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Photography Question 

Kathy Zavatson
 

Best Lens Filter for Canon


I'm looking into getting a lens filter. What are my best options for a Canon Xti with a 24-105 IS L lens? Do you find that you get better images with a filter? Do you find it necessary to have a filter or is it not worth the money? I never knew of them until a friend asked if she could borrow mine b/c she misplaced hers. I had no idea what she was talking about. She mentioned it helps a lot with her outdoor shoots. Thanks for you input!


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August 08, 2007

 

David A. Bliss
  It really depends on what you are trying to acheive. The link below explains some of the more commonly used filters.

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/content/2006/sept/filters_landscape2.shtml


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August 08, 2007

 

Suzanne Colson
  I use a UV filter on my lenses when shooting outdoors. It will help cut down on the haze at times, but I use it more to protect my lenses. I try to stay from cheap filters as they, IMO will lower the image quality. I try to stick with B&W or the higher quality HOYA filters. For landscape photos I will also a circular polarizing filter.

One thing I did learn along the way to save some money was to try and standardize on a filter size. 1 of my lenses has a 67mm filter size and the other 2 are 77mm. My filters are all 77mm. I just put a step-up ring on my 67mm lens which allows the use of the 77mm filters.


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August 08, 2007

 

Alan N. Marcus
  Hi Kathy,
UV (ultra violet) filters stop UV light. They are of little benefit at low altitudes but they can cut through haze at high altitudes. Aerial photographers always mount at UV. The main use of the UV is to increase the revenue of the camera store. Most are sold as protectors i.e. protect the valuable camera lens upon which they are mounted. Better is a “skylight” which has a slight pink blush. It is actually a warming filter with haze penetration. Seems sunny day pictures with blue sky present reproduce slightly cold as the blue sky contributes a significant amount of the exposing light and this portion is blue. You can observe this if you look closely at shadows on snow etc.

Best all-around filter is the polarizing screen. This filter is constructed in such a way that it passes light waves that are only orientated in one plane. Seems sunlight has no particular orientation until it strikes something. When reflected (we see mainly by reflected light off objects), the light is often orientated in specific planes. The polarizer is selective and allows the photographer to choose what plane the camera will image. The result is the ability to subdue reflections from glass or water or paint etc. (surfaces that are non conductors). Additionally the polarizing screen enhances cloud scenes by darkening blue sky thus enhancing white clouds. This filter increased color saturation without altering color (tint). The polarizer also provided the same haze penetration of the UV.

Downside: The polarizer reduces the light energy reaching inside the camera by 2 f/stops. As with all glass add-ons, extra glass increased optical flare which can degrade a picture.

The polarizer is mounted in such away that the photographer can rotate the filter. As the filter is rotated one sees different levels of reflection suppression.

Available in two types: linear and circular. Linear is better but it can be impairment to some auto-focus and metering systems. The circular is a tiny bit less effective but is the one in common usage.

Alan Marcus (caution marginal technical advice)
ammarcus@earthlink.net


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August 09, 2007

 
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