Filters - What do I need?

[WhiteD3]

Coming to grips with the new 500D and 72mm 18-200 IS. What basic filters should I get, given most of my shots are outside in sunny QLD?

UV, skylight, polarising, combo?

Cheers.

[dmdigital]

You don't need a UV filter on a digital camera. That said I personally put a protective filter on all my lenses as I'd rather break or damage that than the front element, others will disagree and say why spend so much on a lens only to put something in front of it. My only advice is buy a good B+W or Hoya protective filter.

Other than that a CPL (Circular polarizer) would be the only thing unless you later find you need ND's or Graduated ND's. Best CPL is the B+W Kasemann, expensive, but as the polarizing layer is fused into the glass and the two halves sealed then it is an investment.

For the CPL or any additional filters I would recommend buying 77mm and a 77->72mm step down ring for your lens. Then if you buy in L-series lenses you will have a filter to fit them as most are 77mm front mounts.

[mike_ie]

Seconding what dm_td5 says. I've used the Canon 30D as my primary camera for a few years now, and the first thing I buy for each of my lenses is a UV filter, not so much for filtering, but to add a protective element to a quite expensive lens. It's paid off twice - once in Pakistan, and once in Russia - bag got dropped, filter was smashed to smithereens, but the lens itself was unharmed.


For bright light conditions such as what you get here, you will certainly need a circular polariser to cut down on the harshness in the resulting photos. I use one in 90-95% of my outdoor shots.

Other than that, additional filters are purely for adding artistic touches to the photos. Depending on whether you are a purist or not, i.e. want to add these effects during the photographic process, most of these effects can be replicated quite easily nowadays in even the most basic of digital imaging software.

One thing to note though, is that with the 18-200 IS lens, you probably will notice a little bit of rounding of the corners of the photo by the edges of the filter when you zoom out to the maximum, so buy as low profile of a filter as you can. And while you're at it, buy a lens hood - it's a godsend when taking photos into the sun.

[dmdigital]

And while you're at it, buy a lens hood - it's a godsend when taking photos into the sun.
I would have thought that like the Nikon it would come with a lens hood:confused: If it doesn't then definitely get one.

[mike_ie]

I would have thought that like the Nikon it would come with a lens hood:confused: If it doesn't then definitely get one.

The 500D is a Canon, and sadly, they don't come by default with a lens hood. Not in my experience at least :(

When I say "lens hood" by the way, I mean this thing:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/01/1114.jpg

...not this thing :D

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/images/products/canon_e_ultra_lens_cover.jpg

[Chucaro]

........
Other than that, additional filters are purely for adding artistic touches to the photos. Depending on whether you are a purist or not, i.e. want to add these effects during the photographic process, most of these effects can be replicated quite easily nowadays in even the most basic of digital imaging software.


Grad filters are not for additional touches and cannot 100% replicated with basic software. :)

[WhiteD3]

................ And while you're at it, buy a lens hood - it's a godsend when taking photos into the sun.

Thanks Mike. And you're right, not hood came with the camera.

[mike_ie]

Grad filters are not for additional touches and cannot 100% replicated with basic software. :)

I agree mate - I for one, don't use editing software other than to resize photos, or convert from RAW to jpg. If I can't capture it with the camera, I don't want to add it in later on the computer. But as I said, it completely depends on your attitude towards this type of photography. :)

[werdan]

I have a UV filter on all my lenses for protection only.
I have a 77mm circular polariser which only gets used occasionally to control reflections in glass and water.

I have a whole set of cokin effects filters that don't fit any lenses anymore since the average size of my lenses has gone from 55mm to 77mm. I wouldn't use them anyway except the ND grad, as adding effects in software is much more controllable and much less permanent.

[PSi]

I agree with the use of filters as "crumple zones" for expensive lenses. Also have had mud and sand thrown against front lens element before (we do like our Land Rovers, don't we?). Less painful washing and wiping filters than that lovely curved purple glass.
With some thought to "cheap glass in front of expensive glass", I bought a few 77mm Nikon NC (Neutral Colour) filters, not because I have any evidence they are superior to Hoya or B+W but simply that they are made by the same guys who made the lens so how bad can they be?

[grounded]

I have a whole set of cokin effects filters that don't fit any lenses anymore since the average size of my lenses has gone from 55mm to 77mm. I wouldn't use them anyway except the ND grad, as adding effects in software is much more controllable and much less permanent.

howdy - would u be selling the cokins and what ones do they include?
pete

[werdan]

howdy - would u be selling the cokins and what ones do they include?
pete

It's a Cokin A series holder with a 55mm adapter and a 49-55mm step up ring. As for filters, I've got a ND Grad (Gradual G2 - A121), tobacco grad (Gradual B1 - A122) and a yellow (COEF+1/3 Yellow - A001) for increasing contrast shooting b&W. I also have a 'vaseline effect' (soft focus edges/sharp centre) and a less severe tobacco grad I received from a magazine give-away. They are a little scratched up (not enough to affect shooting) so I could just give them to you for the price of the postage.

[grounded]

hi andrew,
yeah ok [sorry for the belated reply] - happy to buy them off you except for the tobacco and soft focus ones if you would rather sell them to someone else. i think i have both of them already

do you still have them??