I own a GL2 and I was curious on which filters would be most helpful for the camera. Its hard for me to say what I shoot most often as it changes and evolves with whatever need is at hand. Mostly I shoot man-on-the-street stuff, some time-lapses, and whatever else. Any advice on how filters would help or any other advoce is welcome.

BIG topic!

However .. . filters fall into 2 main "user" groupings:

1 - Screw on Circular, and for us that means 58mm diameter filters

2 - Matte Box, and for me that is 100x100mm = 4"x4" squares . .you can get rectangular ones . .but let's keep it simple.

Group 1 are cheaper than 2 - plus with group 2 you will need to obtain a method of attaching this lump of glass/resin to the front of the camera. Sooooo.. that would be a relatively expensive device called a Matte box.

There is much posted here on this subject, so not wanting to "appear" unhelpful do a search using "matte" or "matte box" and filters will get you loads of stuff.

If you have further Qs then come back at us - yeah?

Grazie

polarizer, soft fx-1, black pro-mist 1/4, a warming filter...those are all nice....

Do you need a special adapter to fit those on a GL2, or do they simply screw on the lens?

i use screw-ons, but i do a lot of field work and outdoors shooting and don't really want to mess around with a mattebox or add the additional weight. in studio, you might want a mattebox. depends on your application....

Steve,

if you arre on limited income the two most used filters would be a polizer and a haze filter to protect the lens at other times.

Here are two 58 mm filter kits with some description of their applications. For more details you can go to Tiffen's site:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=248554&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=248572&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

So does anyone recommend a good starter filter kit? Good experience, good quality?

More specifically, is there a kit that addresses the needs of the starting videographer, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and still delivers good quality. I see opteka kits all over for like $20 USD, but are they worth a damn?

Thanks!

cheap filters are like cheap lenses, they usually do not pay in the long run.

If you can afford a gl2, spring for decent filters. go to B&H online catelog and check them out. there are some kits from more respected filter companys but I think you would be better off buying them one at a time as you need them.
Note: plastic/resin lenses scratch very easily compared to glass!!

If you can afford a gl2, spring for decent filters. go to B&H online catelog and check them out. there are some kits from more respected filter companys but I think you would be better off buying them one at a time as you need them.

So what is a respected company for GL2 filters?

Look for recognized brand names: e.g., Tiffen, B+W, Schneider, Canon, Hoya and so on. With optics cost is usually a good indicator. By cost, I mean cost from a profesional dealer with a good reputation and wide selection of brands. (Not cost as seen on the accessory sheet of a low-ball internet reseller witout any store front. They often will low ball the main item and stick it to the buyer on the price of accessories.) An noted B&H is a good reference point.

Look for recognized brand names: e.g., Tiffen, B+W, Schneider, Canon, Hoya and so on. With optics cost is usually a good indicator. By cost, I mean cost from a profesional dealer with a good reputation and wide selection of brands. (Not cost as seen on the accessory sheet of a low-ball internet reseller witout any store front. They often will low ball the main item and stick it to the buyer on the price of accessories.) An noted B&H is a good reference point.

I thought as much. Tiffen seems to have good cost vs. value. The B+W lenses look killer, but they must be king of the mountain because most of their filters (that I could price anyway) were pretty up there.

Appreciate the feedback. A shopping I will go...