Lens Protection

swiftflo

swiftflo

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Name
Peter
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Yes
Looking for advice on a lens filter to protect the front element of my Nikon 52mm lens.

Would you advise a ND2 filter for this purpose ?.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
No, an ND2 will reduce the light entering the lens. You want a Nikon NC (Neutral Color) filter which is perfectly clear.
 
What are you wanting to protect it from ?

A lens hood works well for general protection.

If you are going to get a filter, then I'd recommend buying a good quality one, otherwise it can degrade your image / cause issues
 
andyred said:
What are you wanting to protect it from ?

A lens hood works well for general protection.

If you are going to get a filter, then I'd recommend buying a good quality one, otherwise it can degrade your image / cause issues
Click to expand...

I suppose you could say for general/overall protection.
 
swiftflo said:
I suppose you could say for general/overall protection.
Click to expand...

Personally I wouldn't bother with a filter then and use (as I do) a lens hood.

if you were shooting near the sea for an example, a filter can help keep spray / moisture / splashes of your front element and making it easier to clean
 
Ozei said:
Or a Hoya SHMC PRO-1 Digital Protector - http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/71555/show.html?cm_vc=PPZ1
Click to expand...

:thumbs:

The good news is that the price of Hoya's 'protector' filters is coming back down again - play have them for £27 for 72mm, whereas they bumped up to £90 for 72mm for a while (I figure some part of production is in thailand).

They're not quite as cheap as they were back at the tail end of last summer (about £20 for 72mm) but they're back affordable again.

Like others, I would NOT recommend using them all the time, but they're a useful thing to have in your bag just in case you DO need something to stop saltwater or sand or something.
 
I used hoya UV filters on all my lenses when I first started in photography with a Canon 550D. When I got a 7D I had a problem with softness on the majority of my photos, until one shoot when I took the filter off to try. The difference was amazing, about 95% of the shots were sharp without the filter and most of the soft ones I could put down to my error. I only ever use a filter now if it's wet or very dusty and the photos are sharp as a tack still.
 
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