Filter help please

[bago100]

Just received this message from filtershop.com.au

Unfortunatly your 67mm UV HMC Super filter did not arrive today, and will not be in until the New Year. However there are alternatives which are available.
These include :
Praktica Multi Coated UV 67mm filter $56.00
B+W MultiCoated Resist (MRC) UV filter $87.00

I have never used a filter, much less know anything about them. Just trying to buy a decent filter for general use and to protect the kit lens.

Any gentle advice from members would be appreciated

Thanks

Graham

[gstark]

Graham,

There's also a Nikon filter available too, but I'd probably go for the Practica; it should be fine.

Out of curiosity, what brands do your local camera stores sell, and at what costs?

[bago100]

Thanks Gary

I went to Teds and Camera House in Brisbane City and neither of them had a 67 mm UV filter of any brand in stock.

Both gave an excuse and said that they can backorder but neither bothered to get a catalogue out and talk about options, brands and prices.

Neither store was busy at the time so I kind of figured that buying a filter is kind of insignificant to them and a lowly sale in the order of things.

That's why I'm Internet shopping.

Cheers

Graham

[gstark]

That tells us quite a bit about those stores' priorities, doesn't it?

And sadly, customer satisfaction isn't too high amongst them.

[Matt. K]

Bago
Go to any cash convertors store and they usually have boxes of old filters. If you can find a UV or SKYLIGHT filter without any scratches on it then you should get it for about $6.

[fozzie]

Bago,

I buy my filters (B&W) Made in Germany from the following site:

http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/

Sometimes they are in stock, or go onto back order. Cost quoted is inclusive of AP - 'Express Post' anywhere in Australia. In the past I have also received a free $10 voucher for my next purchase. You may want to consider this option.


Cheers,

[fozzie]

Bago,

My revious post had some incorrect information - sorry, but it came back to me while at lunch, when I do my best thinking, food for the brain. To get the $10.00 voucher I purchased the following package:

For just AU$29.95 You get the following:

67 page B+W Filter Handbook. 67 pages over 100 colour photos. 21x30cm

Micro fibre lens cleaning cloth, valued at AU$9.95

Bonus coupon to the valued at AU$10.00

For infomation on this refer to:

http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/B+W%20Filters.htm

I found the B+W filter glossary handbook very informative, colour pictures with examples and what filters used.

I use a combination of UV to protect lenses, and Multi Resist Coating (MRC) Neutral Density 102 factor x 4 for shooting.

Cheers,

[PlatinumWeaver]

I found the B+W filter glossary handbook...

... colour pictures...

Doesn't B+W mean Black and White? Why would you need colour pictures then?

[birddog114]

I found the B+W filter glossary handbook...

... colour pictures...

Doesn't B+W mean Black and White? Why would you need colour pictures then?

Hey guy!

B&W is one of the German' s brand name, they manufacture filter based on Schott Glass materials, but you can call the " Black and White Scoth" with the two cats one in black and one in white

[gooseberry]

Hi Bago100,

I've never heard of the Praktica, but can say that the B+W MRC filter is very good.

Be careful of the cheap UV filters around ($20 or so) as some of them are quite thick and can cause vignetting on the kit lens at the wider end.

[birddog114]

Hi All,
I posted this link before in our forum, today I post it again:

http://www.2filter.com/prices/packages02.html

go for the 67mm package with 2 filter (HOYA HMC UV + CP)for US$49.30 = AU$66.62 with today rate.

Email to: filter4@mindspring.com

[MHD]

Thats good!!
I might have to order my 62 stuff though them! (for the 70-300G)

[birddog114]

MHD,
Hang on!
I might talk to them to see what can they do for me in bulk.
I might order 10 kits from them for members at discount price, we have an account with them.
Is anyone interested?

[PlatinumWeaver]

What are the filters again? In full-word format.. i'm still not great with abbreviations..

