Polarizing Filter

[jann1033]

promaster stuff is rebranded from other makers. ie they have a 17-50 f2.8 lens that is the tamron 17-50 f2. 8 so it depends on who/what it's rebranded from as to the quality..in the case of the lens right now it's a little more than the tamron but sometimes they are cheaper. some of their stuff is good but pretty much scoffed at by brand names, guess it depends on how sensitive you are or if you like to get a bargain and know your lens is the same lens someone is using for $100 more except for the name sticker... but $50 seems high for a promaster UV filter.

the thing is you need different sized filters for different lenses so keeping one might not do much good unless they all take the same size filter.

 

[WDWFigment]

For me, it depends on the cost of the lens, and the effect the UV filter will have. For instance, I don't see the point on my 50 f/1.8. That's like taking out an insurance policy on a pair of tennis shoes. The "insurance" will cost nearly as much as the replacement. I also don't use one on my UWA (I tried out a UV filter on it, and it caused vignetting, so I just use a hood). For the rest, I use multi-coated B+W filters. I haven't noticed a difference in image quality so far, but I also haven't scratched or broken the filters (not that I would like to do this, but it would at least justify using them), so I feel like it's basically a wash for me.

 

[ColleenG]

I think I like my DH's idea. Return the 2 filters and get the Canon 50mm lens!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

For normal use, I don't use filters. When I'm about to bash the front of my lens, I put them on. To protect the filter, I put a lens cap on top of it.

 

[Experiment_626]

I used to use them. In the last two or three years, I've started to take a whole lot of nighttime photos. At Disney, I started to notice images with offset, inverted reflections of anything with a light (specifically, the "Hollywood Tower Hotel" sign on Tower of Terror was the first such I saw). After I discovered this, I stopped using them. I didn't throw them away; I might still use them under certain circumstances, but in general, not so much.

SSB

 

[ColleenG]

Mark, you crack me up!

So I returned the 2 filters and exchanged them for a 50 mm f/1.8. What a fun lens! I can't wait to take a trip to WDW with it. And if the weather in the evening would cooperate I would love to go over to our local boardwalk to try some night shooting with it for practice. Of course the nights DH is home it rains and when he's working it's beautiful.

 

[ukcatfan]

Mark, you crack me up!

So I returned the 2 filters and exchanged them for a 50 mm f/1.8. What a fun lens! I can't wait to take a trip to WDW with it. And if the weather in the evening would cooperate I would love to go over to our local boardwalk to try some night shooting with it for practice. Of course the nights DH is home it rains and when he's working it's beautiful.

Sounds like you need to find a camera club

 

[ColleenG]

Sounds like you need to find a camera club

That would be fun! Is there a way to find out if there are any in my area?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

That would be fun! Is there a way to find out if there are any in my area?

http://www.njfcc.org/

Or go to a Photo Walk event this Saturday. There are five in New Jersey and only 1 has filled up. I'm sure the trip leaders could tell you more about local photography clubs.

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks Mark! I will check out the photo clubs. I knew about the photo walk from here on the Dis, but it is the same day as DS's birthday. I can't believe by baby will be 2!

 

[RBennett]

Ok, so I just passed a milestone with my company that I work for and as a gift they have agreed to give me $100 towards any one item or similar items. My problem is, I can't decide which I want to get. After seeing a lot of daytime long-exposure shots, I have decided that I either want the Topaz bundle for $150 or an ND-400 filter and perhaps another filter of somesort (to get up to the $100 mark.) Pros & Cons: I want the filter before my November trip (obviously) and I can always get Topaz when I get back. On the other hand, with Topaz I can get $100 towards it and it only cost me $50 and then by the filter on my own. Which one would everyone else get?

 

[boBQuincy]

Filter.

We can always get the software later and work on the images but we can't recapture them (unless we go on another WDW trip, which is not so bad an idea).

 

[ukcatfan]

Have you thought about the Cokin filter system? I like mine.

 

[RBennett]

Have you thought about the Cokin filter system? I like mine.

What all does that include and what's the details of it? I mean, is it hard to put on and off, and does it work with multiple lenses or just one size?

 

[GrillMouster]

How would Topaz help you with daytime long exposure shots?

 

[RBennett]

How would Topaz help you with daytime long exposure shots?

I wasn't really thinking of Topaz creating the same effect as the ND400, but rather just a different effect all together. But who knows...

 

[ukcatfan]

Check their site. It explains it better than I could
http://www.cokin.com/ico15-A.html
I have the P series.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I'm looking at buying a polarizing filter soon. I have a Canon 18-200mm lens ( needs 72mm filter) but am also planning on getting either a 28-70 or 28-105mm L series, which is 77mm. So I'm looking at a 77mm filter and getting an adapter for my 18-200.

What does slim vs extra wide mean? I'm looking to spend around $200 on this. Does anyone know about filters? I'm looking at B&W or Hoya but am afraid I know little about what's "good." Do you get flaring with these??

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Slim filters are skinnier. Wide ones stick out more. The advantages of wide filters are that they have threads on the front so you can stack another filter. You can also use a normal lens cap with them. With a slim filter, you don't have threads and you usually can't use a lens cap (except those slide on ones that slide off as soon as you aren't looking).

The advantage of a slim filter is that wide ones sometimes cause vignetting (darkening of the corners and edges), especially on wide angle lenses.

B+W filters are generally very good. Hoya has several different lines, from cheap stuff that is OK to expensive stuff that is also very good. Singh-Ray also makes very good filters.

All filters increase the chance of flare and reflecting lights in the picture. Better filters are less prone to flare than cheaper filters. Better filters are also more color neutral. Also, better filters use better metals for their threads and are less likely to seize up on your lens.

 

[boBQuincy]

Wide polarizers are much easier to adjust with a lens hood on. Using a larger filter with an adapter may make it impossible to use a lens hood although the hood for a 18-200 is of questionable value (but still good for protection). Changing filters only adds to the time and effort it takes to change lenses so I am planning to get filters for each lens, even ones that take the same size filters.

Vignetting is usually not a problem on APS-C cameras but it is still something to watch for, especially when stacking filters. I have not noticed a problem with the 77mm filters on my 10-22.

The word "Digital" in the filter description is marketing hype although some of the better filters now include that word just to help sales. Multicoated is better for reducing flare.