Wished there were more practical Reviews on lens Filters

[Vince.1551]

Wished there were more practical Reviews on UV Filters and etc. Aside from the one and only credible source from lens tips. If anyone has any other credible sources please share.

 

[pixmedic]

In my opinion, UV filters work great!

 

[astroNikon]

I think you'll first find quality equates to price.
If you buy the cheaper stuff it will affect your images in a negative way.
As you move up the price structure, you images will get affected less and the benefits will be more ... beneficial

As such I buy mostly B+W filter. Expensive, but I only get what I need
There's are multiple threads here that talk about filters .. just search for them

 

[astroNikon]

here's a thread .. pay attention to the links to external sources
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...002-will-cheap-uv-filters-still-do-trick.html

 

[robbins.photo]

Wished there were more practical Reviews on UV Filters and etc. Aside from the one and only credible source from lens tips. If anyone has any other credible sources please share.

Well a lot of folks who've been shooting for a while don't use UV filters (as pixmedics photo illustrates) and as a result you don't find a lot of professional reviews of them as a lot of professionals don't use them. When your looking at other filters like CPL and ND, a lot depends on the photographer. You see them used for landscapes but not really as often for portraits and a lot of other types of photographry. Most other filters like warming, cooling, etc - a lot of that can be done in post process now so again not something you see used all that often.

As for me my kit contains two different sized CPL's, and that's pretty much it for filters. Truth is it's very rare for me to mount either. I don't use UV filters at all. Opinions on this one vary of course, but that is most likely why you don't see a lot of reviews on filters, my guess is they don't get used as much anymore by a lot of folks.

 

[sm4him]

View attachment 73657

:lmao: Nominated for Post of the Month.
At least, I finally have an idea about what to do with some of the UV filters that were in the huge bunch of photography stuff I bought recently.

 

[astroNikon]

Wished there were more practical Reviews on UV Filters and etc. Aside from the one and only credible source from lens tips. If anyone has any other credible sources please share.

Well a lot of folks who've been shooting for a while don't use UV filters (as pixmedics photo illustrates) and as a result you don't find a lot of professional reviews of them as a lot of professionals don't use them. When your looking at other filters like CPL and ND, a lot depends on the photographer. You see them used for landscapes but not really as often for portraits and a lot of other types of photographry. Most other filters like warming, cooling, etc - a lot of that can be done in post process now so again not something you see used all that often.

As for me my kit contains two different sized CPL's, and that's pretty much it for filters. Truth is it's very rare for me to mount either. I don't use UV filters at all. Opinions on this one vary of course, but that is most likely why you don't see a lot of reviews on filters, my guess is they don't get used as much anymore by a lot of folks.

I always forget to take them with me. I wish I had my CPL with me this weekend, it might have helped on the heavy sun reflections.

 

[robbins.photo]

Wished there were more practical Reviews on UV Filters and etc. Aside from the one and only credible source from lens tips. If anyone has any other credible sources please share.

Well a lot of folks who've been shooting for a while don't use UV filters (as pixmedics photo illustrates) and as a result you don't find a lot of professional reviews of them as a lot of professionals don't use them. When your looking at other filters like CPL and ND, a lot depends on the photographer. You see them used for landscapes but not really as often for portraits and a lot of other types of photographry. Most other filters like warming, cooling, etc - a lot of that can be done in post process now so again not something you see used all that often.

As for me my kit contains two different sized CPL's, and that's pretty much it for filters. Truth is it's very rare for me to mount either. I don't use UV filters at all. Opinions on this one vary of course, but that is most likely why you don't see a lot of reviews on filters, my guess is they don't get used as much anymore by a lot of folks.

I always forget to take them with me. I wish I had my CPL with me this weekend, it might have helped on the heavy sun reflections.

I don't get much use out of mine, they really don't work well for shooting through pexiglass, the stuff reflects on multiple levels so losing the fstops you loose using the CPL really isn't worth what few reflections it can eliminate from pexiglass. So I do use them outdoors occasionally but it's actually pretty rare for me, I'm hanging onto them though in case I might want to do a few landscapes here and there.

 

[minicoop1985]

I leave my CPL on pretty close to all the time. Of the cheap filters, I've had good luck with Agfa, actually. Haven't had any issues with them noticeably degrading IQ, but I do plan to upgrade in the near future partially just because I feel like it.

There are reviews out there, but as Robbins said, there aren't many pros that use UV or skylight filters for things other than coasters (I'm gonna try that), so you won't find a lot of reviews for things other than CPLs and the like, and they probably all say "BUY A B+W" lol

 

[480sparky42 42]

Sure, I could review a filter, but I'd have nothing to compare it to. I fork over good, hard-earned money for a high$ filter, and don't have the funds to buy other high$ filters to compare it to. So my review would simply be, "Yeah, it does what it's supposed to do."