[MHD]

YEP! If its about the same price as the 67's I would happily get the same kit in 62mm (ie CPL and UV)

Bago:
Pol filter: A filter that only admits a particular polarisation of light, great for darkening blue skies and removing glary relfections
http://potofgrass.ath.cx/index.php?modu ... d=2&meid=5
UV: all this is a peice of glass (with some reflection retarding coatings on it) This protects the lens from fingerprints etc...

I really needed one when taking my comp winning pic... I got home and my lens was coverd in salt spray!

[PlatinumWeaver]

I would get this pack, but I have a skylight filter for my kit lens already, my 70-300 is 62mm and the next lens I'll be getting is 77mm..

Sorry

[Kristine]

I would be interested in this also. I currently have the following lenses:

18-70
50 @1.8
70-300

(Fingers crossed my husband still gets me the 70-200VR for my 30th birthday - he thinks I have already spent enough lately!).

So whatever is the best solution (one for each lense?). I am also interested in close up filters as well.

Cheers
Kristine

[birddog114]

With filter kits
I need the sum up of how many kits and what size? which people want to order?
I'll talk to them at mid-night tonight to see how much they can do for me? then I'll pass them to all you members.

[MHD]

1x62mm kit

[fozzie]

Birddog,

When do you sleep, one night at work until 2am, ringing USA at midnight. Your are a better man than I. BTW: I am OK for filters. For the time being anyway, I have a back order with mainphoto.com.au for B+W ND.


Cheers


Weather in Adelaide today is fine and warm 27C, and tomorrow 30C before a change.

[bago100]

Hi All,
I posted this link before in our forum, today I post it again:

http://www.2filter.com/prices/packages02.html

go for the 67mm package with 2 filter (HOYA HMC UV + CP)for US$49.30 = AU$66.62 with today rate.

Email to: filter4@mindspring.com

Hi Birddog

If you do talk to them tonight, I'll happily put my name down for a 67mm pack for the kit lens. But if you do not have enough interest from D70 members for your proposed bulk order, please do not feel obliged to contact them on my behalf. I can always order them myself now that you have revealed the link.

Cheers

Graham

[bago100]

Also a huge thanks to:

Gary
Matt
Fozzie
Gooseberry
MHD
Birddog

for responding with advice and discussion

Handy hint about Cash Converters Matt. I'll never walk past one again without popping in for a bo peep!

Cheers all

Thanks

Graham

[Mj]

OK... this topic is of particular interest to me... and providing some level of confusion ... given most of us would have several lens with different thread sizes, why would we not all use the cokin filter system???
Surely this makes good economic sense... but perhaps I'm missing something???

Please explain...

Michael

[bago100]

Michael
Essentially, what is the Cokin filter system?
Thanks
Graham

[Matt. K]

Bago
Before you get yourself in a tizz about filters...consider this....If you rarely do landscape photography then you do not need a filter! I have been using a Hassellblad with $18000 worth of lenses for the past 15 years and none of the lenses had a filter on them! A UV filter blocks the hazey light in the distance and makes your landscapes a littler clearer...but I like the effect that I get without a filter. This effect, academically called aerial, or atmospheric perspective, is something I try and get because it makes my pics look better. Not worse. (If you take aerial pics for military purposes then you need the filter). If you use your camera for general knockabout photography then you can forget the filter. The fact is...any pic taken without a filter on the lens will be sharper and have more contrast than one with a filter. You lose quality with a filter because every new glass/air layer is destructive of resolution...no matter how expensive the filter. So the only real reason for having a filter is to protect the front element of your expensive lens. But with a little care..and use of a lens hood, the risk to the lens element is very low. I will probably get flamed for this but....My advice is to forego the filter unless you do a lot of rough and tumble field photography in all kinds of weather.

[Mj]

Bago... the cokin filter system uses a generic holder that slides onto lens of varying sizes allowing the use of one filter for multiple lens rather than purchasing a filter for each lens thread size. As some filters (e.g. circular polarisers) are quite expensive this can start to add up to a fair saving and reduce bag clutter.

Have a look at http://www.cokin.com

Anyone have any thoughts... is there good reason not to head down this path???

