cheap lense protector? at DVinfo.net

Nathan Quattrini · May 15th, 2007, 10:26 AM

I`m about to order my A1 and know one of the most essential things to get is a UV protector lense. Are there any that are recommended? Cheap but will do its job without altering the image? I was told the lense kit by Canon is back ordered :\ But i dare not take the camera out without protection on that lense.

Chris Hurd · May 15th, 2007, 10:38 AM

The key concept with "cheap" is that you get what you pay for. Think about it, a UV filter is the very first first link in the image creation chain... why would you want a cheap one? For shooting HD with a $3000+ camcorder, why not get the best UV filter you can afford, a high quality one such as a Tiffen or at least a Hoya. It's really about the value that you place on your images... what are your images worth to you. That's why I avoid "cheap," because in the long run, "cheap" is the single most expensive way to go.

Eric Weiss · May 15th, 2007, 10:50 AM

what are you filming that would cause harm to the lense?
the hood should take care of most concerns. i've never used a uv.
however, i usually have a grad, wa, or polarizer attached...but even those have never experienced any sort of disrespect.

i can understand if you will be filming such pieces as "The Effects of Shrapnel," "The Weekend Warriors Guide to Sandblasting," or "Drunken Lawn Darts," otherwise i find them to be a useless piece of glass.

I don’t want to further exacerbate your paranoia, but things like condensation, dust, and ham-fisted TSA employees are the real threats to your gear.

Nathan Quattrini · May 15th, 2007, 11:17 AM

i`ll be doing all sorts of outdoor shoots, alot in the woods and other places where dirt, dust, etc are abundant...plus shooting action, so there will be airbourn particles possibly small rocks etc. I`d much rather have something ding a piece of glass instead of the lense. I have been looking at the Tiffen's, and would order the Canon package today if I could since it gives you 3 filters for the price of a tiffen UV. (~$100). I think my question more should have been what should I look for to get the great protection and no image distortion/reflection/etc. Just any old UV?

Nathan Quattrini · May 15th, 2007, 11:26 AM

BandH say its in stock....what do you think of these?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ilter_Set.html

Rene Roslev · May 15th, 2007, 11:38 AM

The Canon filter set is actually made by Tiffen. They are not multicoated though; lower light transmission, risk of flaring/ghosting.

Here is a comparison: Tiffen standard UV vs. Hoya S-HMC UV

You can get a 72mm B+W F-Pro 010 UV MRC for just $68.11 incl. p&p from a US dealer.
Top quality, brass mount, easy to clean, multicoated etc.

Eric Weiss · May 15th, 2007, 11:52 AM

point taken. you should not skimp on anything that goes in front of the lense.

go with the best that you can afford.

i have that Canon pack, it's OK. I only use the polarizer, which works fine.
thanks to that test posted above, i will be sure not to film any black boxes against white backgrounds with it.

look for something multicoated with a front thread. clean your cam lense really well, slap on the UV, and then you can
add a polarizer if you need to. i wouldnt suggest swapping filters in the elements that you describe. just be careful
that you dont see the double filter set up in your wide shots..zoom in a bit if you do that.

Nathan Quattrini · May 15th, 2007, 12:37 PM

so multi-coated is the way to go I see...72 mm? Is that the thickness or diameter? Is 72 the standard for the A1?

Chris Hurd · May 15th, 2007, 01:20 PM

72mm is the diameter, which is the standard filter thread size for the XH series camcorders.

Don Palomaki · May 15th, 2007, 01:56 PM

Be aware that filter sits pretty far in front of the lens, and the camcorder can focus on dust on a filter. Further, dust on it can cause issues especially if there is side lighting. Be prepared to deal with that.

An interesting web site on filters. More photography than video, but still interesting.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/filters.htm

Nathan Quattrini · May 15th, 2007, 03:19 PM

I use one on the H1 at work and haven`t had any problems yet working in high dust zones, and just about always use manual focus so I`m not too worried in that regard, thanks for the heads up. I`m going to get one from a friend and test it out first, see if theres any color/contrast lost. If not I`ll stick with it for now, nothing beats free ;)

Eric Weiss · May 15th, 2007, 04:01 PM

if youre going to do extended shooting with something in front of the lense , just clean it really well..and the filter. and check it several times in an OCD fashion.

i once shot for 3 days straight with a "pube-like" hair in my upper 1/3.
it nested between my lense and wa.

it was small and high enough to elude my VF, but on my monitor it was
nothing but nasty.

the project went from 4x3 to 16:9 toot sweet. you will not afford this kind of luxury shooting native 16x9.

