Filter Brands

[HawgTide]

Hello folks, I lurk a lot on this forum and enjoy the photos and information that is posted, especially from the resident experts.

I like to shoot portraits mostly. That's because it keeps my wife from taking the kids to Sears every month (and also not a big fan of the cold )

My question to the experts is what brand of filters do you prefer? I just bought a new lens and I'm thinking about getting a couple of Hoyas, but I thought I would pose the question on here to see other opinions.

[Steve Foss]

I'm a Hoya man myself, HawgTide. Great filters.

[finnbay]

I use Hoya myself. In some respects, it's a Nikon/Canon type question. There are some top of the line filters out there for $$$$$ but I've been happy with the moderately priced ones.

[Steve Foss]

If money wasn't an issue I'd use Singh Ray filters, but I've found Hoya to be great quality at a medium price.

Also, I only use one type of filter anymore. That's a circular polarizer, and I don't use even that one much. Lots of shooters mount a sky filter or UV/haze filter on each lens to help protect the glass, but I'm pretty obsessive about not putting another layer of glass between the subject and sensor, no matter how good the glass. And I take pains to protect the glass at all times, also avoiding pointing the lens straight up, and making sure I carry the camera with lens pointing backwards as I'm moving through the woods. That being said, accidents CAN happen.

If I did more landscape work I might spring for a set of graduated neutral density filters for evening out bright sky and dark land, but with the ability to blend different exposures of the same image in photoshop and other HDR techniques, those filters aren't needed as much as they were.

Come to think of it, HawgTide, which types of filters are you thinking of using for your portrait work?

[finnbay]

I still put UV filters on the lenses I can for protection. Mostly from force of habit, I guess. I understand the argument about "the more glass between subject and sensor, the more the degradation of the image". I guess I just find myself many times in a position where I'm focusing on one thing and swinging the camera around as another - I'm just not as careful as I should be sometimes. Also, under some conditions, water droplets or dust get onto the lens front, and I don't feel bad grabbing a soft, clean cloth to wipe it off. If it scratches, a UV is cheaper to replace than the front element on my 70-200. This post is not meant to start an argument, or even a discussion for that matter. Lots of good reasons for not using a filter for protection. Just another viewpoint.

[HawgTide]

Quote:

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Come to think of it, HawgTide, which types of filters are you thinking of using for your portrait work?

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I was looking at the Hoya PRO1D neutral density filters. They would allow me to open up the aperture more than I can now. My strobes are only adjustable to half power and even with a soft-box I can't shoot as open as I would like sometimes.

Thanks for the replies, BTW. Sounds like Hoya is a good choice.

[buzzsaw]

Another is B + W.

[Dbl]

When I use them, B + W for me.