Do you guys use the hood when shooting through a fence? Would that few inches make a difference in the blur/elimination of the fence or is it more about safety & not scratching the filter/lens?

Thanks
Lori

Lori,

It does make a difference, but that's relative to the distance at which your subject is.

I normally put my fingers right on the edge of the lens, and use that as a "buffer" against the chain links to keep any bouncing of the fence from messing up my glass.

You could just get a cheap filter if you're scared about scratching up a nice B+W or Heliopan. Honestly, the difference between a good filter and a great one is probably too minimal to notice for the average shooter. And remember, you're already shooting through a fence.

Max

I do the same - just keep my fingers as a buffer between the lens and fence.
1st baseball was earlier this week....new stadium an fields....they decided to install a blue tarp on the backstop fence so no longer able to shoot thru

Michael

It will work fine either way. Where the fence pattern will show up a bit is in the blurred highlights in the distant background. So things like hot spots on the surface of cars over the outfield fence that get bokehed out will show the fence pattern. Other than that, you'll get some minor distortions in the normal areas of the BG... too minor for any customers to notice.

One thing to be conscious of besides the front element though... the AF might hunt a bit more depending on the location of the sun and how tight your lens is against the fence. If you are behind home and have to rock side to side for plays at first and third, the AF will hunt a bit more.

Max, Michael, Kirk & Paul,
Do you guys actually use filters or do you think filters block out a certain stop of light further slowing down the lens.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this. For the first time I took my filters off last night and didn't notice a significant amount of increase of SS but then again the uniforms were both navy blue (Bronco Braves vs Red Sox). Even at ISO 3200 I wasn't getting much past 1/200.

Thanks, Ayden

I do not use filters except when traveling. I like them as screw on caps, because once in a while during travel the standard plastic caps fall off, and they could jostle around and scratch up the front element. With a cheapo filter on, that doesnt happen.

Max

Thanks for the reply Max, is there are reason why you don't use filters when shooting versus travelling? Sorry for not being specific and I apologize if such a question should be in a different forum.
Regards, Ayden

I do not use any filters either - I often consider using one in cycling when I have a change to get mud splattered, but just haven't pulled the plug to buy any.

I think using filters you have the added chance of sun flairs...and I often like shooting into the sun using flash for certain sports. I am always using my lens hoods which offer the protection I need...you will often here that there is no sence in adding a cheap filters glass infront of your expensive lens glass.

Michael

When I shoot thru a fence, such as the backstop on a baseball diamond, I still use the lens hood. It has not made a significant difference in my images so I would rather have the additional protection.

Here's a repost of a shot from earlier this week that shows the phenomenon Paul was speaking of - see the fence pattern in the reflections off the bat?

When I watched the Washington Post video posted last week I observed the photog kept her hoods on shooting through the fence, I noticed she was shooting the 70-200/2.8 and either a 300 or 400/2.8 lens through the fence as well, which blew me away as the glass is so huge and I had not previously conceived a pro would consider that (see how green I am?).

The one thing that I could not tell is whether or not she was using a filter which is why I thought it was ok to ask here.

I used my 80-200/2.8 behind the fence b/w home and first, and home and third and got some really nice results and close ups. The images and crops were sharper and more detailed even at ISO 3200.

When I get home from work tonight, I'll be putting my filters back on for protection.

Thank you everyone for your input and thoughts on shooting behind the fence and your advice on the use of filters.

Ayden

I shoot through a tightly spaced black nylon fence at Thursday's game. The fence didn't show up as long as I shot at 150-200mm on my 70-200 f/2.8. I used the hood. I was very suprised that the fence didn't show up since it was tighter than a chain link fence.

At longer focal lengths, and wider apertures, the biggest issue with shooting through a fence or low-density web is sometimes a decrease in image contrast, which can mostly be recovered in post processing. However, when the fence or web is in direct sunshine (and especially when it's brighter than the field) this can lead to AF problems with the fence or web being much more prevalent.

In Milwaukee at Miller Park (home field for the Brewers), the photo wells actually have a black webbing strung between the railing and the field level, stretched across the far half of the pit. Down first base, for example, shooting a day game, you pretty much can't see the web until late in the game when the sun light streams through the "windows" behind first base, and then the netting is lit brighter than the field, and this usually is a good time to move to the third base photo well, or try to shoot through the open half of the railing (the same "hole" the TV guys shoot though).

Ayden,

I don't use a filter because I don't really feel I need one. It's rare I am in a situation where damage to my lens will be prevented by a filter. Most situations that would cause problems for me would be getting hit by a linebacker/center/sweeper/baseball

I'm sure some people will say that a filter has saved their glass, and it has, but I'd rather spend the money on lenses than filters. I'll pay for fixes as needed (and knock on wood, I haven't had much issue with my gear)

Another thought: I live in Phoenix. There is no weather here except mind numbing heat. So I don't worry about fungus, humidity, etc, when it comes to my gear. Dust is about it as far as worst enemies, and that's mostly a sensor issue.

Max

Kelly Phillips wrote:
I shoot through a tightly spaced black nylon fence at Thursday's game. The fence didn't show up as long as I shot at 150-200mm on my 70-200 f/2.8. I used the hood. I was very suprised that the fence didn't show up since it was tighter than a chain link fence.

I have had a similar experience shooting indoor softball thru black nylon netting. I was amazed that it did not show up considering the low light levels and the very small spacing of the holes in the net.

Thanks for your input.
I have noticed the lack of contrast at times around the edges that PP has fixed.
I've done with hood and without. Sometimes on dusty windy days I am more likely to use the hood.

One thing I do like late in a game when my arms are tired is that the hood can bear some weight hanging on the fence in one of the recessed notches. It occasionally slows me down in moving for a quick play but if I am isolating on one player or something no worries.

The other thing to be mindful of when shooting through the fence is your angle. You'll get the least effect on contrast (and therefore on AF performance as well) if your lens is perpendicular to the fence. As you pan and go to a more acute angle, the effect on contrast goes up markedly.

Dennis that's really interesting with the fence reflection. I've frequently seen that same effect in specular highlights off car bumpers behind a fence a hundred yards or so away.

Nill
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