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Lens Filter Question

gmccroskery
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Lens Filter Question

I know this question gets beat to death, but I am curious as to people's thoughts on using, or not using a protective lens filter.

The reason I ask, is that I have always been a dedicated filter user, but I did some in-studio testing with my Olympus 100-400mm and a couple different filters, and was a bit surprised by the results. The testing included shooting on a tripod, indoors, using a wireless remote -- with the lens at full zoom (Since my main concern is bird feather detail).

I had been using a 'Pro Master' 72mm HGX Protection filter on that lens, but came to realize after some testing that it was degrading fine detail quite a bit, compared to shooting without it.
Then I tested the lens with a B+W XS-Pro UV MRC nano filter, and even though there is a huge improvement over the Pro Master, there is still a very noticeable difference in fine detail without any filter at all.
I'm seriously thinking of ditching filters all together, except in situations where conditions would call for protection of my front element.
Thoughts

Greg

Aug 23, 2024 at 10:50 AM

sjms
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Lens Filter Question

feel free to do so. i shoot in varied environments and i have had my filters on all the time. no visible losses.

now the only real losses here are because of reduction in size of said images. on this site its over 50%

Edited on Aug 23, 2024 at 12:44 PM · View previous versions

Aug 23, 2024 at 11:02 AM

jwpstl
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Lens Filter Question

In sand or near the sea I might use one, otherwise, no.

Aug 23, 2024 at 11:03 AM

gmccroskery
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Lens Filter Question

sjms wrote:
feel free to do so. i shoot in varied environments and i have had my filters on all the time. no visible losses.

now the only real losses here are because of reduction in size of said images. on this site its over 50%

Thanks for the response. My quandary relates to my telephoto, not my wider angle lenses -- as I love bird photography, and fine detail is critical.

Greg

Aug 23, 2024 at 02:59 PM

gregfountain
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Lens Filter Question

Visible or not, I simply go by the idea that we spend a lot of money on quality glass, so why put an inferior piece of glass up front? That said, when needed, an ND or CP filter comes in handy at times, so I have those for the lenses I would use in those situations - usually WA.

Aug 23, 2024 at 03:11 PM

sjms
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Lens Filter Question

gmccroskery wrote:
Thanks for the response. My quandary relates to my telephoto, not my wider angle lenses -- as I love bird photography, and fine detail is critical.

Greg

it should make no difference. i like detail too and I'm compensated to produce good clear images.

Edited on Aug 24, 2024 at 02:41 AM · View previous versions

Aug 23, 2024 at 03:26 PM

sjms
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Lens Filter Question

gregfountain wrote:
Visible or not, I simply go by the idea that we spend a lot of money on quality glass, so why put an inferior piece of glass up front? That said, when needed, an ND or CP filter comes in handy at times, so I have those for the lenses I would use in those situations - usually WA.

i simply don't put inferior glass on mine.

Aug 23, 2024 at 03:27 PM

gregfountain
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Lens Filter Question

sjms wrote:
i simply don't put inferior glass on mine.

Glad to hear that. My comment is just my opinion on protective lens filters. I don't purport to be an expert. Thanks.

Aug 23, 2024 at 04:28 PM

sjms
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Lens Filter Question

gregfountain wrote:
Glad to hear that. My comment is just my opinion on protective lens filters. I don't purport to be an expert. Thanks.

everyone has an opinion. both of ours are equally "valid". the hardware we use are tools of creativity. I've been a contract shooter for a very long time and still have much to learn

this particular issue comes up a few times a year and it ends up nowhere. mine are on because i rarely know what i'm doing next and where i'm going to do it. this fall looks to be a repeat performance of the past years. just with a little perspective change.

Aug 23, 2024 at 04:59 PM

sjms
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Lens Filter Question

i think you can see there is somewhat of a level of constancy in my shots. my post work is minimal too. different times and different places. may or may not be to all tastes.

Aug 24, 2024 at 07:57 AM

chez
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Lens Filter Question

Filters will exaggerate any flare in the image. I see this using high quality polarizers or ND filters when shooting into the sun. So I typically only use a filter when required, either for its affect ( polarizer or ND ) or for environment conditions, blowing sand and salt at the seaside.

Aug 24, 2024 at 10:48 AM

sjms
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Lens Filter Question

the operative word should be possibly "can". like i said another opinion. i guess i managed to work around that so far.

Aug 24, 2024 at 12:40 PM

Abbott Schindl
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Lens Filter Question

I stopped using protective filters on my lenses more than a decade ago with no ill effects. The reason I stopped was that I read a number of reports of B&W and other filters impacting AF on some telephoto lenses. Sure enough, when I removed the filter from my EF 100-400 (II), AF worked noticeably better under some conditions. Now the only times I use a filter are when one's functionally needed (CPL, ND, etc.) and when the environment might damage a lens (blowing dust, desert, seashore, rain).

BTW: I learned the hard way that "protective" filters don't always work. Once I dropped a heavy camera and the "protective" filter broke and scratched the front element of the lens ($$$ to repair). Another time, another lens was damaged similarly. OTOH, I've never scratched or damaged a lens without a filter. Just another opinion and experiences...

Aug 24, 2024 at 04:02 PM

chez
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Lens Filter Question

sjms wrote:
the operative word should be possibly "can". like i said another opinion. i guess i managed to work around that so far.

Sorry, but filters causing more flare in not an opinion…but a fact. Many tests have proven this out. Of course one needs to shoot under conditions where flare can arise…needs a bright light source within the frame.

Aug 24, 2024 at 04:38 PM

sjms
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Lens Filter Question

i'm sorry but show me. i guess i'm just lucky that way.

Aug 24, 2024 at 05:24 PM

Abbott Schindl
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Lens Filter Question

sjms wrote:
i'm sorry but show me. i guess i'm just lucky that way.

Years ago I saw a great example, I think on DPReview. The poster's image had definite and easily seen flare and ghosting caused by brightly colored neon lights (as in "window signs") that vanished when he shot the same scene after removing the filter. I'd bet there are other examples if you search hard enough. As for me, I'm satisfied that a) a B+W UV filter impacted the AF performance of my EF 100-400L (II) at longer FLs, and that I've encountered flare at times with a UV filter installed.

But heck; if you're happy with what you're doing (as you obviously are), then by all means keep up the good work

Aug 24, 2024 at 06:13 PM

sjms
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Lens Filter Question

well, the only place i should really need to search should be my images as they have all been taken with a multicoated clear/UV filter on at all times. i guess i'll just keep on going down the road until i get less lucky.

Aug 24, 2024 at 06:37 PM

chez
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Lens Filter Question

sjms wrote:
i'm sorry but show me. i guess i'm just lucky that way.

You are a big enough boy to find your own examples all over the net…if you truly were interested looking further. But I’m under the impression you have no interest in researching the negatives effects of filters.

Aug 24, 2024 at 07:04 PM

sjms
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Lens Filter Question

you are correct I'm not looking for what went wrong I'm just glad I'm doing right.

NIKON Z 9 NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens 79mm 1/640s 64 ISO

Aug 24, 2024 at 07:17 PM

hiepphotog
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Lens Filter Question

Are you sure the Clear/UV filters affect the details clearly? Not my case so far. As for the need to have one on or not, up to each individual. Replacing a scratched-up filter is much cheaper than a front lens element. Not that one would easily scratch these, but it does accumulate. In the case of falling, it really depends on a lot of factors, but I do not think a front filter would help a lot.

Aug 24, 2024 at 09:31 PM

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