Need help

[VeryGreen]

I bought a Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 for my 5D 3 weeks ago. After spending many hours in clubsnap, I realize I need to buy a filter for my len! Can all u guru please recommend what filter to buy, size of filter, cost n where to buy.
Sorry if I sound very naive because I'm. Got myself some books fm the national library n trying to understand the basic of this black art:dunno:
Pls point me the direction ->
Thanks

 

[zcf]

welcome to ClubSNAP's KM forum.

Many user purchase UV/skylight filter just to protect their lens from dust, water, dirt, physical damage etc. But there is also another school of thought, they think that filter (esp cheap one) will degrade the photo image quality, so don't use any, but they have to be extra careful.

If you like to buy a UV filter, better purchase a coated one, the coating on the filter will help to reduce/absorb the reflection of light. A cheap uncoated filter may cause flare if you shoot toward strong light at night.

Another filter to recommend is Circular Polarizer filter, this is usually use to make the sky look bluer/darker, remove light reflection, but it may cut down light source by quit some (1-1 & half stop). But you better try and see whether CP filter cause vignetting (darken at the corner) or not, IIIRC, it does. if that's the case you may need to buy slim filter. which is much more expensive though.

buy the same 62mm size filter.

 

[tankm]

If you looking for filter to protect the front lens element, use the UV(0) filter. Brand are like HOYA or B+W. HOYA is good and cheap. Can get in most camera shop. HOYA got different range of UV(0). The cheaper range is "HOYA UV Lens Guard/Protect", can't remember which in my opinion is not as good as the HOYA UV(0) HMC or SHMC. Got more money then HOYA PRO-1 UV(0) SHMC, which is similar to SHMC except the ring is thinner.

If got more $$$ and feel like spending then buy B+W UV(0) Mutil-coat, so far I think only can get from Cathay Photo.

For HOYA, the most common complaint after long use and a need to clean them is "spot" appearing on the filter. So far I do encounter them before when I use lens cleaning solution to clean the filter. HOYA recommends to only use water to clean their filter, and I have since follow this method and so far so good.

For the right filter size for your lens, take out your lens cap and look behind the cap, the size is stated there.

There are other filters as well for light control, light alteration and special effects. Depends on what you are looking for. For these filter, best is to buy the largest filter size that can cater for your largest lens diameter. You can then buy step-up ring to use it on other smaller lens.

 

[Agetan]

Just buy any Hoya filter for UV filter.. I don't think it make so much different.

Personally, I don't want to spend too much on filter, I end up getting Kenko Pro 1 D, which is the same as Hoya (THK - Tokina, Hoya, Kenko) is one company, but Kenko brand filter although is the same, cost much less.

For all my lenses, I use Kenko Pro 1D or Nikon L37c or Minolta UV filter whichever come in cheap... hehe.. I don't have much budget nowadays...

But as for the circular polariser, just get 77mm slim polariser from Hoya then buy different step up ring to suit your lenses hence no need to buy few different type of circular polariser.

Just buy these 2 types of filter, then forget about the rest.

Hart

 

[drake336]

My personal guideline...

Consumer grade lenses: Hoya HMC, cheapest multicoat that's not nasty (easier to resell than tokina and kenko IMO though they are reputedly the same)

Pro grade lenses: B+W UV-haze 010M (Nikon NC is nice too, but hard to find any other than 77mm thread)

Circular polarizer (dia of your largest lens, usually 77m is a good bet if you are not sure what you may buy but quite ex) + step up rings to make this usable for all lenses

 

[VeryGreen]

Thanks for all the advise. Will go to CP tomorrow. Think buy Hoya UV and a daylite.

 

[tankm]

MSColor is cheaper than CP for the same item. Unless you want to buy B+W than only CP has it.

Thanks for all the advise. Will go to CP tomorrow. Think buy Hoya UV and a daylite.

 

[VeryGreen]

Will detour to MS colour.
Thanks for info.

 

[TME]

But as for the circular polariser, just get 77mm slim polariser from Hoya then buy different step up ring to suit your lenses hence no need to buy few different type of circular polariser.

Just buy these 2 types of filter, then forget about the rest.

Hart

U mean step down ring? U're stepping down from 77mm to 72mm, etc... In that case buying a 82mm circ pol filter would be better if this is your thinking.