rdsisco

Purchased a new cannon camera with 24-105 requires 77mm lense.
What filters do I need and in what what order should they be purchased in? Protection first and artistic order second.
Any brand recommendations'?

R.D. Sisco

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Why do you think you need any filters at all?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

A UV filter would be a good choice, that would finish the weather sealing on that lens! Any "artistic" filters you may seek, when the needs arise!

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Perhaps a Polarizer filter will be the most useful filter. I always have one handy in my camera bag ready, but go for quality over cost.

rdsisco

My first thought on need is protection. Second thought is for F stop control on reflective areas like beeches although I think ISO is much fasters than 30 yrs ago. But that is why I am asking?
R.D.Sisco

Robyn H Loc: MainLine PA

CANON is a company that makes cameras. CANNON is a large gun that shoots large projectiles.

The only filter you need get is a polarizer. You do not need UV filter and if you are compelled to put a filter on the front of your lens for protection, get one made specifically for that, with clear optical glass. Personally I just use a hood for protection and mount a polarizer when needed.
Read the manual...

rdsisco

Thanks under what circumstances is a Polarizer called far.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Whether or not filters offer protection is a long on going debate here at UHH. I my opinion, a lens hood offers more protection than a filter.

The first filter I would buy is a polarizer. For me, a neutral density filter would be my second purchase. Then a UV would be next filter since I live in an area that gets above 5000' quickly.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

A polarizer cuts reflected light from water, leaves, other reflective surfaces. This reduces the overall contrast of the scene and allows for better saturation of color in the scene.

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

My first choice is a UV filter, this filter is used mainly to protect the lens.

My second choice is a circular polarizer, this filter will take the glare off the glass. if you taking of a creek it will take the shinning off the rocks. You have to turn the filter to get the results you desire.

My third filter is a neutral density filter. I don't use a variable ND filter. The filter comes in 3, 6 9, etc. I use these filter when the sun is too bright or I am shooting a waterfall or a creek and I want to make the water silky.

I only use 1 filter at a time and usually keep the UVon most of the time.

You can buy a kit with 3 filter UV, CP and ND and they come with a nice carry case.

I use B&W filters I feel the are the best. Tiffin make great kits.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=77m%20filter%20kits&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

I hope this helps.

Many will say no filters I like the protection. DON'T BUY CHEAP FILTERS Your have an expensive lens don't put cheap glass in front of your lens.

Good Luck

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Be careful with your lens and you do not need any filters in front of it. A polarizer can come in handy at times - but you need to "focus" on learning photography...

ELNikkor

I was in the same situation 4 months ago when I bought my first 77mm lens. I paid about $100 for 3 filters from Lenskins. They are very good quality, supposedly using Schott glass. The one that stays on the lens all the time is the UV. It causes no extra flare. The circular polarizer works well and does not shift colors. The 10x neutral density filter I've only tested for color balance and it also does not shift any colors.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The main thing to keep in mind is that any time you put a filter in front of a lens, you can potentially add some loss of image quality - regardless of whether it is clear, UV, polarizer, neutral density, etc.

In most situations, a cleaned, good quality filter should not flare or reduce contrast when you are pointing the camera at regular subjects in regular light. When you point it at a light source, flare can become an issue. The better lenses have some very good coatings that minimize flare, but even a great filter can cause flare if there are flecks of dust or a fingerprint smear on it.

Color shift alone is not a reason to reject a filter - since color and white balance can be adjusted in post processing.

There are strong advocates on both sides of whether a filter offers protection. I am in the camp that it does. I have had lenses drop from a camera bag that wasn't closed correctly, dropped from my clumsy hands knock into a rock (while scrambling), etc - and have only lost the filter and not the entire lens. Also, repeated cleaning of a front element often results in what some call "cleaning marks" - and these are permanent. Also, when you go to a beach or a dusty environment, having a clear or UV filter on the front of a lens is a godsend.

Price is no indication of quality. In some cases, even a great expensive filter is not the best. I have found good quality (least negative impact to image quality), filters from Marumi and Hoya.

Here are some sources for filter reviews -

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/09/my-not-nearly-complete-but-rather-entertaining-circular-polarizer-filter-article/

https://www.techradar.com/how-to/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-circular-polarizer-filter-5-top-models-tested-and-rated-1320842

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/06/the-comprehensive-ranking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/UV-and-Clear-Lens-Protection-Filters.aspx

https://www.diyphotography.net/21-uv-protection-filters-put-test-results-rather-surprising/

https://www.lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html

In most cases, the protection that a filter can offer a lens outweighs loss of image quality, as long as you get decent filters. I am pretty sure that a generic or house-brand filter "kit" that is either "thrown in" as part of a "value-added" bundle, or which can sell for $50 - $100 when purchased separately, will likely be problematic. Stick to the recognized, reviewed, name brand filters.

Other than for protection, I would buy filters as you need them. The usual are neutral density if you want to use larger apertures for shallow depth of field or longer exposures, and polarizers to cut down on reflections.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Polarizer (CPL), then look into ND filters.

CPL
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/09/my-not-nearly-complete-but-rather-entertaining-circular-polarizer-filter-article/
http://www.lenstip.com/139.25-article-Polarizing_filters_test_2015_Results_and_summary.html
http://www.techradar.com/how-to/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-circular-polarizer-filter-5-top-models-tested-and-rated-1320842
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Circular-Polarizer-Filters.aspx
http://www.lenstip.com/index.php?art=139
http://www.lenstip.com/115.1-article-Polarizing_filters_test.html
http://www.lenstip.com/115.4-article-Polarizing_filters_test_Results_and_summary.html

ND
http://nofilmschool.com/2016/02/5-filters-go-head-head-neutral-density-shootout
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/10-Stop-Neutral-Density-Filter.aspx

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Pro photographers and videographers use "silks" or a translucent framed covers over the person or set being shot in hard sun.
It is hard for me to believe that a good neutral density filter wouldn't be in your bag for when you choose to use it.
Good camcorders have the ND built in for filming and they are variable to make adjustments.

I have always had UV filters on my lens. I do check to see if I think they are changing the pictures.
I have dropped an expensive lens at home it rolled off the couch in my office while loading a bag and the
UV splintered but the lens was perfect no damage. You can be outdoors and bump the lens even if you are very
careful. I shoot some sports triathlons, running, soccer and where their is action their can be hits
on the lens. Don't know why we are having this conversation. The UV and ND have been standard
for years. Ken Rockwell does not like the lens hood. Interesting. I don't either. Good luck.