Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II

[lastcoyote]

Hi guys, just wondering how many of you use a circular polariser on your copy of the 24-70 f/2.8L II?
I haven't got a CP yet but considering maybe that I should have one for use with this lens.
If you do use one how often is it on the lens? Is it only for the odd occassion or more?
Also any recommendations on filter purchase? All my screw on filters are B+W and am looking at maybe the B+W MRC Nano XS-Pro. Expensive but maybe worth it. Especially as it's slim mount with front threads.
Suggestions welcome..

 

[mackguyver]

Hi guys, just wondering how many of you use a circular polariser on your copy of the 24-70 f/2.8L II?
I haven't got a CP yet but considering maybe that I should have one for use with this lens.
If you do use one how often is it on the lens? Is it only for the odd occassion or more?
Also any recommendations on filter purchase? All my screw on filters are B+W and am looking at maybe the B+W MRC Nano XS-Pro. Expensive but maybe worth it. Especially as it's slim mount with front threads.
Suggestions welcome..

I splurged on the 82mm B+W MRC Nano XS-Pro and it is a beautiful filter but I can't tell much of a difference between it and my Hoya 77mm Circular Polarizing HD filter. The construction is a bit better, but Hoya sent me a brand new one when I foolishly separated mine while under warranty. I use a polarizer a lot in Florida for water and foliage and if you follow B+W & other's recommendations not to shoot under 28mm, it works great, although, I've shot plenty at 24mm. It works fine if I'm careful about the "effect".

As for frequent vs. occasional use, that's up to you. If you need one or use one already, it may be worth it, but if you mostly shoot people and don't get around the water, wet landscapes, foliage in the sun, big windows, etc. your better off spending your money elsewhere.

Also, using my polarizer leads me to my one gripe about the Mark II - plastic filter threads. For $2k+, that seems ridiculous!

 

[lastcoyote]

Hi guys, just wondering how many of you use a circular polariser on your copy of the 24-70 f/2.8L II?
I haven't got a CP yet but considering maybe that I should have one for use with this lens.
If you do use one how often is it on the lens? Is it only for the odd occassion or more?
Also any recommendations on filter purchase? All my screw on filters are B+W and am looking at maybe the B+W MRC Nano XS-Pro. Expensive but maybe worth it. Especially as it's slim mount with front threads.
Suggestions welcome..

I splurged on the 82mm B+W MRC Nano XS-Pro and it is a beautiful filter but I can't tell much of a difference between it and my Hoya 77mm Circular Polarizing HD filter. The construction is a bit better, but Hoya sent me a brand new one when I foolishly separated mine while under warranty. I use a polarizer a lot in Florida for water and foliage and if you follow B+W & other's recommendations not to shoot under 28mm, it works great, although, I've shot plenty at 24mm. It works fine if I'm careful about the "effect".

As for frequent vs. occasional use, that's up to you. If you need one or use one already, it may be worth it, but if you mostly shoot people and don't get around the water, wet landscapes, foliage in the sun, big windows, etc. your better off spending your money elsewhere.

Also, using my polarizer leads me to my one gripe about the Mark II - plastic filter threads. For $2k+, that seems ridiculous!

thanks for the reply mackguyver. yeah I think it'll be something that's nice to have in the bag when I need it rather than something that i can't live without. however I often come across articles that say it's the most important filter you can have. maybe I'll just wait till money is flowing a bit more freely than it is now and get one then.

 

[mackguyver]

thanks for the reply mackguyver. yeah I think it'll be something that's nice to have in the bag when I need it rather than something that i can't live without. however I often come across articles that say it's the most important filter you can have. maybe I'll just wait till money is flowing a bit more freely than it is now and get one then.

No problem, lastcoyote, and it and the ND filters are really about the only two common filters you can't replicate in Photoshop. Here's a great site with more information on when & how to use them that might help you decide if you'll need or want one.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/polarizing-filters.htm
Just remember that they aren't great for true portraits, but I use them for shots of people at the beach (action shots) and as long as you're not using it at full strength, they can turn out well.

 

[AprilForever]

I have to throw out the "horses for courses" line. I have the 16-35 II, 24-70 II, and 70-200 II, but I also have the 24 1.4 II, 50 1.2, 85 1.2 II, and 135. I LOVE my primes and when I'm just walking around or shooting portraits, they are what I use. When I'm shooting commercial work or carrying my gear on my back for long distances, I take the zooms. There are plenty of situations where shallow DOF isn't needed or desired and many times when you can't "zoom with your feet" because you are stuck in one place and can't get closer or further back -- or you get eaten -- see shot below of a 10'+ alligator using the original 24-70 at, you guessed it 70mm, from around 20ft away. If I'd had my 24 or 50 on, I wouldn't have been able to get close enough and I wanted good DOF for this shot.

You choose the best gear you have for a given shoot and hope you have the right lens on your camera at the right time.

Nice! Where's this?

