filter question

[stitchbug]

can i put a circ pol filter over a uv/protection filter? or do i need to take the uv off and then put the polar. filter on?

thats how i do it, i never take my uv off

[RexK_Cozumel]

you can put a circular pol over a uv filter as long as the uv filter is threaded on both sides. But the real question is why would you want to. The more filters you slap on to the lens to lower your image quality is going to be and the higher you chances of getting lens flare and vignetting. Personally I rarely use a uv/protection filter unless I am going to an area where I know there is going to be dust and water and crud flying around in the air. IE shooting on the beach. Other than that why would I put a < $100 piece of glass in front of a $1500 lens? It is like shooting through a dirty windshield. Can you do it? sure but why would you?

[stitchbug]

Originally Posted by RexK_Cozumel

you can put a circular pol over a uv filter as long as the uv filter is threaded on both sides. But the real question is why would you want to. The more filters you slap on to the lens to lower your image quality is going to be and the higher you chances of getting lens flare and vignetting. Personally I rarely use a uv/protection filter unless I am going to an area where I know there is going to be dust and water and crud flying around in the air. IE shooting on the beach. Other than that why would I put a < $100 piece of glass in front of a $1500 lens? It is like shooting through a dirty windshield. Can you do it? sure but why would you?

cause i dont want anything to happen to my lens! what if it gets bumped, dropped, or even scuffed when putting on the lenscap? too scary for me!!
but i see what youre saying about the quality. i didnt even think about that.

[Murtasma]

You shouldn't run into a problem but if the rings on those filters are big there is a higher chance for light to bounce around between them and cause contrast and color issues.

[stitchbug]

Originally Posted by Murtasma

You shouldn't run into a problem but if the rings on those filters are big there is a higher chance for light to bounce around between them and cause contrast and color issues.

i have the hoya filters (77mm). are those rings considered big?

[Murtasma]

Originally Posted by stitchbug

i have the hoya filters (77mm). are those rings considered big?

Hard to say, if it becomes a problem a slight change in perspective relative to the light source will usually get rid of any distracting reflections inside. It helps using coated filters as well but those are expensive.

I think you should be fine, if you run into a problem just remove the UV filter and put the polarizer on when you need it.

[sfisher]

Originally Posted by RexK_Cozumel

Other than that why would I put a < $100 piece of glass in front of a $1500 lens? It is like shooting through a dirty windshield. Can you do it? sure but why would you?

Exactly how many pieces of glass are in that $1500 lens? A good multicoated UV filter could easily be the most expensive piece of glass in the light path.

[Marmalade]

I have a filter on my lens at all times. It has saved me more than once.

Once in high school I had pulled out my camera to notice glass everywhere. The camera bag had suffered some sort of trauma (dropped, kicked, etc). Never found out who did it but the filter took all of the damage and the lens was safe. I would not have had enough money to replace the lens if it had been broken. From then on I have always had some type of filter on all of my lens'.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by sfisher

Exactly how many pieces of glass are in that $1500 lens? A good multicoated UV filter could easily be the most expensive piece of glass in the light path.

Not the point. The point is that the lens was developed to be used as is, with nothing in front of it or behind it. Doing anything else just mucks that up.

That being said, all my lenses except my 50mm have a NC filter on them.