Filters ?

[paul_y3k]

Guys,
Im' off to Spain next week, and will be taking the camera ( EOS 40D).
I've only got the two kit lenses that came with the camera a Tamron 75/300 and the Cannon EFS 18-55mm. I've only had it a while and just be playing with it and having fun.
From reading the threads here , it seems good advice to pull a filter onto the end of the lenses.
Can someone educate me as to why and what I'd need. (cheap is good !)

[john185k]

What kind of photography are you going to be taking?

A polarizer would be good (58mm thread?) to help give an extra punch in the bright conditions.

Possibly a cheap cokin ND grad filter system also?

[RobDickinson]

I dont bother with rotection filters (98% of the time), and one thats OK will cost half the 18-55 replacement value.


I do use polarisers, ND and ND grads though. Cokin P (and knockoff) is a good way in.

[dibbly dobbler]

I'd definitely go for a polariser - gives a far better sky if you are doing landscapes etc.

I've got the Cokin kit which involves a fitting to the front of the camera to which you can attach various filters (Polariser, Neuteral Density, Graduated etc) It works well if a bit of a faff at times. Probably only worth going that way if you're going to use a variety of different filters - if it's only a polariser you want then just get one that screws directly to the front of the camera

[pmanson]

I've got the sames lens.

The canon lens is 58mm and the Tamron is 62mm.

I purchased a couple of Jessops polarising filters from ebay - much cheaper than buying in the shop

[cjm]

I was in jessops the other day having a nosy at the Canon 450D twin lens kit and the sales girl was say I needed filters to protect the lens? Are these really needed, and what sort of protection do they give?

Do I not just need the camera kit, a memory card and a dummies guide to the 450D, then its time to go play and learn how to use a DSLR?

Edited by cjm on Friday 6th August 13:20

[dibbly dobbler]

cjm said:

I was in jessops the other day have a nosy at the Canon 450D twin lens kit and the sales girl was say I needed filters to protect the lens? Are these really needed, and what sort of protection do they give?

Do I not just need the camera kit, a memory card and a dummies guide to the 450D, then its time to go play and learn how to use a DSLR?

Some people use a UV filter which physically protects the lens from damage but doesn't do a lot else. A lot of photographers don't use them however as they can collect dust and aren't really necessary. Just be careful and you'll be fine.

So in summary - yes just buy the kit and a memory card and go play

[XG332]

cjm said:

I was in jessops the other day have a nosy at the Canon 450D twin lens kit and the sales girl was say I needed filters to protect the lens? Are these really needed, and what sort of protection do they give?

Do I not just need the camera kit, a memory card and a dummies guide to the 450D, then its time to go play and learn how to use a DSLR?

We "reccomend" them as they stop accidental scratches on the lens glass.

[ian in lancs]

They recommend them (and memory cards) as they make big money out of them! Cameras have negligable margins but accessories they're huge. Get them of the 'net - much cheaper.

[paul_y3k]

chhers for the replies guys.
Photgraphy is just the usual landscape / hols pics and hopefully a few off the boats / fishing fleets when they come in.
I think I need a polarising filter for the smaller lens ?

[ian in lancs]

XG332 said:

cjm said:

I was in jessops the other day have a nosy at the Canon 450D twin lens kit and the sales girl was say I needed filters to protect the lens? Are these really needed, and what sort of protection do they give?

Do I not just need the camera kit, a memory card and a dummies guide to the 450D, then its time to go play and learn how to use a DSLR?

We "reccomend" them as they stop accidental scratches on the lens glass.

but they contibute to flare and degrade the image quality. I never use them on the lenses I have and neither do a lot of pro's and pro/ams I know.

[ian in lancs]

paul_y3k said:

chhers for the replies guys.
Photgraphy is just the usual landscape / hols pics and hopefully a few off the boats / fishing fleets when they come in.
I think I need a polarising filter for the smaller lens ?

Polariser is the one useful flter that can't be recreated in photoshop. Personally i buy the larger one and hold in front of the smaller lens. That way you cover both lenses. I have Hoya Pro-1 Circular polariser (actually 4 but anyway...)

[XG332]

ian in lancs said:

XG332 said:

cjm said:

I was in jessops the other day have a nosy at the Canon 450D twin lens kit and the sales girl was say I needed filters to protect the lens? Are these really needed, and what sort of protection do they give?

Do I not just need the camera kit, a memory card and a dummies guide to the 450D, then its time to go play and learn how to use a DSLR?

We "reccomend" them as they stop accidental scratches on the lens glass.

but they contibute to flare and degrade the image quality. I never use them on the lenses I have and neither do a lot of pro's and pro/ams I know.

Your average first time SLR buyer doesnt know that, and as stated before, the cameras have small profit margins so the add-ons are pushed.

Edited by XG332 on Friday 6th August 17:21

[Thunderace]

I have a Hoya Pro1 protection filter fitted to all my lenses, mainly Canon L Series. The only one that doesn't have one is a Sigma 12-24 as it doesn't take a front filter.

I'm much more comfortable knowing that the front element is protected against scratches and am happier cleaning a £30-40 filter than the front element of a £1500 lens, cheaper to replace the filter if it does get damaged too.

I've never noticed any image degradation or additional flare.

The other filters that get regular use are a polariser and a slection of graduates.

[ian in lancs]

Thunderace said:

I have a Hoya Pro1 protection filter fitted to all my lenses, mainly Canon L Series. The only one that doesn't have one is a Sigma 12-24 as it doesn't take a front filter.

I'm much more comfortable knowing that the front element is protected against scratches and am happier cleaning a £30-40 filter than the front element of a £1500 lens, cheaper to replace the filter if it does get damaged too.

I've never noticed any image degradation or additional flare.

The other filters that get regular use are a polariser and a slection of graduates.

Hoya Pro-1's are good and that's what I have and sometimes use when conditions dictate but any glass will degrade image and Canon in your case or Nikon et al have perfected a set of elements in the £1500 lenses we have and then we stick a cheap glass element in front of it (is it perfectly flat, square, evenly coated etc?). With top end cameras and lenses it does make a difference. I prefer to use the hood as protection and other than hols they are used in studio's.

[ruaricoles]

ian in lancs said:

I prefer to use the hood as protection

Me too - you've got to be pretty unfortunate to knock the lens when you've got a hood fitted (unless it's some wide angle thingy where the hood is only a few mm deep....) And any dust can be cleaned off the front easily enough whether you have a filter on or not.

Ruari