what filter for my first "L" Lens

[TexasBadger]

I swear by B+W MRC UV on all of my lenses. They might have a slim mount to help prevent vignetting on the wide end. They are necessary to complete the final lens seal.

 

[Dylan777]

I have B&W XS_Pro Nano Clear Filter on my lenses. This is great filter, it's so CLEAR....

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/756818-REG/B_W_66_1066111_77mm_XS_Pro_NANO_Clear.html

 

[crasher8]

And that juicy tidbit is the only good thing to come out of selling my 10-22 when I went FF. (I plan on getting a 17-40 and have an extra B+W filter lying around for it.)

You should lose very little when selling your 10-22, used, they are about the same price as a 17-40. I am not a big fan of the 17-40 on FF, but if stopped down, its fine. Perhaps mine was just a poor copy, it happens. It wasn't bad, just did not seem to inspire me.

Yeah, 17-40 fine on crop, crap on full. http://www.extremeinstability.com/stormpics/compare2corner.jpg That is F9 corner of my old 17-40 on a 5D II. Center was sharp, so it wasn't the focus being off. Thing made full frame sorta pointless.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/canon-17-40.shtml

and I can find many many more. Is it a copy issue?

 

[PavelR]

Even the best filters are still going to degrade image quality (even if imperceptibly in ideal lighting conditions).

A lens hood, on the other hand, is always going to improve image quality, plus it offers superior protection to all the most common dangers lenses face.

There are only two scenarios where a filter makes sense for protection. The first is for weather sealing for lenses that require it (and, obviously, only in adverse weather conditions). The second is where you yourself require eye protection: rodeos where the horses are kicking gravel at your face, seaside where the waves are crashing on your head, that sort of thing.

Of course, polarizing and neutral density filters are a completely different story.

Cheers,

b&

+1

 

[jdramirez]

I stopped putting uv filters on my lenses. I use long hoods for protection. For cpl filter,I have a hoya. It does the job.

 

[Loswr]

I use long hoods for protection.

Do you find that works well with ultrawide lenses? :

 

[Deleted member 7828]

I like the Hoya Super HMC series filters, that's what I use.

 

[extremeinstability]

[/quote]

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/canon-17-40.shtml

and I can find many many more. Is it a copy issue?
[/quote]

Yeah I saw that review before I bought it. I thought it was a solid lens till I went full frame. Could be a copy issue I guess for my corners. There is also this to consider with it.... http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Lens-Vignetting-Test-Results.aspx?Lens=100&Camera=9&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=412&CameraComp=9&FLIComp=0&APIComp=1

And this comment from photozone.... "I should mention that I've used the lens (another sample) during my film SLR days and at the extreme borders the results were somewhat disappointing below 20mm (full format). "

Both the photozone and lenstip reviews of this lens seem to have been done on crop sensors, which kinda sucks.

But yeah for sure could be a copy issue. The luminous-landscape version shows a pretty crappy 35mm end, perhaps my lens was "flopped" from that one given my corner was from 17mm. Think I've read more complaints about the lens on full frame than I have praises.

 

[extremeinstability]

And as for filters for protection, I'm of the crowd that thinks it's kinda pointless. Any whack good enough to actually fubar the lens will fubar it right through a filter. And it will take a lot of years of lesser nicks to degrade the end to a point it really really matters. All the while you have stuck a flat piece of glass on the end happily ready to at least offer no help to quality. Other than a seal if you plan to use it in a hurricane or sand storm, for protection, kinda pointless. And say you nick the crap out of the end over the years, I can't see it being extremely costly to send it to canon to have that piece swapped out anyway. I use my 10-22 all the time, never ever use a lens cover cause I'll just lose them anyway. Always yanking it in and out of the car and all over. I've managed two little nicks. Little nicks vs a big(relative to the nicks) piece of flat glass. And that's not really ever even trying to be real careful. I do wish I had a filter on after shooting around some sand dunes a bit though. But that is it.

