I know Hoya filters...
But in lelong.com... got others like Kenko, CPL la...

And my previous camera got all sort of brand...

Wat is the difference? And what brand is recommended?

there are different brand and different filter for different usage
brand usually are Hoya, Kenko, B + W, Cokin
filters are UV, CPL, ND Grad

suggest u read here if u wanna know more

Go get B+W / Schneider UV filter.
It's very slim yet much much more better than those fourty bucks UV filter.

CPL filter is not same with UV filter.
CPL is to cut reflections and make the picture more saturated.

Capalang brands' filters can degrade images.
I found out, and learnt how to tell a good filter (of any kind, brand) from a bad one, by just bringing along a sharp, long telephoto lens when buying a filter. At maximum zoom or focal length, it will magnify whatever imperfection that is on the filter. Good filters will not visually degrade the image from your lens at max zoom. But capalang ones will. A capalang CPL filter I have develops a slight double vision at 400mm focal length of my telephoto lens.

capalang will take away sharpness from your lens

Yup... but not all capalang may be bad, and not all branded filters may be original (ie. counterfeit!).
So arm yourself with this knowledge how to test for image quality degradation by capalang filters.

Also, when buying CPL filters, make sure the ring is smooth to turn. If too stiff, you will struggle and then unzoom or defocus your lens in the process. Quite annoying.

At the end of the day, the capalang CPL filter I inadvertently bought I just pair with my standard zoom (14-54mm lens). Its image degradation is not noticeable for that lens as it doesn't magnify very much nor is the sharpest lens of its class. Macro lenses may be more sensitive.

Hmmm... thanks... will make sure I get my 18-200 lens to test it first. But shop allow ah?

tim, can u change the title to for all filter? coz better if we can discuss all about filter here, and not just UV thx

Done.
Yeah... this is good.

Expensive filters are thin and will reduce vignetting when using lenses at it's widest angle.

Especially for CPLs. I have a Hoya normal CPL for my 18-200mm VR but vignetting is noticeable at it's widest end. So, to reduce vignetting, can't use at the widest end of the lens.

I never notice any significant vignetting using normal Hoya UV on my 18-200mm VR lens.

Vignetting can be seen the below sample photo.



Notice the fade black corners in the photo. Those are caused by filters which has thick frames which usually are the cheapest.

Expensive filters are thin enough, which will not show up in photos.

so we cannot use lens hood(rubber) anymore lorh?

yeah, using hood will have some vignetting. Just slightly on the 18-200mm VR.

Here is a sample i took of the wall.


Taken @18mm with lens hood using 18-200mm VR.

Notice the corners.

what is there anything to do w lens hood n filter?

vignetting

and lens hood does effect cpl?

It wont effect the filter, but effect the photo taken.

CPL means circular polarizing filter. The lens hood wont do anything to the filter.

Lens hood is for flare/glare right? When there is bright light, usually your photos will be blur or get a white coating... due to glare...

Nope, photos wont be blur but might get a faint white glow like in this photo



Against harsh sunlight, this might happen.



But some people like the glare effect if taken with a suitable composition.

If you're using CPL with Flare hood attached , how you gonna do the tuning of CPL ?

This will also depend on the lens itself. Try testing with or without a single or double stacked filters to see the extent of vignetting on your lens.

Oh yeah!

Different lenses also has a very fair amount of vignetting too.

ops, i m using rubber lens hood aka extended lens hood screw on the filter directly

Have one of those too, though I don't use it nowadays (my newer lens all have their own hoods already).
My rubber hood can collapse/extend in 3 stages, depending on what focal length/view angle you're using, and its front is also threaded, so you can attach filters. Just need to keep it dry too, otherwise fungus will grow on the rubber.

another old timer btw, lets back to filter section.

anyone using filter on system

Yeah I would like to hear from someone who is using the cokin filter system. Interested to get it but price isn't that cheap either.

All your discussion are very interesting and informative...
Thanks thanks.. continue continue

just wanna know about how much is a cheap and expensive front treaded UV/CPL filter(58mm)? is it alot difference?

thanx for the link... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_%28photography%29

filter that insterest me

Contrast enhancement (good for black and white)

Polarizer (saturate the color)

what brand should i go for? how much will it cost me?

cokin filters are a really good buy actually..if you're into photography you'll realise nothing much is cheap so RM 200+ for a filter set is actually quite a good deal in the long run. Why?

1. Does away with mechanical vignetting coz it uses 'slot-in' filters instead of the regular 'screw-on' type which has the metal all round.
2. Subsequent filter pieces (ND/Warming/Cooling etc.) are relatively cheaper starting at RM 50 onwards per piece. If you have a 77mm thread you'll realise how crazy the filter prices can be.
3. One size for all. If your largest thread is, say, 72mm just buy a 72mm Filter Ring and buy step-up rings (RM 13.99 onwards) for the other lenses.
4. Just get one!

for RM 200+ you get a Cokin Starter Kit (a few to choose from)..comes with a few filters, filter case, cokin p-holder, filter ring.

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Added on January 11, 2008, 2:28 pm

Contrast Enhancement - do it in Photoshop/camera settings (i don't think there are any filters which can do this)

CPL - go for Hoya PRO1 (dont get the regular Hoya unless you're on a tight budget)

Where do we get good ones in Malaysia, let it be in Kuala Lumpur, Penang etc. ?

