Lens filters

[mkcmcuh]

I recently purchased a B&W UV-Haze filter and a B&W Circular-Polarizer filter for my DA 18-55 II kit lens. I purchased these filters thru "The Filter Connection" (Camera Filters The Filter Connection 2filter.com for Hoya HD filters, Hoya Pro 1, Tiffen HT, Tiffen 4x4 Camera Filters, B+W filters and Canon Inks) and had very good service.
I keep the UV filter on the lens all the time for protection of the lens.
Can I place the Cir-Pol filter on over the UV filter (it is threaded to take a filter) or would it be better to use the Cir-Pol and UV filters separately?
Charlie

[Venturi]

Best practice is to use the filters independently. The more glass you put in front of the lens the more you degrade the image quality.

Though you *might* be able to stack the CP on top of the UV depending on how thick they are. At the wide end of the lens you may get some cropping though. You can find out pretty easily by putting the CP on with the UV and taking a bright daylight shot at 18mm. If you see shadow around the edges of the pic then you have your definitive answer.

[Wheatfield]

Originally Posted by mkcmcuh

I recently purchased a B&W UV-Haze filter and a B&W Circular-Polarizer filter for my DA 18-55 II kit lens. I purchased these filters thru "The Filter Connection" (Camera Filters The Filter Connection 2filter.com for Hoya HD filters, Hoya Pro 1, Tiffen HT, Tiffen 4x4 Camera Filters, B+W filters and Canon Inks) and had very good service.
I keep the UV filter on the lens all the time for protection of the lens.
Can I place the Cir-Pol filter on over the UV filter (it is threaded to take a filter) or would it be better to use the Cir-Pol and UV filters separately?
Charlie

Don't put more than one filter onto a lens unless you absolutely have to for some obscure reason.
For that matter, don't put any filter at all onto a lens unless you need to for some obscure reason.

[NicholasN]

It is adviseable to use a UV [0] Filter in front of your lens to protect the lens from damage. Why spend $2,000 on a lens and risk damaging it.

[Canada_Rockies]

Originally Posted by NicholasN

It is adviseable to use a UV [0] Filter in front of your lens to protect the lens from damage. Why spend $2,000 on a lens and risk damaging it.

Why spend $2,000 on a lens and then put another piece of glass in front of it? It's a two way street. I have gone from YES to NO on this subject, and have never scratched a lens. I do use lens hoods at all times.

[Venturi]

Originally Posted by NicholasN

It is adviseable to use a UV [0] Filter in front of your lens to protect the lens from damage. Why spend $2,000 on a lens and risk damaging it.

It has been rumored that the following in fact is what Ben Franklin actually penned: "They who can give up essential image quality to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither image quality nor safety."

None the less, I still keep a UV(0) filter attached most of the time.

[Wheatfield]

Originally Posted by Canada_Rockies

Why spend $2,000 on a lens and then put another piece of glass in front of it? It's a two way street. I have gone from YES to NO on this subject, and have never scratched a lens. I do use lens hoods at all times.

Give that man a canoe! It used to be that i would put a filter on the lens if i thought there was a real risk to the front element, and then I just stopped worrying about it altogether.
When my A600/5.6 arrived, it had a huge 122mm Tamron UV filter on it. I decided that since I had spent mondo $$ on the lens, I would leave the filter on.
After I realized that the lens wouldn't take a sharp picture with the filter in place, I took it off. My wife uses it in a display cabinet now. It holds a little statuette of a Rottweiler lying down with his head between his front paws.
This is a much better use for it than what it was built for.

[navcom]

Originally Posted by Wheatfield

Give that man a canoe! It used to be that i would put a filter on the lens if i thought there was a real risk to the front element, and then I just stopped worrying about it altogether.
When my A600/5.6 arrived, it had a huge 122mm Tamron UV filter on it. I decided that since I had spent mondo $$ on the lens, I would leave the filter on.
After I realized that the lens wouldn't take a sharp picture with the filter in place, I took it off. My wife uses it in a display cabinet now. It holds a little statuette of a Rottweiler lying down with his head between his front paws.
This is a much better use for it than what it was built for.

I went through the same thought process when I was having issues getting sharp images from a particular lens. I used to keep UV filters on all my important lenses but after removing it from this particular one, I noticed a marked improvement in the quality of the images. The UV's came off all the lenses. I only use UV's for what they were intended to be used for now, and it's only a quality UV filter at that!

