Protective Filters ? at DVinfo.net

Scott Andrews · April 11th, 2007, 08:31 AM

What are your thoughts on putting a filter on an XH A1. Do you degrade the HD image at all? Do you just use the lens hood for protection. I don't do news gathering or anything, just camera bag to tripod and back again.

Eric Weiss · April 11th, 2007, 08:47 AM

I just use the lens hood. I'm usually switching filters or just have a WA always attached. The UV thing for me, is more trouble than it's worth.

That may not be your case. If you are generally paranoid or will be filming around a lot of sharp, flying objects..protective glass may be a wise investment.

Canon makes a nice, basic 72mm set ( FS-72U Filter Set ) that will not degrade the image. I just use the polarizer and the case.

You can also take out a low cost insurance policy that will cover damage and theft on all of your gear.

Don Palomaki · April 11th, 2007, 11:14 AM

I only use a filter if I need to modify the light entering the lens. The lens hood provides adequate physical protection for my purposes when shooting around adults acting like adults and kids who are behaving reasonably or at least predictably.

Any filter or additional galss, even good glass, has some effect on the light entering the lens. The quesiton is whether or not it falls within what is acceptable to your application.

The biggesdt issue for me with a protective UV is dust on it. The filter is far enough from the focal center of the lens that any dust on it can become apparent in the image, especially at small apertures and wide zoom settings.

Scott Andrews · April 11th, 2007, 11:23 AM

Thanks guys. Both points well taken. I think I'll stick with the hood for now. If I was shooting news/photojournalism I would probably use the UV filter but for my purposes I think I'm ok.

David W. Jones · April 11th, 2007, 11:30 AM

Call me old fashioned, but I always try to protect the front lens element with a high quality filter.
All it takes is one small accident to ruin a perfectly good lens.

Ray Lindsay · April 11th, 2007, 01:08 PM

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=91065

I think this says it all.

Hernan Vilchez · April 11th, 2007, 05:26 PM

But what if i want to protect my expensive Canon wide angle converter?

Rob Hatcher · April 11th, 2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hernan Vilchez

But what if i want to protect my expensive Canon wide angle converter?

You need a really expensive UV filter. What's that 103mm?

Eric Weiss · April 11th, 2007, 06:41 PM

i don't think the canon wa is threaded at the front.
you'll need to use the lens hood or matte box.
i just ordered it today. i think it's 109mm in the front.

as soon as i can post attachments i will.

Dave Mody · April 11th, 2007, 09:37 PM

I say get a filter. You never know who's going to pick up your camera or what can happen to it. I highly recommend the Hoya super HMC.

Good point about dirt on the filter though! I definitely noticed I have to keep my filter a lot cleaner than any of my SLR filters. The camera is super sensitive to dirt on there.

Isaboythatbuildsaboat...Isaboythatsailsher Dave

Frederic Gittler · April 13th, 2007, 12:01 PM

I keep a good quality filter on my lens (BW MRC series in my case). I do not use the WA converter, so I do not have the problem of having to remove and re-install the filter all the time.

I find that keeping the filter clean is easier (and safer) than trying to keep the front element of the lens clean.

The only time this setup gave me trouble was in a shooting situation with the sun almost directly in front of the camera, just above the frame when zoomed-in 75%. The rays of the sun would create an uneven "veil" in front of the lens, probably because the filter was only clean to the eye. But these are extreme shooting conditions!

David Warren · April 14th, 2007, 05:58 PM

i just bought a pretty cheap ($50 canadian) tiffen uv filter with my A1.
no problems so far.. ill just keep my lens cleaning kit handy ;)

April 11th, 2007, 08:31 AM	#1
Scott Andrews New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin Posts: 16	Protective Filters ? What are your thoughts on putting a filter on an XH A1. Do you degrade the HD image at all? Do you just use the lens hood for protection. I don't do news gathering or anything, just camera bag to tripod and back again.

April 11th, 2007, 11:14 AM	#3
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	I only use a filter if I need to modify the light entering the lens. The lens hood provides adequate physical protection for my purposes when shooting around adults acting like adults and kids who are behaving reasonably or at least predictably. Any filter or additional galss, even good glass, has some effect on the light entering the lens. The quesiton is whether or not it falls within what is acceptable to your application. The biggesdt issue for me with a protective UV is dust on it. The filter is far enough from the focal center of the lens that any dust on it can become apparent in the image, especially at small apertures and wide zoom settings. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 11th, 2007, 09:37 PM	#10
Dave Mody New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kingston Posts: 23	filter? I say get a filter. You never know who's going to pick up your camera or what can happen to it. I highly recommend the Hoya super HMC. Good point about dirt on the filter though! I definitely noticed I have to keep my filter a lot cleaner than any of my SLR filters. The camera is super sensitive to dirt on there. Isaboythatbuildsaboat...Isaboythatsailsher Dave

April 11th, 2007, 08:47 AM	#2
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	I just use the lens hood. I'm usually switching filters or just have a WA always attached. The UV thing for me, is more trouble than it's worth. That may not be your case. If you are generally paranoid or will be filming around a lot of sharp, flying objects..protective glass may be a wise investment. Canon makes a nice, basic 72mm set ( FS-72U Filter Set ) that will not degrade the image. I just use the polarizer and the case. You can also take out a low cost insurance policy that will cover damage and theft on all of your gear.

April 11th, 2007, 11:23 AM	#4
Scott Andrews New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin Posts: 16	Thanks guys. Both points well taken. I think I'll stick with the hood for now. If I was shooting news/photojournalism I would probably use the UV filter but for my purposes I think I'm ok.

April 11th, 2007, 11:30 AM	#5
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Call me old fashioned, but I always try to protect the front lens element with a high quality filter. All it takes is one small accident to ruin a perfectly good lens.

April 11th, 2007, 01:08 PM	#6
Ray Lindsay Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Parkville, MO Posts: 30	http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=91065 I think this says it all.

April 11th, 2007, 05:26 PM	#7
Hernan Vilchez Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 135	But what if i want to protect my expensive Canon wide angle converter?

April 11th, 2007, 06:41 PM	#9
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	i don't think the canon wa is threaded at the front. you'll need to use the lens hood or matte box. i just ordered it today. i think it's 109mm in the front. as soon as i can post attachments i will.

April 13th, 2007, 12:01 PM	#11
Frederic Gittler New Boot Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: France Posts: 22	I keep a good quality filter on my lens (BW MRC series in my case). I do not use the WA converter, so I do not have the problem of having to remove and re-install the filter all the time. I find that keeping the filter clean is easier (and safer) than trying to keep the front element of the lens clean. The only time this setup gave me trouble was in a shooting situation with the sun almost directly in front of the camera, just above the frame when zoomed-in 75%. The rays of the sun would create an uneven "veil" in front of the lens, probably because the filter was only clean to the eye. But these are extreme shooting conditions!

April 14th, 2007, 05:58 PM	#12
David Warren Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 61	i just bought a pretty cheap ($50 canadian) tiffen uv filter with my A1. no problems so far.. ill just keep my lens cleaning kit handy ;)