Nikon's NC filters are the gold standard and they are built to Nikon 'spec' and allow use with lens caps (not all do) but any good quality clear/protective filter will not have a noticeable impact on sharpness. Getting one that is properly multicoated is important. Beyond that you're unlikely to notice any difference.
I've heard that Hoya makes Nikon's filters, but I've never been able to verify that. I like to buy different ones sometimes just to try something new and see if I can tell any difference. Just make sure whatever you're buying is using actual optical glass and is multicoated (both sides).
I have both. Both are good. With some cheaper filters getting them to screw on the lens is sometimes a challenge, but never with Nikon or Breakthrough.
Norm Shapiro wrote:
I have both. Both are good. With some cheaper filters getting them to screw on the lens is sometimes a challenge, but never with Nikon or Breakthrough.
Here is an easy trick. Put the filter on the lens and, while pressing downward, turn the filter COUNTER CLOCKWISE. When you feel a slight "snap" begin screwing the filter on. I learned this years ago from a photo class for beginners.
runamuck wrote:
Here is an easy trick. Put the filter on the lens and, while pressing downward, turn the filter COUNTER CLOCKWISE. When you feel a slight "snap" begin screwing the filter on. I learned this years ago from a photo class for beginners.
This is a trick for literally anything that screws on
Do people not do this all time with things like bottle lids, thumb screws, etc?
RobDMB wrote:
Is an aluminum mount a big negative?
No. I've been using Nikon's NC filters for years and years and have never had a single problem with threads sticking, binding, or anything like that across dozens of different lenses. They haven't been any different than my brass ringed filters in that regard. If you bought a really cheap filter you might notice something, but Nikon's NCs are very well made (for a filter anyway).