[mkcmcuh]

Originally Posted by mkcmcuh

I recently purchased a B&W UV-Haze filter and a B&W Circular-Polarizer filter for my DA 18-55 II kit lens. I purchased these filters thru "The Filter Connection" (Camera Filters The Filter Connection 2filter.com for Hoya HD filters, Hoya Pro 1, Tiffen HT, Tiffen 4x4 Camera Filters, B+W filters and Canon Inks) and had very good service.
I keep the UV filter on the lens all the time for protection of the lens.
Can I place the Cir-Pol filter on over the UV filter (it is threaded to take a filter) or would it be better to use the Cir-Pol and UV filters separately?
Charlie

I want to thank everyone for their input.
I tried the test recommended by "Venturi". "You can find out pretty easily by putting the CP on with the UV and taking a bright daylight shot at 18mm. If you see shadow around the edges of the pic then you have your definitive answer. " and found no difference using the filters in combination.
I could detect no difference in the image using a UV filter versus no UV filter. At least to these old eyes.
Using only the Cir-Pol filter I found that the image was more natural with the darker part of the filter at the bottom. I am assuming that is the way it should be?
Using both the UV & Cir-Pol filter together showed the image to be almost the same as using just the Cir-Pol filter. I could not detect any shadows.
These tests were conducted at 18mm in bright Sun with a temp of 99.7ºF and saved as .jpeg. Needless to say the tests did not last long, as the temp eventually reached 101º F here in the Texas Hill Country.
At the present time I prefer to keep a UV filter over my lens for protection. Maybe as I become more proficient I will remove it.

[hwblanks]

The general consensus around here is that if you're going to use a UV filter, then make sure it's a high-quality one. While I don't have any of them, the Hoya Pro1D filters are a favorite, especially if your budget can't stomach B&W or Heliopan.
HOYA FILTERS - The Difference is Clear

With that being said, since my lens kit has stabilized now, I will eventually upgrade the filters on the 17-70 and 55-300 to Hoya Pro1Ds and then just buy one for the WA zoom when I get it. The only downside is that they don't make them in 49mm; 3 of my lenses are 49mm. For the 2 that don't already have them, I'll be picking up Hoya HMC filters.

If you haven't checked them out yet, you definitely need to check out The Filter Connection: the 1st store to specialize in Camera Filters, Hoya Pro 1, Tiffen Camera Filters, Cokin filters and B+W filters, as they've got some great prices on the Hoya Pro1D filters.

Heather

[SCGushue]

Originally Posted by mkcmcuh

I recently purchased a B&W UV-Haze filter and a B&W Circular-Polarizer filter for my DA 18-55 II kit lens. I purchased these filters thru "The Filter Connection" (Camera Filters The Filter Connection 2filter.com for Hoya HD filters, Hoya Pro 1, Tiffen HT, Tiffen 4x4 Camera Filters, B+W filters and Canon Inks) and had very good service.
I keep the UV filter on the lens all the time for protection of the lens.
Can I place the Cir-Pol filter on over the UV filter (it is threaded to take a filter) or would it be better to use the Cir-Pol and UV filters separately?
Charlie

Charlie,

This is always a hot button issue that falls in three camps. No, Yes, and Maybe. I make my living with lenses and have for thirty years. My specialty is scientific and medical photography. I have evolved into the camp that every lens of high quality should be mated with a multi coated high end filter. No if and's or buts.

There are reasons... and proof for this, contrary to the masses , that heavily multicoated lenses have no deliterious effect on light transmission through to the film or sensor plane. The fact is that they actually have the ability to enhance image quality as well as contrast while eliminating unwanted side effects from atmospheric phenomenon.

Consumer lenses may not benefit as much due to the nature of their elements. Run of the mill filters are of no value at all (short of offering some protection) and will most likely negatively impact the final product with, ghosting, flare, lack of contrast and loss of detail sharpness.

If you can, buy top tier lenses and put superior quality filters on them.

BTW, When necessary, don't hesitate to put more than one filter on your lens. Under certain conditions (with scientific testing of the results) I have put up to three filters on a professional lens with virtually no degradation of image. I often use ND and CP filters together. Furthermore, when conditions warrent it the UV filter is added to that sequence. So, if you have high end filters, and the need comes to piggy back them on a high end lens....GO FOR IT!

Stephen

[pschlute]

Another vote for no filter here.

Unless using say a CP for effect, or trying to capture waves breaking on a sea shore (uv or skylight), I dont use filters.

Go naked in the world !

[t.mauery]

I have noticed vignetting (especially on shorter focal lengths) when using a CP filter over a UV filter on my 18-55 kit lens. I have the cheap (non-HMC) Hoya filters.

[SCGushue]

Originally Posted by t.mauery

I have noticed vignetting (especially on shorter focal lengths) when using a CP filter over a UV filter on my 18-55 kit lens. I have the cheap (non-HMC) Hoya filters.

Some or all of the vignetting can be alleviated by using PRO series filters that have much thinner bands. Unfortunately, the PRO filters are much more expensive and if I recall they do have much more multi coating in some cases.

Stephen