Filter Cost ??? Just purchased a clear filter for my newest lens. It was almost three times the cost of a ND filter previously purchased. Starting checking around. Yes clear filters...

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

Just purchased a clear filter for my newest lens. It was almost three times the cost of a ND filter previously purchased.

Starting checking around. Yes clear filters tend to be more expensive. Why?

Kestrel1029 Loc: Philadelphia, PA

What is the make of the filter?

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

Kestrel1029 wrote:

What is the make of the filter?

Price comparison was made using the same manufacturer for their different filters. So manufacturers did not enter into price comparison.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

The UV filters are usually less expensive. You may have bought something that is outside of normal.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Making a glass filter that does NOTHING to the light transmitted is much harder than one that modifies the light.

busted_shutter

So a uv filter could cost more than an nd filter?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

_Rex wrote:

So a uv filter could cost more than an nd filter?

Apparently you are under the delusion that a UV filter does not modify light.

busted_shutter

Delusion? No. Not even misconception, just don't understand why it would.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

_Rex wrote:

Delusion? No. Not even misconception, just don't understand why it would.

UV filters are not clear. They are designed light modifiers, their effect varies widely between brands and many are actually detrimental to your image quality.
One brands UV and ND filters may be extremely cheap while another brands could be extremely expensive. It all depends on the quality of the glass involved, the mount material, and the coating process.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

MT Shooter wrote:

Making a glass filter that does NOTHING to the light transmitted is much harder than one that modifies the light.

What is the purpose of a filter that does nothing? And if it does nothing to the light, should it even be called a "filter". Just curious.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

mdorn wrote:

What is the purpose of a filter that does nothing? And if it does nothing to the light, should it even be called a "filter". Just curious.

They are know as "Protective" filters. They are used as protection for the front lens element without altering the incoming light in any way as a UV filter does. I personally use the Nikon NC Series of protective filters whenever I am shooting in any environment where flying debris or spray could get on my lens.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

MT Shooter wrote:

They are know as "Protective" filters. They are used as protection for the front lens element without altering the incoming light in any way as a UV filter does. I personally use the Nikon NC Series of protective filters whenever I am shooting in any environment where flying debris or spray could get on my lens.

Thank you. Obviously, I don't use clear filters. The only flying debris I would come in contact with would most likely come from my wife for buying another lens. :-)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

MT Shooter wrote:

Making a glass filter that does NOTHING to the light transmitted is much harder than one that modifies the light.

Right. It's like clean is harder to achieve than dirty.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

mdorn wrote:

... should it even be called a "filter". Just curious.

It filters in the same way an air filter in a car works. It filters out the dirt trying to get to your lens. Only the light gets through. :D

riverlass Loc: northern California

MT Shooter wrote:

They are know as "Protective" filters. They are used as protection for the front lens element without altering the incoming light in any way as a UV filter does. I personally use the Nikon NC Series of protective filters whenever I am shooting in any environment where flying debris or spray could get on my lens.

I was at the ocean on a recent trip to Oregon and it was VERY windy. (Lost my lens hood, at some point, in this constant, amazingly strong wind.) I used an NC filter on all my lenses to protect them from the sand and ocean spray. These clear filters definitely serve their purpose.