 

[Random Orbits]

I use long hoods for protection.

Do you find that works well with ultrawide lenses? :

+1. UW lens hoods are pretty much useless. They don't afford much protection and they take up SO much space in the bag.

 

[Tammy]

http://www.lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html

This is a really great comprehensive filter test/read I found today that I thought i'd share. I was trying to find comparisons of the B+W MRC vs the Hoya Pro1, both of which I use. Debating with myself whether to get one or not for my 24-70 II being shipped.

For UV filters/UV reduction purposes, the Hoyas blew away the B+W's, which surprisingly didn't do very well at UV reduction but did spectacular in light transmission and flare control etc.

 

[Zv]

I am also of the school of thought that doesn't use filters on a wide angle lens. Just extra glass getting in the way and you'll need an extra thin kind to prevent vignetting. Sure, the lens hood is crap but for general bumps and knocks it's ok. I had the 10-22mm for 18 months, took it traveling to all sorts of places, up mountains and dusty volcanoes. Damage caused? zippo. Like one post said, if you drop it hard enough NOTHING will protect it!

That said - I would prob slap on a UV filter if I see some rain coming to weather seal it. Even then I'd prob just pack up and go home.

Now the 17-55 f/2.8 - that thing needs a UV filter, the things a dust magnet!

Z

 

[FTb-n]

Hoya HD Clear works great on the 17-55...and, yes, it is easy to clean as advertised.

For those who question whether a filter would actually protect the front element from a blow, consider at least an extension ring. I've seen seemingly innocent bumps dent the threads of unprotected lenses. A filter, a hood (threaded or bayonet), or an extension ring would help prevent damage to the lens' threads.

 

[TrumpetPower!]

Hoya HD Clear works great on the 17-55...and, yes, it is easy to clean as advertised.

For those who question whether a filter would actually protect the front element from a blow, consider at least an extension ring. I've seen seemingly innocent bumps dent the threads of unprotected lenses. A filter, a hood (threaded or bayonet), or an extension ring would help prevent damage to the lens' threads.

Actually...not.

In the real world, something that would dent unprotected threads, if you had a filter on, would jam the filter on. You'd then have an expensive repair to remove the filter, repair and / or replace the filter threads, and maybe even replace the front element if the filter can't be removed without damaging it..

Without the filter, just burnishing out the dented threads would probably be all you'd need.

And, with a lens hood, you'd either have no damage or would just have to get a new lens hood.

Seriously: use hoods for protection except for cases where you need eye protection or weather sealing for certain L lenses in really nasty weather conditions. And, even then, still use the hood. <i>Especially</i> then -- the filter is going to make flare worse, possibly much worse, and the hood is going to cut down on flare.

Cheers,

b&

 

[Sony]

People talking a bout B&W and Hoya. I use Tiffens and Canons, are they good, Neuro?

 

[adhocphotographer]

I have Hoya HD and B + W filters (UV and CPL). I use them when i'm in crowds etc, use long hoods when appropriate and use nothing if there is no danger...

The one bit of advice (said before) is if you want to use filters... get good ones! And if you really want to make sure you have the 100% (vs 99.9n% with filters) IQ, just take it off! Either way, enjoy your new L lens!

 

[ajd2k8]

Thanks i ordered on Digital Rev so it will hopefully be here monday yay!!!

 

[Loswr]

People talking a bout B&W and Hoya. I use Tiffens and Canons, are they good, Neuro?

Not as good as B+W and the high end Hoya filters. Canon UV are actually OEM'd by Tiffen. I wouldn't use them.

 

[sandymandy]

Dont use any filter, problem solved.

 

[verysimplejason]

Dont use any filter, problem solved.

Only those rich enough to buy another glass without even hurting his pocket don't use filters and hoods. If you're that guy, then good for you. For most of us, it's better safe than sorry.

Another thing, I only use HOYA and B+W UV filters since they're the best ones available where I'm staying.