Recommend me a decent UV filter?

**Mooncatt** · 07-22-2022, 04:21 AM

I rented the 16-50mm f2.8 PLM and it arrived yesterday. They included one B+W nano costed clear filter as part of the deal, so I just bought a single Platinum (Best Buy store brand) multi-coated UV filter as backup. When playing around with them last night, both seemed to do ok with image quality, but both introduced a noticeable lens flare when a light source was just out of frame unless I was zoomed in about 28mm or more. So all in all they are about equal. During the day shouldn't be much of an issue, but would be a big one when the track lights come on at night. I'll be track side instead of in the line of fire, so they'll come off at that point. I did talk to the track a bit, and they may not allow the shot I was hoping for anyway, but we'll see. The race team is willing to give me a crew shirt to sneak on. Lol Now to hope the rain holds off for us.

And yes, I got the insurance on the lens.

dlhawes · 07-22-2022, 04:53 AM

In my view, there is no such thing as a "decent" UV filter. There are cheap ones and good ones. The two sides of the glass have to be really, seriously parallel, and you need 98% light transmission or better to get good image quality. Whether the glass in those things would protect from a flying bit of gravel, though, I don't know. I've got a pellet gun powered by compressed air that I'm sure could go right through the filter and into the lens, and in the environment you describe, that sort of impact sounds like a real possibility.

Why not just buy insurance for the camera gear?

**Mooncatt** · 07-22-2022, 05:41 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by dlhawes

Why not just buy insurance for the camera gear?

I have insurance on my personal gear and on the rental. Unless you know of an insurance plan that can replace damaged equipment right there on the spot, it'll be useless to keep shooting at a time limited event.

**Mooncatt** · 07-22-2022, 07:24 AM

Just got the dreaded news that they cancelled the races tomorrow all together due to the storms risk. All the feedback is still very much appreciated, but now I'll have to figure out something else to do with the lens while I have it. Maybe see if I can find some good lightning of update family portraits or something.

**K-Three** · 07-22-2022, 06:56 PM

Originally posted by Mooncatt

both introduced a noticeable lens flare when a light source was just out of frame

needs a lens hood, it should have come with one,

**Mooncatt** · 07-22-2022, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by K-Three

needs a lens hood, it should have come with one,

That was with the lens hood

angerdan · 12-03-2023, 05:22 PM

Originally posted by Spock

The best UV filters are Hoya Super HMC.

No, Hoya HD filters have more layers of coatings than Hoya HMC.
HOYA HD UV

Spock · 12-15-2023, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by angerdan

No, Hoya HD filters have more layers of coatings than Hoya HMC.
HOYA HD UV

From memory, HMC have 7 layers on each side; how many do HD filters have?

Ted · 12-15-2023, 06:28 PM - **1 Like**

So here is my 2 cents on uv filters. Don't use them. No matter how good they are they are just extra glass between your camera and the subject. Mine have been collecting dust for years. Don't miss them.

angerdan · 12-18-2023, 12:33 AM

Originally posted by Spock

From memory, HMC have 7 layers on each side; how many do HD filters have?

Just click the link i posted to read the exact number of 16 layers

tibbitts · 12-18-2023, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by angerdan

Just click the link i posted to read the exact number of 16 layers

I would have guessed that like with B&W "nano" products vs. earlier models, that last layer is the "nano" layer. I don't about the differences with the other layers, but I have found that "nano" filters actually do seem easier to keep clean.

Spock · 12-24-2023, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by angerdan

Just click the link i posted to read the exact number of 16 layers

So one more layer (ie the water and oil repellent layer) on each side as the previous poster suggests. Certainly a useful addition so long as it doesn't affect light transmission and reflection.

angerdan · 12-24-2023, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by Spock

So one more layer (ie the water and oil repellent layer) on each side as the previous poster suggests.

If your goal are more layers, check out the HOYA HD nano Mk II UV:
HOYA | HD nano Mk II UV
HOYA 2023 main line_up.pdf
HOYA-Filter-Catalog-2016.pdf

Spock · 12-31-2023, 02:12 AM

Originally posted by angerdan

If your goal are more layers, check out the HOYA HD nano Mk II UV:
HOYA | HD nano Mk II UV
HOYA 2023 main line_up.pdf
HOYA-Filter-Catalog-2016.pdf

Extra layers are only useful if they reduce reflections as I consider filters as sacrificial lens protection.

angerdan · 12-31-2023, 04:40 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Spock

Extra layers are only useful if they reduce reflections as I consider filters as sacrificial lens protection.