Almost every shop sell filters. But those like J One or Photo Malaysia or YL should have quite a lot of branded choices.

Something related, if you can find it locally:

http://www.tiffen.com/userimages/Contrast_FactSheet_Lo.pdf

Never met anyone that have used it before, but seems like a general-purpose filter to maximise the dynamic range of your camera.

as far as i'm concerned you do not need to turn a CPL cause it's circular polariser. The one that you will need to turn is a linear polariser

kenlui: i got one set of cokin-P series for sales... interested ?

pm me the detail, include the price tq

Your information given is totally wrong.

Circular Polarizer means your can actually turn the filter ring to adjust the degree of polarization you want. It's called circular at the first place because it can turn. But for linear polarizer, you cannot turn or adjust the degree of polarization.

Example of CPL


Notice it's in two parts? The top part can be turned to adjust the degree of polarization.

Example of Polarizing Filter (aka linear)

(left could be CPL, but right is a linear polarizer filter)

Notice it's only one part like a normal filter?

Hi gurus.
Given I only have budget for 1 filter, which would you suggest? Clear or UV?
Currently still learning and experimenting...

its same....unless got a "PRO" word there

Clear and UV doesn't make a difference because UV filters does not have effect on the digital sensors in DSLR now. UV filters are important when used on film SLR cameras.

Besides, in the market now, you will hardly find clear filters as UV filters are priced closely to clear ones.

And clear/UV filters will not has any effect on your photos in terms of color/brightness/etc. It's just an investment to protect the front element of your camera lens if anything bad happens to it. Cause once your front element is scratched, the resale/2nd hand value will drop tremendously.

However if you get cheap UV filter, it may have some slight vignetting on the corner of your photos. But usually it's hardly noticeable.

Eg of vignetting

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Added on January 12, 2008, 1:10 am

That is wrong.

PRO filters/more expensive filters are expensive because

1. Much thinner
2. Multi coated (for more info read this http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/hoya-02.html)

whaiiiii

Still a lot to learn huh...

Thanks for the explanation.
I went to a camera shop and asked for UV filter and he told they carry 2 brands.
1 is Hoya (probably a PRO one and cost RM120) and i forgot the other brand (RM80).
So to confirm, the difference between this 2 should be just the thickness and the coating of the filter. And due to this, the RM80 one might produce some vignetting. Correct?

Cool, i'll bring my dslr along to test for that and base my decision on the result of the shot.

Thanks again.

Have the filters side by side and compare their thickness.

You gotta find out the other brand, other brands like Kenko and Tiffen are not bad. B+W is an even better brand.

Hoya has too many version of their filters.

Hoya Pro-1 Digital UV and Clear Protective Filters
Hoya Super HMC UV Filters
Hoya HMC Multi-coated filters
Hoya Standard Coated Filters Purple Package - Made in Japan
Hoya Standard Coated Filters Green Package - Made in Philippines

Highest priced on the top, cheapest bottom
Highest quality on the top, lowest quality bottom

The bigger the filter diameter, the more expensive it is for all ranges.

Just a quick check to make sure you're not conned buying expensive multicoated filters, look at the reflection of a white object or white light off the glass of the candidate multicoated filter on BOTH sides, and it should be either greenish or purplish. Between greenish and purplish, I remember reading one is better than the other but the difference is small, like one eliminates 95% of reflections while the other eliminates 99%, for example.

If the reflection is still white on the filter's glass, then it's not multicoated.

where is j one, photo malaysia and yl shop is located? sorry really noob here. i want to know where is the best shop

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Added on January 14, 2008, 3:14 pm

how much is hoya pro1 and where to get it?

J One - Amcorp Mall
Photo Malaysia - ???
YL Shop - Pudu Plaza (?)

Photo Selangor - PErtama Complex
YS Photo - SS2

http://www.singh-ray.com/

good but expensive filters.

Kenko = Hoya

Will the pictures i take be of lower quality if I use a uv filter? Thanks.

If you have good lenses like 17-55 f2.8 + 70-200 VR, I would suggest every filter just buy Germany B+W MRC series including the UV and C-PL. So far they gave me best results... Even most expensive Hoya is kind of funny... like hard to clean for multicoating. And then thier C-PL also got color cast one

And so far only B+W MRC series give me complait-less quality in all aspect. Good stuff!

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Added on March 7, 2008, 9:53 am
Your concern is correct.

The only way to have UV protection filter without degrading the quality is using those high quality one... like B+W MRC series.

By the way, I do not recommend any filter for cheaper glass like 50 f1.8. The price of the lense is not worth an expensive filter. And Without filter, you can enjoy optimum quality.

And for most memberes there that are new to SLR... I have one advise... Lessen your glasses... Narrow down to very few, or may-be only one to two... and spend the money on the good one. Example; For most Canon & Nikon shooters, I seriously suggest the 70-200. The optics are great and focal is also very good for potrait. Not to mention they are great for many events.

And even your kits lense looks cheap like the Canon 18-55, I would say ignore and proceed to get a 70-200. The 70-200 is the one that bring you great pictures that wow your viewers...

for Nikon D300 with the following lenses, what filter is best suit for each ... Please advise. Thanks a lot.

18-200 f/3.5-5.6G
14-24 f/2.8G
24-70 f/2.8G
70-200 f/2.8G
105 f/2.8G
85 f/1.4D