Home Forums Gear Photography Really good filters??????? Who???

Any suggestions folks?

As a follow up birthday present, I picked up some Hoya clear filters (77 and 72 mm) for the wife to add to her Canon 28-135 and 100-400mm. We installed those and mindlessly went out on a birding run. Not a single image taken with the 100-400 was worth a sh-t. We did not use the other lens. I took a series of shots this mornning with and without filters of a distant sign, and figured out those filters are about halving the len's potential resolution.

We really don't want to run around with that kind of lens unprotected. Any suggestions???? 1Minute

I basically have stuck with factory Nikon filters for my lens'. Have never had a problem.

Jeff

I use B&W MRC F-Pro filters on my all my lenses and they work well. They are more expensive but there is no sense cheaping out on a filter for the front of an expensive lens.

Heliopan.

The 100-400 is an L lens. It is weather sealed from the factory so there is no need to "protect" the lens. Sticking another piece of glass on the end is counter productive unless it has a specific purpose like a UV filter or a CPL. I stick with either B+W or Heliopan filters. The Heliopan CPL's are usually marked on the ring so they might be a titch easier to use for some initially. Hoya's are good filters as well but a bit more difficult to clean.
If you were referring to the idea that keeping a filter on the end of the lens will protect it if you drop it etc remember that your odds are about 50/50 that the filter can cause as much damage as it can prevent.
Take the filters off unless you need them for a shot. Use your lens and enjoy it.

The wife says I got a package in the mail, should be a B + W 77mm Kaesemann Circular Polarizer Coated Glass Filter. Now I just gotta figure out how to use it.

You will love it! i have the same one but in the slim design.

Sweet! The Kaesemann's are sealed IIR. To use it point your camera at the sky 90 degrees from the sun and look through the viewfinder. Stick yer finger inside the hood (or adjust your filter before you put the hood on)and spin it until you see the sky darken. You can do that each time or take a dot of lure paint and just mark the edge of the filter where the change is.

I use these as well. No point in going cheap on a premium lens.

Thanks for the instructions Stetson!

I'm sure you will be happy with that filter and you got a great new lens to go with it!

Maerz is correct but also learn to play with the filter to inhance colors,take out reflections and to darken the skies. B+W is great and the thinner for wide angle lenses. Circular is needed for auto focus.
bill, JMJ