Of course each layer reduces reflections, that's what coatings on Filters are for

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07-22-2022, 04:21 AM	#31
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	I rented the 16-50mm f2.8 PLM and it arrived yesterday. They included one B+W nano costed clear filter as part of the deal, so I just bought a single Platinum (Best Buy store brand) multi-coated UV filter as backup. When playing around with them last night, both seemed to do ok with image quality, but both introduced a noticeable lens flare when a light source was just out of frame unless I was zoomed in about 28mm or more. So all in all they are about equal. During the day shouldn't be much of an issue, but would be a big one when the track lights come on at night. I'll be track side instead of in the line of fire, so they'll come off at that point. I did talk to the track a bit, and they may not allow the shot I was hoping for anyway, but we'll see. The race team is willing to give me a crew shirt to sneak on. Lol Now to hope the rain holds off for us. And yes, I got the insurance on the lens.

07-22-2022, 04:53 AM	#32
dlhawes Guest	In my view, there is no such thing as a "decent" UV filter. There are cheap ones and good ones. The two sides of the glass have to be really, seriously parallel, and you need 98% light transmission or better to get good image quality. Whether the glass in those things would protect from a flying bit of gravel, though, I don't know. I've got a pellet gun powered by compressed air that I'm sure could go right through the filter and into the lens, and in the environment you describe, that sort of impact sounds like a real possibility. Why not just buy insurance for the camera gear?

07-22-2022, 05:41 AM - 2 Likes	#33
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	Originally posted by dlhawes Why not just buy insurance for the camera gear? I have insurance on my personal gear and on the rental. Unless you know of an insurance plan that can replace damaged equipment right there on the spot, it'll be useless to keep shooting at a time limited event.

07-22-2022, 07:24 AM	#34
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	Just got the dreaded news that they cancelled the races tomorrow all together due to the storms risk. All the feedback is still very much appreciated, but now I'll have to figure out something else to do with the lens while I have it. Maybe see if I can find some good lightning of update family portraits or something.

07-22-2022, 06:56 PM	#35
K-Three Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pugetopolis, WA Photos: Gallery Posts: 937	Originally posted by Mooncatt both introduced a noticeable lens flare when a light source was just out of frame needs a lens hood, it should have come with one,

07-22-2022, 11:09 PM	#36
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	Originally posted by K-Three needs a lens hood, it should have come with one, That was with the lens hood

12-03-2023, 05:22 PM	#37
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Originally posted by Spock The best UV filters are Hoya Super HMC. No, Hoya HD filters have more layers of coatings than Hoya HMC. HOYA HD UV

12-15-2023, 09:27 AM	#38
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 673	Originally posted by angerdan No, Hoya HD filters have more layers of coatings than Hoya HMC. HOYA HD UV From memory, HMC have 7 layers on each side; how many do HD filters have?

12-15-2023, 06:28 PM - 1 Like	#39
Ted Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Ct, USA Posts: 29	So here is my 2 cents on uv filters. Don't use them. No matter how good they are they are just extra glass between your camera and the subject. Mine have been collecting dust for years. Don't miss them.

12-18-2023, 12:33 AM	#40
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Originally posted by Spock From memory, HMC have 7 layers on each side; how many do HD filters have? Just click the link i posted to read the exact number of 16 layers

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12-18-2023, 09:27 AM	#41
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,193	Originally posted by angerdan Just click the link i posted to read the exact number of 16 layers I would have guessed that like with B&W "nano" products vs. earlier models, that last layer is the "nano" layer. I don't about the differences with the other layers, but I have found that "nano" filters actually do seem easier to keep clean.

12-24-2023, 08:14 AM	#42
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 673	Originally posted by angerdan Just click the link i posted to read the exact number of 16 layers So one more layer (ie the water and oil repellent layer) on each side as the previous poster suggests. Certainly a useful addition so long as it doesn't affect light transmission and reflection.

12-24-2023, 05:42 PM	#43
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Originally posted by Spock So one more layer (ie the water and oil repellent layer) on each side as the previous poster suggests. If your goal are more layers, check out the HOYA HD nano Mk II UV: HOYA \| HD nano Mk II UV HOYA 2023 main line_up.pdf HOYA-Filter-Catalog-2016.pdf

12-31-2023, 02:12 AM	#44
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 673	Originally posted by angerdan If your goal are more layers, check out the HOYA HD nano Mk II UV: HOYA \| HD nano Mk II UV HOYA 2023 main line_up.pdf HOYA-Filter-Catalog-2016.pdf Extra layers are only useful if they reduce reflections as I consider filters as sacrificial lens protection.

12-31-2023, 04:40 AM - 1 Like	#45
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Originally posted by Spock Extra layers are only useful if they reduce reflections as I consider filters as sacrificial lens protection. Of course each layer reduces reflections, that's what coatings on Filters are for