Which filter to use on 2.8 70-200

Steve2

Steve2

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Steve
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Now i have a Nikon 70-2002.8VR lens i am contemplating putting a filter on the front as my friend who i bought it off never fitted one as he said why pay £1500 for a quality piece of glass and stick a cheap piece of glass on the front of it.
He always used the hood and the glass is perfect so what do you all think i should do, and any recomendations please
 
This is a perpetual, and inconclusive debate.

I own a protection filter that fits most of my lenses - I have never used it. For me, the only time is likely to be when there's sea spray, which is truly horrible stuff and it gets blown about everywhere. If there is no immediate and real danger of anything damaging, I never use a filter. I just take care. I think your friend has a very good point - use a hood instead. I always use a hood. The most likely danger is that I stick my own finger prints on the lens, and that ruins image quality with flare and a hood stops that, as well as improving IQ in many situations (and never detracting from it). There are lots of threads about this.

If you must use a filter, Hoya HD is probably the best.
 
I always use a hood - I havn't used a 'protection' filter in 40 years!
 
I agree, although I understand that for some Canon L lenses to be fully weatherproof (not waterproof) they need a filter on the front.

By the same token Arkady swears by filters as he is in a harsh environment and he would rather damage/mark a filter than a lens.

I have had SLRs for over 30 years and not damaged a lens yet by not having a filter, but it I want a special effect or am going somewhere abrasive (nr the beach or sea) then I fit one if I can.
 
I one day hope to run to decent filters on all my glass in the name of protection. My choice would be Hoya Pro1 D or HD filters, which are about £30-40ea on Amazon for 77mm flavours :)
 
this is one of those subjects with so many different opinions your never likely to get one clear answer. I would suggest you weigh up your options and do what you feel is best... :)
 
Steve2 said:
Now i have a Nikon 70-2002.8VR lens i am contemplating putting a filter on the front as my friend who i bought it off never fitted one as he said why pay £1500 for a quality piece of glass and stick a cheap piece of glass on the front of it.
He always used the hood and the glass is perfect so what do you all think i should do, and any recomendations please
Click to expand...
100% agree with this A Hood is all I use:thumbs:
 
It always makes me laugh when I hear the 'why put a cheap bit of glass in front of your expensive lens' argument...

There's a really easy solution to this: don't use 'cheap' filters... Hoya and Nikon both make Pro-series (i.e. relatively expensive) filters that are optically flat - that means they're made to the same tolerances as your 'expensive' front element...

If you think you need a 'protection' or UV filter, then you probably do, if you don't - well it's your lens...do whatever you like...
 
Arkady said:
It always makes me laugh when I hear the 'why put a cheap bit of glass in front of your expensive lens' argument...

There's a really easy solution to this: don't use 'cheap' filters... Hoya and Nikon both make Pro-series (i.e. relatively expensive) filters that are optically flat - that means they're made to the same tolerances as your 'expensive' front element...

If you think you need a 'protection' or UV filter, then you probably do, if you don't - well it's your lens...do whatever you like...
Click to expand...

Couldnt have said it better myself... which is why I didnt :D

I did also wonder about this when I bought my glass, but you will be fine with the hood most of the time.

The only time I will use a filter is when I am off to africa to protect from dust and abrasives on the glass... thats it though.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys:thumbs:
I am happy to buy an expensive filter to keep in the bag so if i need to use it it is available but for now i will shoot naked:D
Arkady you must go through loads, keep safe:thumbs:
 
Like Darrenb, I have a Hoya pro 1 UV on every lens I own, except the fisheye, 300 2.8 which comes with it built in at the front and the same with the 500 f4. The only other lens I don't filter protect is my 105 f2 DC, because it never gets used in harsh environments and trying to get down to the lens to clean the thing is a difficult operation anyway, so the glass is well hidden.

Someone said: insurance is for damage - but your excess is £100 on most policies. A good filter is £40 and the front element is never exposed to any crud. Rain can remove some of the specialist coating if it gets on there. Rain that has come through a city atmosphere is not distilled wtaer any longer........

As someone else said. Do your own thing.
 
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