DMF

Just purchased new Nikon 80-400 lens along with two filters, Promaster protection and CPL. The filters are very thin, the filter almost disappears when screwed onto the lens. I become concerned if filter is tightened very little of the filter is extended beyond the end of the lens to hold for removal. I am confident others have experienced the same problem, any ideas?
Doug

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

There are wrenches specifically designed to remove filters. I'd look for one on either B and H or Amazon. Get one that fits the dia. of your filter. They are made of plastic. So, that reduces the possibility of damaging any camera parts. You'll need one that fits a 77mm diam. filter. Just do a google search for

filter wrench for 77mm filter

You've made a good choice in providing the front element with a degree of protection. However, there are a few times when you may want to leave the filters off completely. The CPL should work rather nicely, considering the smaller angle of view that lens has.
--Bob

DMF

Great news, thanks Bob, will find one today. Doug

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Why did you get such thin filters since the lens is not a wide angle?

DMF

Purchased with lens from Hunts Photo. I have purchased filters recently for other lens, thin did not present a problem. Doug

cthahn

There is not much you can do.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Always use the lens hood. I started leaving my UV off.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Seems like the smart thing to do as it could ALSO be used on one of several wide angle options. Or if one has money to throw around, just get a set for every lens owned.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

I removed all filters and bought hoods for each lens. In rare cases I'll use a polarized filter on my Sigma 500mm

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yes. Carefully remove the filters and use them under your iced tea glass, to protect your nice, wooden coffee table from condensation... or return them for a refund if you can.

Promaster doesn't actually make their filters.... or anything else, for that matter. They are like Vivitar, Polaroid and so forth.... they just have their name imprinted of stuff they buy from a manufacturer.

Most Promaster filters seem to be relabeled Hoya... one of Hoya's lower quality lines such as their "Pro 1" multi-coated or "Alpha" single and uncoated.

It makes little to no sense to put cheap, unnecessary filters in front of a $2300 lens, likely spoiling a fine lens' potential image quality.

"Protection" filters serve no actual purpose.... Particularly on a telephoto with a nice, deep hood for protection, such as the 80-400mm uses. Lens hoods don't screw up images, the way filters do. Besides, when using a filter it's even more important to use a hood... to protect that thin glass filter!

I also can't recall the last time I used a circular polarizer on a telephoto lens. Usually can't afford the one to two stops of light lost to the filter. Plus it's a pain in the arse to have to remove the hood to adjust the filter every time I switch the lens from portrait to landscape orientation, then back.

So, my advice is simply to not use those filters on that lens.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

I haven't used a polarizer on a telephoto lens in 30 years. I tried it when I was younger.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Dan De Lion Loc: Montana

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Others disagree. I have to clean the UV filters on my lenses fairly often. I would hate to have to do that to the front element of lenses. It comes down to what kind of shooting and how much shooting you do but, you can't go wrong by using both a UV filter and hood.

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mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I would not use the protection filter. But, would by a better quality CPL I use a CPL on my 80-400 for landscapes and when I want to decrease reflections on the water