Sigma WR ceramic filter line - pricing announced

[ahsanford]

FYI on pricing for the Sigma's tough new ceramic filter line:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Sigma+Ceramic+Protector+Filter&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=
- A

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

They claim that it prevents damage to a lens. I don't see how that's possible, lenses are damaged in many ways when dropped on the front end, including hidden internal damage.

For the price, you can probably buy a new front lens element.

 

[mackguyver]

Great for rich guys attempting the elusive bullet flying directly into the lens shot

 

[9VIII]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax9NU8lbvYQ

I've been using my 40mm Pancake capless for a little while, and it's kind of nice. And from that angle, the idea of having a filter protect your lens while packed in a bag is a bit different from protecting it from accidents while in use.
At least it's an improvement for anyone who has come up with reasons to use a protective filter.

 

[9VIII]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHJxRxErwTc

Ok, I found another video of Sigma filters, I'm not entirely sure what product this is, other than that the name "Sigma" and designation "WR" are shared.
Anyway, the fluid repellence is remarkable.
Maybe the modern coatings on some lenses perform similarly, and I'm fairly certain that I've read about other filters that do this sort of thing before, but having both the ease of cleaning and shock resistance in combination sounds nice.

 

[MickDK]

They claim that it prevents damage to a lens. I don't see how that's possible, lenses are damaged in many ways when dropped on the front end, including hidden internal damage.

For the price, you can probably buy a new front lens element.

I think the filter is a much cheaper solution than replacing the front lens element. Also more convenient - you would have to do without the lens while being serviced.

 

[PhotographyFirst]

A couple of weeks ago, I was helping someone move some stuff out of their old house and they gave me a crappy old lens that was of no use for anything. For poops and giggles, I decided to see how much effort it took to scratch the front element. I had to jab the damn thing as hard as possible with a ice pick type of metal tool to even get the slightest ding. I even took a saw blade and worked it into the lens as hard as I could and all it did was slightly cut away some of the coating. I would never use a protective filter for shooting unless to keep water out.

 

[Maiaibing]

They claim that it prevents damage to a lens. I don't see how that's possible, lenses are damaged in many ways when dropped on the front end, including hidden internal damage.

For the price, you can probably buy a new front lens element.

If it is needed to make your water-resistant Canon lens water-resistant it can save more than a scratched front element for starters.

Also, there's potential damage that you may not notice of the soft lens coating Canon applies. Canon directly warns about this. And Canon directly recommends the use of a protective filter. No drilling or chain saw needed. A finger print can be enough. Here from Canon Professional network:

"The glass used for making optical lenses is often much softer than other types of glass. Once marked, it is not easy to clean. Most lenses have a coating applied to the surface of the front element. The main purpose of this is to reduce the risk of flare, but it also provides a harder surface. However, the term ‘harder’ is relative, and it is still quite easy to damage the surface of the lens. Rain, dust, flying stones, foliage and fingers are among the potential dangers.

Fingers in particular are a risk. Your fingertips exude an acidic grease which can, over a period of time, eat into the surface of the lens. The result may not be very noticeable, but it can increase the effect of flare. For this reason, if you touch the surface of the lens with your fingers, you should polish it gently with a soft, dry cloth to wipe away the grease.

You can protect the surface of the lens from fingers and other perils by attaching a filter. This screws into the mount at the front of the lens, forming a virtually dustproof seal between the surface of the lens and the outside world. Any dust or damage is then sustained by the filter and not the lens. If the damage is beyond normal cleaning methods, it is far cheaper to replace the filter than the lens."

