I have been on safari in different parts of Africa for 55 years. Have yet to be in a dust storm. I use a UV filter I bought in Hong Kong. If you are going to Namibia or a desert might be a good idea, but for the rest of the continent, you will decide each day if you need a lens cover. Have a ball, and look carefully - there is a lot to see and a lot that is missed!
rmalarz wrote:
I've had a few in the distant past. I've switched to B+W. Though some are difficult to find.
--Bob
I used (past tense) Heliopan and B+W filters because they are superior to everything else. I took filters off of all of my lenses about 8 years ago and don’t protect my lenses unless I’m shooting waterfalls where there is mist. Including my trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. I did use a protective filter on that trip for the two times I shot Victoria Falls. If you’re going to he deserts of Namibia, maybe filters are recommended - otherwise don’t get too freaky.
I use UV filters to protect my lenses. I tend to move quickly and I banged two cameras together while shooting a triathlon, which reinforced my use of UV filters. I don't want to put poor quality glass in front of a good lens, so I've read filter test comparisons and developed my own quick and dirty test:
Each filter is cleaned and laid on an oak table with chandelier lights impacting the filter at an approximately 20 degree angle from normal incidence. An excellent filter will appear like there is no glass in the filter ring and will clearly reveal the figure in the oak table, thereby qualitatively showing good transmission and low reflectivity. In addition, I move my head over the filter and see the reflections of the chandelier lights and my forehead on the glass. The lower the perceived reflection, the better is the filter. I recognize that I don't test for flatness and this test is inferior to published, quantitative scientific tests. Nevertheless, my observations generally compare well with published test results.
Multicoated filters typically outperform coated filters. Some of the best filters include Hoya HMC of various vintages, B+W Digital MRC nano XS ProUV-haze, and surprisingly Quantaray DMC and QMC filters. Several old Vivitar VMC are excellent. I only tested old coated Tiffen filters (not MC) and they performed poorly. An older B&W 67/E KR 1.5 1.1X; 58ES 010 1x was middle of the pack.
Beware of counterfeiting. I recently bought a 77-mm Hoya HMC UV(C) Filter and it was inferior to a dozen, excellent older HMC filters. I suspect it is counterfeit. I see many $25 B&W filters on ebay that claim to be "made in Germany", but they ship from China. Has anyone bought one and evaluated it? I suspect they may be counterfeit.
Good luck and let us know which filters you buy. DrJ
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
U/V filters with substandard coatings can produce lens flares or add color casts to your images. I only use Breakthrough Filters for this very reason. I often wonder why we spend $3000 on a camera and lens, and object to a $200 filter.
Breakthrough for ND filters; Sigma Ceramic for clear. Expensive, but the best.
cjc2
Loc: Hellertown PA
I use only B&W filters. Best of luck.
In the 60's I used Tiffen filters on my Nikon equipment. Since the internet came along I have based my choices on the reviews and tests by people who have the scientific equipment necessary to provide valid evaluations and comparisons. Now I have B&W filters from B&H Photo on almost all of my lenses.
ClarkG
Loc: Southern Indiana USA
I only use B+W. They are bit more expensive but made of superior glass! Very little light loss too!
Tiffen is one of the good brands while being more economical.
One incident in over 50 years. Rock kicked up by passing vehicle. Almost dead center of the filter. Much less expensive than a new lens.
toxdoc42 wrote:
I just wondered if anyone has had any good or bad experiences with their filters?
I had a 52mm Tiffen 0.6 GND filter that I used a lot for landscape and travel photos. It came to an end one day. 😫
So I ordered a new one. It had a green color cast. I emailed Tiffen with photos and examples of the problem. They replied to return the filter they would replace it. I returned it as asked but I did not get a replacement. After repeated emails queries, and promises from them, almost a year later I FINALLY got the replacement.
By then I had purchased a B&W filter. No color cast. Much better build quality than the Tiffen.
I gave the Tiffen away. I did not even open the box.
I will not purchase any more Tiffen products.
Gene51
Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
toxdoc42 wrote:
I am well aware of the arguments regarding UV/clear filters to protect a lens. I don't want to jinx myself, but I have been involved with photography for over 60 years and have never had a cracked, scratched, or other form of damaged from of a lens. So you can understand that I am biased by the fact that even the most expensive filters, and who says that they are necessarily better than the least expensive ones, are placing another piece of glass in front of the lens that I prefer to use to take a photo. I checked with my personal property insurance carrier and they told me that damage from dropping a lens, etc., will be covered by them as well.
I am going on a safari in February and was told, by many, that it is very dusty and to carry 2 camera bodies so I don't need to change lenses. I bought a second body. Now I was told to wrap the camera and lens in a scarf when not shooting, so I got a bit worried about sand, dust, etc., sand blasting the front of the lens.
I started listening to u-tubes about the discussion of filters and various people's discussions about quality and price. When looking for a UV/clear glass filter I noticed that Tiffen, which was really a leader in filter manufacturing in the 1960s, still seems to have filters for sale, at this time. I found some of my old Tiffen filters from the 1960s and they look just great. They new Tiffen filters are far less expensive then other manufacturers' brands. I was surprised to find that they actually claim they make their filters in the USA. I took the chance and ordered one for my lower and one for my upper zoom lenses. I have polaroid filters for other lenses that I will be taking as well, so all of my lenses should be protected.
I just wondered if anyone has had any good or bad experiences with their filters?
I am well aware of the arguments regarding UV/clea... (
show quote)
I don't care for them. I prefer Hoya - SMC filters. They are as good as the costlier options, but they don't come mounted in brass - they use a hard plastic, which I prefer in any case, because I no longer own lenses that have metal filter threads.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.