Filters

[My2Girls66]

http://www.amazon.com/Tiffen-fp6-Filter-Wallet-Filters/dp/B00009UTCD

 

[boBQuincy]

Another option is the nice round embroidered pouches sold at the gift shop near Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom. They can hold up to two 77mm filters each.

 

[jann1033]

i have a filter wallet that has slots for 3 although i could put more than one in a slot. it fits on my tamrac case strap but probably would fit on any case strap, it's padded, not hard http://www.tamrac.com/welcome.htm i know dodd camera carries them.

 

[kyak]

Thanks for the advice! I'm weary of the wallets because they appear to be mesh and there's no microfiber or cloth protecting the filters on both sides, but I guess I should make my decision by tomorrow so what I order will be here in time!

 

[jann1033]

Thanks for the advice! I'm weary of the wallets because they appear to be mesh and there's no microfiber or cloth protecting the filters on both sides, but I guess I should make my decision by tomorrow so what I order will be here in time!

the tamrac strap one has complete padded kind of nubbyish cloth/nylon slots between each filter slot just like the inside of the case.( not like the memory card wallets they have pictured although i am guessing those have a plastic lining like the card holders on my case) the slots in that one are large enough to hold a filter with a step up ring attached. i could easily fit 2 filters in each pocket( wrap each in a lens tissue ) but since i only usually carry my cps no need. the larger filter wallet i have( was cheap, off someplace online for like $10) has pockets of mesh but folds up ( like a business letter) and i've never had anything get dusty in the 3 or so yrs i have had it. the outside of that one is nylon( looks like an envelope from the outside when it is folded up. the only thing i don't like about that one is it's big, doesn't really fit in my bag when i have the bag sectioned off for lenses

 

[boBQuincy]

To be honest, the best thig is probably to store 4 or 5 of them at home and only take the one ior two that you really need. Except for a polarizer and neutral density (and even that is mostly for special effects) most filters are not necessary with digital, filtering is more easily and more effectively done on a computer.

 

[Groucho]

I have the same wallet (I think) as Jann, it was pretty stuffed last trip and I think it was smearing my new 77mm CP. As least, I assume that it was the filter, as I'd take it out, use a glass-cleaning spray and my microfiber cloth and get it all clean, use it, put it away, then find it smeary again next time. I did have it overstuffed (>3 filters) but was still a little bummed and tended to rarely use the CP. I haven't used it enough since then to say that it definitely was the filter wallet, but I have my suspicions.

I did not notice this issue on previous trips with smaller filters, FWIW.

 

[ukcatfan]

I recently invested in the Cokin filter system. While picking up some things I needed for it at Adorama, I found a Red/Blue polarizing filter on clearance for about 75% off so I bought it. Here are a few shots I took playing with it. I think it will be fun to use on water.

 

[RBennett]

Those are AWESOME dude!! Can you give me the specifics on your filter system and everything? I have a anniversary gift from work coming to me that I get to pick out!

 

[ukcatfan]

Here is the actual filter
http://www.adorama.com/CKP171.html

The holder
http://www.adorama.com/CKBPP.html

Various adapter rings
http://www.adorama.com/CK52P.html
http://www.adorama.com/CK55P.html
http://www.adorama.com/CK58P.html

I bought into the system to get a graduated ND filter, but also picked up a three stop regular ND filter.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Those pics are amazing... I am going to look into getting a filter soon...

 

[jann1033]

kind of like looking at the world through rose colored glasses i like the blue and pink effect. you probably would have hard time doing that in photoshop, well at least i would have a hard time doing that in photoshop

 

[JoeDif]

Those are some pretty cool effects

 

[TheGoofster]

Is anybody familiar with these?

I enjoy trying to shoot macro / close up shots, but I don't think I'll be able to get a good macro lens anytime in the near future. How effective is a diopter lens?
I came across a set of these lenses (+1, +2, +4, and +10 for the Nikon D3000) on amazon for under 20 dollars. Would you recommend for or against something like this?

Any comments / info would be great.

thanks

 

[boBQuincy]

Most of the diopter "filters" have lots of aberrations, typical of a single element. This may be acceptable but if it is not then Canon's 500D and 250D close-up lenses are doublets and have much better performance (at a much higher price). I have a 500D and can confirm that it is very good.

Here is an example of a 500D with a Canon 70-200:

 

[MarkBarbieri]

My advice is to buy a cheap set of diopter filters. Play with them for a while. See if you like shooting macro.

If you really get into macro, buy a dedicated macro lens (or a few). If you enjoy it, but don't want to spend that much money, then buy a good set of close-up filters or some extension tubes. As far as I know, only Canon makes really good close-up filters (the 500D and 250D that Bob mentioned). The filters screw onto the lens, so they are system agnostic. I've seen several Nikon guys using the Canon filters.

As Bob said, the cheap filters aren't that good optically. Still, they are good enough to play with and to get a sense for whether you really want to get into macro. I'd start cheap unless you are sure that it is what you want to do.

 

[jann1033]

since money is usually always an object with me, i originally went the cheap extension tube and/or filter route and found it very frustrating. like to much of a pain to even bother with

next i bought a very good but not fantastic macro lens for around the same price as good af extension tubes and enjoy using it much more...main problem is it is sharp but is 1:2 rather than 1:1 unless you add the filter which i still find frustrating. it limits the focus distance so much it's really annoying so i usually use it 1:2 and crop. wish i had saved the money wasted on the cheap filters and non af extension tubes and just applied it to something less frustrating.. eventualy i'll replace it for a canon but really don't have to as much as want to so i can save up and not feel like i can never take a macro shot till then.

the particular lens i have is a phoenix 100mm f3.5 macro 1:2 with a 1:1 filter included and was marketed under vivitar, phoenix and one or 2 other brands i can't remember. it is no longer sold by phoenix nor i think vivitar but since it was only around 100-150+ new, you might be able to find a used one really cheap. it has a 5 yr warranty so it's almost sinful how low a price it is but not sure how the warranty would work with a resold one. omega sater is the new distributor for phoenix and has a macro lens for around 200+ but no idea how good it is

 

[TheGoofster]

Thanks guys.

I'll probably go ahead an order the set (since it is so inexpensive) and give it a try.

 

[xipetotec]

has anyone used inexpensive screw-on close-up filters?
What kind of results have you gotten?

I've only got the kit lens ( 18-55mm ) and a 85-300mm that came with my Canon XTi kit as well. Neither of these allows me to get REALLY up close a subject. ( the 18-55 is 1.4ft I believe ) and I don't have the dough to invest for a 400-600$ lens to get real close-up macro shots.

I know these screw-ons can't possibly work as well as a good quality macro lense, but has anyone found them to be at least half decent?

 

[KarenAylwood]

I love macro photography so I went with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, but yes- it was $500. After I got the lens I bought Bryan Peterson's Understanding Close-Up Photography. In it, he raves about the Canon 500D close up filter (and he's a Nikon photographer!). I'd look into that- it has pretty good reviews on B&H.