 

[Maiaibing]

They claim that it prevents damage to a lens. I don't see how that's possible

Found my old YES-my-filter-saved-my-lens documented samples (there are lots of such forum threads around). It is as often the barrel as the front element which is saved by using a filter.:

http://photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00a2LF

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbie_ewing/4997119140/

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2010/02/27/using-filters/

http://blog.production-now.com/2010/11/uv-lens-saved-my-camera.html

http://community.the-digital-picture.com/showthread.php?t=1223

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=169640

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/33631

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enfo/5460898319/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibbit/2771036799/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/tokina124/discuss/72157623441192917/

 

[neuroanatomist]

They claim that it prevents damage to a lens. I don't see how that's possible

Found my old YES-my-filter-saved-my-lens documented samples (there are lots of such forum threads around). It is as often the barrel as the front element which is saved by using a filter.:

http://photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00a2LF

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbie_ewing/4997119140/

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2010/02/27/using-filters/

http://blog.production-now.com/2010/11/uv-lens-saved-my-camera.html

http://community.the-digital-picture.com/showthread.php?t=1223

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=169640

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/33631

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enfo/5460898319/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibbit/2771036799/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/tokina124/discuss/72157623441192917/

I've seen at least that many 'My filter broke on impact and the filter glass scratched my front element' threads.

Having said that, personally I use a filter on most lenses that take them (except the M22/2).

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

They claim that it prevents damage to a lens. I don't see how that's possible, lenses are damaged in many ways when dropped on the front end, including hidden internal damage.

For the price, you can probably buy a new front lens element.

I think the filter is a much cheaper solution than replacing the front lens element. Also more convenient - you would have to do without the lens while being serviced.

Except if you drop a lens, it will likely need the lens serviced as well, so it does not save anything. Many people buy a front element to replace one that was gouged or badly scratched for a few dollars and pop it in. Many of the lenses have front elements that serve no optical purpose, they are basically glass protectors and many times tougher than a filter.

 

[PhotographyFirst]

They claim that it prevents damage to a lens. I don't see how that's possible, lenses are damaged in many ways when dropped on the front end, including hidden internal damage.

For the price, you can probably buy a new front lens element.

I think the filter is a much cheaper solution than replacing the front lens element. Also more convenient - you would have to do without the lens while being serviced.

Except if you drop a lens, it will likely need the lens serviced as well, so it does not save anything. Many people buy a front element to replace one that was gouged or badly scratched for a few dollars and pop it in. Many of the lenses have front elements that serve no optical purpose, they are basically glass protectors and many times tougher than a filter.

Kinda like using an umbrella to block a falling Acme anvil?

 

[sunnyVan]

I'm sticking with my b+w filters. But i applaud sigma for being innovative.

 

[Click]

I'm sticking with my b+w filters. But i applaud sigma for being innovative.

+1

 

[edknuff]

Optical quality...?

 

[Gribok]

Out of about 12-15 lenses that I've used over a span of about 30 years I can only remember one time when I dropped my old 100mm marco into a mixture of mud and gravel face first. Needless to say, I was very glad I had a UV filter on. I tossed the filter when I got home, and my lens didn't require some delicate cleaning procedure. Perhaps if I had one of these Sigma filters I would have cleaned it and kept on using it, at which point it would have paid for it self vs. a cheaper filter.

One other thing I'd like to add to this discussion, and I've had this happen to me once... I once dropped a lens with it's hood onto some hard surface. The plastic hood snapped in half, but the lens was completely intact. In my humble opinion, one should use both a filter and a hood "whenever possible". I say "whenever possible", because there are times when a filter does visually impede the image quality, and only during those very infrequent times will I take the filter off, take the picture, and then put the filter back on.

 

[Cali Capture]

If you use a Sigma Filter, your autofocus will become hit and miss, unless you calibrate the filter with the dock

 

[SweOz]

My 24-105 was saved by the filter 6 months ago when dropped during a sailing trip

 

[Jopa]

Not good enough, Sigma. I'll wait for a bullet proof filter. It needs to withstand at least a BMG 50 round.

 

[C-FMST]

Not good enough, Sigma. I'll wait for a bullet proof filter. It needs to withstand at least a BMG 50 round.

Transparent aluminum!