May 15th, 2007, 10:26 AM	#1
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	cheap lense protector? I`m about to order my A1 and know one of the most essential things to get is a UV protector lense. Are there any that are recommended? Cheap but will do its job without altering the image? I was told the lense kit by Canon is back ordered :\ But i dare not take the camera out without protection on that lense. __________________ Cinematography Site

May 15th, 2007, 10:38 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	The key concept with "cheap" is that you get what you pay for. Think about it, a UV filter is the very first first link in the image creation chain... why would you want a cheap one? For shooting HD with a $3000+ camcorder, why not get the best UV filter you can afford, a high quality one such as a Tiffen or at least a Hoya. It's really about the value that you place on your images... what are your images worth to you. That's why I avoid "cheap," because in the long run, "cheap" is the single most expensive way to go. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 15th, 2007, 11:17 AM	#4
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	i`ll be doing all sorts of outdoor shoots, alot in the woods and other places where dirt, dust, etc are abundant...plus shooting action, so there will be airbourn particles possibly small rocks etc. I`d much rather have something ding a piece of glass instead of the lense. I have been looking at the Tiffen's, and would order the Canon package today if I could since it gives you 3 filters for the price of a tiffen UV. (~$100). I think my question more should have been what should I look for to get the great protection and no image distortion/reflection/etc. Just any old UV? __________________ Cinematography Site

May 15th, 2007, 11:26 AM	#5
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	BandH say its in stock....what do you think of these? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ilter_Set.html __________________ Cinematography Site

May 15th, 2007, 12:37 PM	#8
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	so multi-coated is the way to go I see...72 mm? Is that the thickness or diameter? Is 72 the standard for the A1? __________________ Cinematography Site

May 15th, 2007, 10:50 AM	#3
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	what are you filming that would cause harm to the lense? the hood should take care of most concerns. i've never used a uv. however, i usually have a grad, wa, or polarizer attached...but even those have never experienced any sort of disrespect. i can understand if you will be filming such pieces as "The Effects of Shrapnel," "The Weekend Warriors Guide to Sandblasting," or "Drunken Lawn Darts," otherwise i find them to be a useless piece of glass. I don’t want to further exacerbate your paranoia, but things like condensation, dust, and ham-fisted TSA employees are the real threats to your gear.

May 15th, 2007, 11:38 AM	#6
Rene Roslev Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 49	The Canon filter set is actually made by Tiffen. They are not multicoated though; lower light transmission, risk of flaring/ghosting. Here is a comparison: Tiffen standard UV vs. Hoya S-HMC UV You can get a 72mm B+W F-Pro 010 UV MRC for just $68.11 incl. p&p from a US dealer. Top quality, brass mount, easy to clean, multicoated etc.

May 15th, 2007, 11:52 AM	#7
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	point taken. you should not skimp on anything that goes in front of the lense. go with the best that you can afford. i have that Canon pack, it's OK. I only use the polarizer, which works fine. thanks to that test posted above, i will be sure not to film any black boxes against white backgrounds with it. look for something multicoated with a front thread. clean your cam lense really well, slap on the UV, and then you can add a polarizer if you need to. i wouldnt suggest swapping filters in the elements that you describe. just be careful that you dont see the double filter set up in your wide shots..zoom in a bit if you do that.

May 15th, 2007, 01:20 PM	#9
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	72mm is the diameter, which is the standard filter thread size for the XH series camcorders. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 15th, 2007, 01:56 PM	#10
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Be aware that filter sits pretty far in front of the lens, and the camcorder can focus on dust on a filter. Further, dust on it can cause issues especially if there is side lighting. Be prepared to deal with that. An interesting web site on filters. More photography than video, but still interesting. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/filters.htm __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

May 15th, 2007, 03:19 PM	#11
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	I use one on the H1 at work and haven`t had any problems yet working in high dust zones, and just about always use manual focus so I`m not too worried in that regard, thanks for the heads up. I`m going to get one from a friend and test it out first, see if theres any color/contrast lost. If not I`ll stick with it for now, nothing beats free ;) __________________ Cinematography Site

May 15th, 2007, 04:01 PM	#12
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	if youre going to do extended shooting with something in front of the lense , just clean it really well..and the filter. and check it several times in an OCD fashion. i once shot for 3 days straight with a "pube-like" hair in my upper 1/3. it nested between my lense and wa. it was small and high enough to elude my VF, but on my monitor it was nothing but nasty. the project went from 4x3 to 16:9 toot sweet. you will not afford this kind of luxury shooting native 16x9.