Stacking Filters?
Oct 20, 2011 18:10:38 #
I stack filters for most pictures, usually UV, CPL, ND2. Sometimes inside I will remove the ND2.
I have seen several comments about never stacking filters. Some mention the reason as picture quality suffers and others mention it adds weight to the lens causing the tube to break.
My question is, Is stacking filters good, bad, who cares? What about stacking ND filters?
This question is not about vignetting possibilities of stacked filters, those comments can be left out of this discussion. Thank you for your comments.
I have seen several comments about never stacking filters. Some mention the reason as picture quality suffers and others mention it adds weight to the lens causing the tube to break.
My question is, Is stacking filters good, bad, who cares? What about stacking ND filters?
This question is not about vignetting possibilities of stacked filters, those comments can be left out of this discussion. Thank you for your comments.
Oct 20, 2011 18:34:57 #
1) I doubt you have to worry about lens tubes breaking until you have about 300 filters screwed on..
2) Even with the best filters, every additional level of glass between the light and your sensor has to affect IQ to some extent.
3) NDs are more or less made to be stacked. I have a 2/4/8 set, and stack them in various ways to get 6, 10, 12, etc.
2) Even with the best filters, every additional level of glass between the light and your sensor has to affect IQ to some extent.
3) NDs are more or less made to be stacked. I have a 2/4/8 set, and stack them in various ways to get 6, 10, 12, etc.
Oct 21, 2011 06:03:17 #
Lots of people I know use a UV or 1A skylight filter for lens protection. Do I need to remove this filter when using a CPL or any other correction filter.
Oct 21, 2011 07:15:07 #
I would, yes. What I do is keep the lens cap on as much as possible, and since 95% of my shots are outside, where I use a CPL, the CPL is the only extraneous glass on my lenses. It may NOT cause a problem to leave it on, but in my case I need all the help I can get.
Oct 21, 2011 11:04:33 #
Absolutely no more than two filters at a time. The more glass the worse your pictures will look
Oct 21, 2011 11:16:23 #
Oct 21, 2011 11:56:53 #
I understand That at least Canon recommends that you not use filters at all. I think that the reason is the possibility of internal reflections from the extra lens surfaces. With the digital editing programs we have now I don't use filters. If you like to experiment and spend lots of money, filters may still have a purpose. I see them as a relic from the past.
Oct 21, 2011 12:01:27 #
If you are using very high quality filters, with bona fide optical glass ground perfectly, 2 or 3 filters should pose no problem UNLESS you are shooting wide angle, where sometimes one filter vignettes. In motion picture work, the matte boxes we use limit you mechanically to 3 maximum, and often just 2. The filters, of course, are VERY expensive (for the good stuff, north of $500 each.)
Me, Shooting Arri 35BLIII... film cameras have ceased production worldwide...
Oct 21, 2011 12:30:16 #
Mike F wrote:
Lots of people I know use a UV or 1A skylight filter for lens protection. Do I need to remove this filter when using a CPL or any other correction filter.
You don't "need" to do anything in this regard.. Filters are designed with threads on each side, so obviously, the intent is to be able to screw them together...
If you don't feel that it degrades your images, don't worry about it..
Personally, I take off my skylight's when I use a CPL.... but it's more a mental thing than having seen any degradation proof beyond very high resolution testing... These tests are beyond anything you could see with the human eye..
If anybody asks my opinion, I will always say that you shouldn't stack filters unless you need to to get the desired effect... Just like I won't shoot through a window if I can step outside...
Oct 21, 2011 16:39:26 #
Thank you all for comments. I will consider them as I shoot more. Since I already the filters,experimenting with different configurations is not a problem and gives me something to do when I think I am done with a certian location.
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