 

[bobby samat]

i have the b+w 82mm circular polarizer slim mrc. i've always been happy with the images when i'm using it. cuts right through humidity and haze. i use it on the 24-70 II. if it does vignette at all, i haven't noticed.

as for the plastic filter threads . .

metal expands when exposed to sun/heat. i was using the 24-70 along with the polarizer and a ND filter in the hawaiian sunshine. the polarizer and ND expanded and stuck together, but came right off of the plastic threads of the lens.

the two filters wouldn't come apart until 11pm that night once they had cooled back down.

when i first got the lens i wasn't super happy about the plastic screws. now i could care less. the plastic threads aren't flimsy feeling. i change filters all the time and i never worry about it.

 

[Loswr]

metal expands when exposed to sun/heat. i was using the 24-70 along with the polarizer and a ND filter in the hawaiian sunshine. the polarizer and ND expanded and stuck together, but came right off of the plastic threads of the lens.

the two filters wouldn't come apart until 11pm that night once they had cooled back down

It doesn't even take Hawaiian sunshine. Late afternoon in Boston today (85°) was enough to stick my 82mm 10-stop and Slim Käsemann CPL together, given the very thin ring to turn on the CPL. Adorama has Polaroid filter wrenches ($5/set) that work for 82mm filters. I just keep a set in every bag - which was good today, because after the combo stuck together on my TS-E 24L II, I wanted to use just the CPL on the 24-70L II.

 

[mackguyver]

i have the b+w 82mm circular polarizer slim mrc. i've always been happy with the images when i'm using it. cuts right through humidity and haze. i use it on the 24-70 II. if it does vignette at all, i haven't noticed.

as for the plastic filter threads . .

metal expands when exposed to sun/heat. i was using the 24-70 along with the polarizer and a ND filter in the hawaiian sunshine. the polarizer and ND expanded and stuck together, but came right off of the plastic threads of the lens.

the two filters wouldn't come apart until 11pm that night once they had cooled back down.

when i first got the lens i wasn't super happy about the plastic screws. now i could care less. the plastic threads aren't flimsy feeling. i change filters all the time and i never worry about it.

Hadn't thought about that and it gets pretty hot here in Florida, too! Glad to hear they're robust, too.

 

[mackguyver]

Nice! Where's this?

It's St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee, FL.

 

[a-hopps]

Just picked one of these up as a refurb from Canon. Can't wait for it to arrive!

 

[Krob78]

Just picked one of these up as a refurb from Canon. Can't wait for it to arrive!

Congratulations!

 

[climber]

Hi. Is possible to use with this lens a B+W UV filter model XS pro MRC nano, wich is thinner than regular filters, but thicker than slim version. Its thickness is 3.4 mm. I'm asking because that lens has slightly curved front element and the thinner ring could caused scratching a front glass. As seen here --> http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/10/bad-times-with-bad-filters

Thanks

 

[mackguyver]

Hi. Is possible to use with this lens a B+W UV filter model XS pro MRC nano, wich is thinner than regular filters, but thicker than slim version. Its thickness is 3.4 mm. I'm asking because that lens has slightly curved front element and the thinner ring could caused scratching a front glass. As seen here --> http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/10/bad-times-with-bad-filters

Thanks

I have that exact filter (010M) on my lens - no issues. If you read the article closely, you'll see that Roger says that brand name filters are okay.

I will add that I’ve put another dozen brand name filters (Heliopan, B&W, etc.) on this lens with absolutely no problem and no sign of glass-to-glass contact.

P.S. Thanks for making me check my Amazon order to see how much I overpaid for my lens & filter compared to today's prices :'(

 

[tron]

Hi. Is possible to use with this lens a B+W UV filter model XS pro MRC nano, wich is thinner than regular filters, but thicker than slim version. Its thickness is 3.4 mm. I'm asking because that lens has slightly curved front element and the thinner ring could caused scratching a front glass. As seen here --> http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/10/bad-times-with-bad-filters

Thanks

I have that exact filter (010M) on my lens - no issues. If you read the article closely, you'll see that Roger says that brand name filters are okay.

I will add that I’ve put another dozen brand name filters (Heliopan, B&W, etc.) on this lens with absolutely no problem and no sign of glass-to-glass contact.

P.S. Thanks for making me check my Amazon order to see how much I overpaid for my lens & filter compared to today's prices :'(

I see that nobody mentioned Hoya either for good or bad. Any info on their HD2 series regarding this issue?

 

[Invertalon]

I use Hoya HD clear filters on all my lenses, including the 24-70 II... No issues what-so-ever and by far my favorite filter to use. Thin framed, still threaded, easy as can be to clean (even better than the high end B+W's I have used) and no IQ loss at all to my eye.

But yeah, no rubbing on the front element.

 

[tron]

I use Hoya HD clear filters on all my lenses, including the 24-70 II... No issues what-so-ever and by far my favorite filter to use. Thin framed, still threaded, easy as can be to clean (even better than the high end B+W's I have used) and no IQ loss at all to my eye.

But yeah, no rubbing on the front element.

Thanks for the information. I guess the HD2 will be no different than HD in that matter.

 

[Buschtrommel]

I have never used any filters on my lenses, since I`m shooting digital (2009). In analog times I uses filters, but in my whole fotografic life, I`ve never crashed a filter or a lense. So I don`t think that they are necessary - I think they damage the IQ of the lense.