover it with **** non of my L lenses have filters

 

[Dao]

I also do not use filter as protection. I have few UV filters (BW, Hoya, Tiffen etc) that came with the lens I bought used. But now they are all sitting in the drawer.

For the filter stacking question, image quality may further degraded and it may cause Vignetting especially on wide angle.

 

[Buckster]

I used to use them, till I did some testing on my own. No more "protection" filters for me.

 

[fmw]

Every one of my 60 some odd lenses has a UV filter, even the view camera lenses. The major advantage is lens cleaning. That is a relatively dangerous thing to do so why not clean the filter instead. If your subject has the type of lighting that might generate reflections or ghosts from the filter, you simply remove the filter to make the shot and replace it when you're finished. UV filters, by the way, are plain flat glass. All glass filters some UV.

 

[Buckster]

Cleaning a lens is dangerous.