tadly

I'm going to Kenya next year for a 20 day birding/photo trek, I understand that the environment is very dusty and so would want to protect my primary lenses with a filter. What would be best to put on and leave on. Experience or just thoughts welcome.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

To put on and leave on you could use a UV filter. They are cheap, will keep the lens clean, are safer to clean than the lens and if something hits it will usually protect the lens glass.

The African sun is brighter than you may expect so a Circular Polarizer may be another option to consider to cut strong sun light and reflection off water.

You may also consider a Natural Density filter, or one of its many cousins, if you plan on making long shots in the bright sun.

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

Hi tadly: Keep in mind, which ever filter you select, do not buy a cheap one to protect your good glass. Buy the best quality filter you can afford. I would also recommend you buy a filter for your largest lens then buy adaptor rings to cover the rest of you lenses. Word of caution only change the filters in a dust free environment. Hope this helps and makes sense.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

A UV filter need not be very expensive. Remember you are concerned about abrasion so that filter will be subjected to fine scratches tho careful. Low cost, have several, change if dusty and clean later. A lens hood is also a good idea, that too will provide some protection and if the low cost filter coating is not the "best" then the hood will help. You can test several UV filters at the camera store and then do a critical review on clarity.

Circular Polarizer are a different story. Here the choice of filter may well depend on the lens and the focus system of a particular camera. "Get-whatcha-payfur" is at times bunk. My suspicion is that the material that composes the 1/4 scattering portion of the Circular Polarizer is the key to clarity. Here again testing of several filters on your system is imperative. There have been two extensive threads-postings on Circular Polarizers within the past week. Check them out via UHH search at the top of the screen.

Also rinse before rubbing is a good suggestion. using wipes on a dust covered filter will make micro scratches and the filter will soften the photo or make stars of bright spots.

I agree with travlnman46 regarding socks and filters -- one size to fit all except in extreme cases... Oh, well if you have a significant diameter difference and you are going to keep protecting your lenses even if not in use, then better to have the correct size.

jackndaback Loc: Florida

Dpullum,
You mentioned rinse before wipe. Can dusty filters be rinsed safely. Can you suggest a method or thread to explain.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxClcPqs22g&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL743AF3A4D9D55AA4
great video on how to clean the filters.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Jack in da back:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-31921-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45006-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-44587-1.html
Yes, I have rinsed then sprayed with diluted detergent in spray bottle rubbed gently with fingers then rinsed again with distilled water, next quick rinse of 70% isopropanol. Shake tat off and then use a micro fiber to dry.

While the Ziess wipes are good, I would not want florida air transported grinding compound to be rubbed into the coating... That is why I rinse first. I tested out several of the methods suggested in the above posts and all work ok, but in dust/grit situations the first rinse is safe. The lamination on some will be affected if you soak for a long time perhaps but you are just rinsing quickly.
To give you confidence read the references refered to in the posts.

jackndaback Loc: Florida

Thank you Dpullum.

jackndaback Loc: Florida

les stockton
Thank you for the thread.