My filter kit consists of Singh-Ray Vari-ND Thin, B+W Thin CPL, B+W 3.0/1000x 10-stop ND, B+W UV, 77mm all, and a Helipoan 77/52 and 77/58 step rings.

I can't justify spending another $1000 just to write a review to compare other filters.

 

[hamlet]

I usually check other peoples reviews and i always insist on top brands. Check this interesting article out: link



Keep in mind that filters will always degrade your image quality, so my advice is to only use a filter if you have to to get a certain shot. And UV filters should only be used if you are being blasted with desert sand, like otherwise they make good coasters.

 

[Vince.1551]

Thanks guys. And thanks Pix for the link to the thread. The only credible review in the discussion was from lenstip which I already knew. I'm looking for similar test reviews for the latest filters. Aside from lenstip there were no other credible information.

I personally use B+W MRC 010m for most of my lenses. 1 or 2 lenses on Kenko Pro D. I'm hoping for some practical testings on the B+W XS-Pro (out of sheer curiosity on how much better it can perform against the 010M).

I'm a lens filter person. Purely for protecting the front element. I don't like having to clean the front element often. Over time the front coating will deteriorate from frequent cleaning. I rather clean the filter. And I like my glass in pristine clean condition (not within of course which will accumulate dust over time). Free from dirt or smudge.

Except for slight vignetting from ultra wide zoom and the occasional flare (very slight and even Nikon's nano coating cannot effectively remove flare plus I don't shoot at direct light often) I can basically tell no difference in IQ visually and from 100% zoom when using the lens filter I'm using. Pixel count differences are also negligible when using my lens filter setup.

I don't know how some guys can shoot without filter and without cleaning the front element often. If someone can keep his front element clean without filter and without frequent cleaning I gotta take my hat off to you. Well if my glasses are sponsored or paid by company I wouldn't mind cleaning my front element often and sending in for replacement when coating issues occur

My idea of smudge may be compared with the residual leftover on the lens element after you cleaned it with a lenspen. Yes, lenspen will leave a layer of residue on your lens and filters.

Again thanks for the comments everyone and please share with us if you encounter other controlled testings with lens filters.

 

[Vince.1551]

Sorry it was astro's link not Pix and thanks for taking the time to post the link

 

[pixmedic]

Thanks guys. And thanks Pix for the link to the thread. The only credible review in the discussion was from lenstip which I already knew. I'm looking for similar test reviews for the latest filters. Aside from lenstip there were no other credible information.

I personally use B+W MRC 010m for most of my lenses. 1 or 2 lenses on Kenko Pro D. I'm hoping for some practical testings on the B+W XS-Pro (out of sheer curiosity on how much better it can perform against the 010M).

I'm a lens filter person. Purely for protecting the front element. I don't like having to clean the front element often. Over time the front coating will deteriorate from frequent cleaning. I rather clean the filter. And I like my glass in pristine clean condition (not within of course which will accumulate dust over time). Free from dirt or smudge.

Except for slight vignetting from ultra wide zoom and the occasional flare (very slight and even Nikon's nano coating cannot effectively remove flare plus I don't shoot at direct light often) I can basically tell no difference in IQ visually and from 100% zoom when using the lens filter I'm using. Pixel count differences are also negligible when using my lens filter setup.

I don't know how some guys can shoot without filter and without cleaning the front element often. If someone can keep his front element clean without filter and without frequent cleaning I gotta take my hat off to you. Well if my glasses are sponsored or paid by company I wouldn't mind cleaning my front element often and sending in for replacement when coating issues occur

My idea of smudge may be compared with the residual leftover on the lens element after you cleaned it with a lenspen. Yes, lenspen will leave a layer of residue on your lens and filters.

Again thanks for the comments everyone and please share with us if you encounter other controlled testings with lens filters.

This is what I use on all my lenses for protection. Has never failed me. I dont feel I need to do a ton cleaning to the front element. (very rarely for me) minor bits of dust wont show in a picture. i only swab it if i get real dirt on it. (like from the dog park today) otherwise, i leave the elements alone.

 

[480sparky42 42]

............I don't know how some guys can shoot without filter and without cleaning the front element often. If someone can keep his front element clean without filter and without frequent cleaning I gotta take my hat off to you........

Dirt and dust don't know the difference between a front element and a filter. A filter will get just as dirty and dusty as a lens. It's not like lenses are dust magnets and magically attract dirt while filters repel it.