[Mundi]

Birddog,
I'd be interested in the filter package and possibly the R72. Let me know
Cheers,
Mundi

[dooda]

I just got the cokin because I only want to spend 15$ per lens for filters instead of 150##@$!.

I didn't use a lot of filters, circular polarizer sometimes, red sometimes if I wanted to really darken the sky. But I decided that I really needed a Graduated Neutral Density, and thought it would be fun to experiment with some different filters through this easy system. I think it's the coolest thing and I'm glad I didn't waste money on too many threaded filters. I like the ND's to get longer exposures, as well as colored ones for black and whites, though I'm a beginner at all of this.

[Mj]

Thanks for the feedback dooda... going the threaded route I can just see myself with a seperate bag just for the filters!!! However I continue to read all manner of conflicting info in cokin gear... for example it has been said that their ND filters are not very neutral, and you have to adjust for the colourcast they introduce. Has that been your experience? The filters that most interest me are CP and ND filters, some other might be fun to experiment with but I can see myself using those two on a regular basis.

[Mj]

 BTW... anyone else have 2 bobs worth about this topic???

[gstark]

Basically, the Cokin system is a simplified and lightened variation of the matte box that's used extensively in moviemaking.

Optically, I don't think it's as good as individual filters - and see Matt's comments on adding extra surfaces into the optical path.

Hoever, it can be a space saver, and therefore also a weight saver, plus, if you're spending $50+ on each filter for each lens, and you need three or four, there can be some significant cost savings to be had.

You need to weigh up the benefits and drawbacks yourself, and make your own value judgement, taking into account any optical performance issues you might encounter.

[birddog114]

I think I posted my comment to Cokin filter system while ago on this forum.
I repeat:

The Cokin System is great for money and space saving but with my style of shooting I did not see any advantage due to the course the Cokin filters can't be used on the lens in running around chasing photo opportunities at many events, the individual filter fit steady on your lens and as lens protector as many people mentioned and like.

I did not shoot with UV or Skylight filter on all my lenses and only put them on lenses in storage or transit as protector, I like the real optic from the lens itself. I do use CP or ND in some cases for creatively.

The Cokin system are great if you use them at stationed position/ landscape/ on tripod and have time to play around with it not for mobility.

[Greg B]

Bago
Before you get yourself in a tizz about filters...consider this....If you rarely do landscape photography then you do not need a filter!

Matt

The whole filter issue came up for Graham due to the fingerprint on the lens problem..

http://forum.d70users.com/viewtopic.php ... highlight=

and the perils of a fingerprint on the expensive lens compared to a less expensive filter were highlighted.

cheers

[bago100]

Bago
Before you get yourself in a tizz about filters...consider this....If you rarely do landscape photography then you do not need a filter!

Matt

The whole filter issue came up for Graham due to the fingerprint on the lens problem..

http://forum.d70users.com/viewtopic.php ... highlight=

and the perils of a fingerprint on the expensive lens compared to a less expensive filter were highlighted.

cheers

Yep - it was a heck of a finger print - hard to remove

The police fingerprinting people would have been estatic had the camera been stolen!

Trouble is, removing finger prints = removing some of the special lens coatings and over a period of time, that is not good.

Thanks for everyone's help though - I can see there is a wide range of opinions regarding filters.

I've ordered Birddogs USA filter package (See bargains for details)

Cheers

Graham

[Allan]

Mainline in Sydney have just got a new shipment of B+W filters today.
Here's a case for using their multi-coated (coated back and front) ones.
Sure they're expensive but, they're about the best you can get, they don't defract the light and they're scratch resistant.

Apparently there's a war correspondant out of Sydney, who uses 'em, without using a lens cap...probably doesn't get a chance to.
They last him 8-10 months each...?
For us, a lifetime I'd guess, outlasting how many scratched lesser brands?
No...I'm not on commission, should be but I'm not.
Al.

[shockadelica-]

im within minutes of ordering some new filters from mainlinephoto.com.au
i was going to ask if they can be trusted but doing a search and finding this thread answered my questions. so off i go to order some b+w
thankyou