Filters on filters question

[WhiteD3]

This may be a basic question but......

I use UV filters on my 10-20mm and 18-200mm lens' for protection. I also have polarising filters for both and an ND8. All these filters are Hoya and have a male thread on one side and female on the other to allow one filter to screw into the other.

Is it good, bad or indifferent practise to mount the polariser or ND on top of the UV filter?

[Chucaro]

I do not like it, the quality of the optics is reduced with that technique.
Also I will use Hoya brand in the pol filter as the last resouce.

[abaddonxi]

Mounting filters on top of each other will possibly increase filter reflection if there's flare on the filter. Any filter is going to cut some of the light entering the lens, no matter how small. And putting more stuff in front of the lens isn't going to increase image quality.

[slug_burner]

I think the basic premis is that you have paid a lot for the optics of a lens and anything extra that you place between the image and the recording medium (film or opto detectors) is only going to detract.

Given that most people cannot tell the difference between an image captured by a good high quality lens and lesser lenses it can become an academic argument. In fact some people are very happy with their phone camera picturers (yuk!). I would say keep in mind the advice given but also experiement to find out what it actually results in. It might be that some issues can only be seen at the edge of the picture in big prints and other only under certain lighting situations.

Suck it an see when you have time to experiment, beter to find out then than after a once in a life time photographic opportunity.