Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
01-17-2009, 03:46 PM   #1
Inactive Account




Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Tampa FL
Posts: 63
What filter is usually on your lens?

Just wondering because there are so many, I usually just have a UV on. What are the benefits of sky and haze filters?

Jrock.

01-17-2009, 03:58 PM   #2
Inactive Account




Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,972
No filters. Lens hoods only here.

Polarizing on a very rare occasion, but that's all.

c[_]
01-17-2009, 04:06 PM   #3
PEG Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Kerrowdown's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 57,712
Ditto, I'm the same.
01-17-2009, 04:10 PM   #4
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Queens, New York
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 608
I don't usually have a filter on any of my lenses.

When I do, it's a Tiffen Soft F/X #2 or #3 filter for portraits.

I used the warm version for years, but lately I'm getting to like the regular version.

I'll also use a polarizer for a deeper blue sky.

Mike

01-17-2009, 04:42 PM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Mallee Boy's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,903
Ditto.

Never had any filters, then went & bought some and got talked into UV filters for "protection".
Have now taken all filters off, my rationale? the less between the image & the lens the better.

I now only use them in specific instances.

Cheers
01-17-2009, 04:52 PM   #6
Inactive Account




Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ames, Iowa, USA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 2,965
I went thru a short paranoid phase when I use UV filters for protection.

That moderated to rubber hoods for protection as well as flare avoidance 'til the rubber cracked.

Now mostly nothing.

But I think I'll buy another rubber hood or two.
01-17-2009, 05:09 PM   #7
Inactive Account




Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 221
Sans Filter, except when at the beach or it is dusty.

as for sky and haze, post processing is the way to go

plus I tend to use the hood almost always as protection too

01-17-2009, 05:13 PM   #8
Senior Member
Indianadinos's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: France
Posts: 128
Hello,

B+W UV MRC filters for all my new lenses and since day #1 (especially my Limiteds), Tiffen/Marumi/Pentax/Zeiss filters for the others ...

Best regards
01-17-2009, 05:30 PM   #9
Veteran Member
heliphoto's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Region 5
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,539
Ah, the great filter debate... Most here will tell you they don't use filters because filters degrade image quality. I have quality multicoated UV filters on all my high end glass and can't see the degradation (even when pixel peeping), whereas the peace of mind of that protection is huge. I tend to bushwack around in the mountains a lot, and climb up and down steep banks of dirt, rock cliffs, jump from rock to rock crossing streams, crawl on my hands and knees under brushfields etc., so perhaps it's a different environment which has me convinced of the need for protection (it could also be the scratch I put on the front element of a lens once). I've also pulled lenses out of my pack to find that the cap had jostled loose of it's grip on the front of the lens and been riding around loose mere millimeters from the front element (actually a filter) I feel like a lens cap could scratch a front element over the course of say an average trip through airport security and stowage under the seat as carry-on luggage. The most common thing my filter protects my lens from is sticky one-year-old fingers as the camera is obviously the most fun toy around - that's why daddy's always playing with it.

If I am shooting at night where point light sources might cause internal reflections to be an issue I take off the filter.

To quote myself from an earlier discussion of this issue...
QuoteQuote:
I figure if pros like benjikan can use 'em and not see a degradation, I ought to be ok .
01-17-2009, 08:21 PM   #10
Veteran Member
Toshi's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431
I use a B+W MRC UV filter on my DA*300 and on occasion a B+W MRC circular polarizer on my Sigma 18-50.
01-17-2009, 08:36 PM   #11
Veteran Member
ftpaddict's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Yurp
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,666
UV 30% of the time;
CPL 50% of the time.
01-17-2009, 10:01 PM   #12
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,252
QuoteOriginally posted by JRock Quote
Just wondering because there are so many, I usually just have a UV on. What are the benefits of sky and haze filters?

Jrock.
I have one polarizing filter. Also, I got one Hoya UV[0] filter as a gift. UV filters labeled Haze tend to block out some visible light. I don't think the other "weaker" UV filters actually work on digital sensors; they were probably useful in the film days to decrease haze; there is probably little or no difference in digital cameras, except for flare and other occasional unwanted effects (although some board members think flare is a feature). I also have a clear Tiffen "filter," which I have not tried yet--it's for the rainy or snowy days, since I'm less paranoid about wiping stuff off the filter than the front element, even though modern glass and coatings are very hard and scratch immune. BTW, cheap uncoated filters may cause flare.
01-17-2009, 10:16 PM   #13
Veteran Member
ivoire's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,381
Usually none, but depending on where i am, a uv or skylight are used occasionally during a 2-7 day outing.
01-17-2009, 11:43 PM   #14
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Hannican's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Irvine, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 485
I pop Hoya HMC Super UV(0)s on all my lenses as soon as I get them.

Honestly- I doubt there's a noticable different in IQ with them on, but like Josh (Heliphoto) above, I'm usually out in the wild when shooting- so it's worth the peace of mind to me even if there is some.

I'll take a 99% fantastic image and a re-usable $600 lens over a 100% fantastic image and a $600 paper-weight all day long
01-17-2009, 11:55 PM   #15
Veteran Member
roentarre's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 11,783
QuoteOriginally posted by ftpaddict Quote
UV 30% of the time;
CPL 50% of the time.
UV 90% for me

CPL 10%
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
k-mount, pentax lens, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
lens filter poogeek Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 14 05-01-2010 09:25 AM
Filter for macro lens bobmaxja Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 1 04-26-2010 08:04 PM
Filter saves lens Ash Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 5 04-19-2009 03:13 PM
Why lens filter do I need? momof4 Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 7 10-22-2007 06:15 AM
Filter for my new lens?? Buschmaster Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 9 10-12-2007 09:14 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:42 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top