The Kenko is on its way and I have been told it should arrive 1st April! That sounds promising.

B&W is the only answer.

Well as I went ahead an ordered the Kenko I just hope it isn't too thick. I can just see that if it is I have probably spent more money than I would have on a really top class filter by being a Scrooge. It is true, we spend so much on good lenses so it is foolish to put just any make filter on them. We live and learn.

adamz said:
IMHO, what's the deal of getting cheap filter if You spend a lot of money on Your lens. OTOH, what's the idea of putting an expensive or any filter on cheap lens, when it's not a special fx filter? just some thoughts.

Hi,

I quite agree with Adamz, and I will add that when working, I would have my gear confiscated by local authorities and jostled in my bags. It would be common for lens caps to be off and lenses to 'free range': Lens protection can mean different things to different people - my version includes having my bags in custody of others. Those filters protected my lenses from getting scratched.

Some won't go to hostile extremes, but an ounce of prevention.

My best,

Mike

Alchemy said:
You also have to watch out for vignette when you are shooting 18mm. A thicker filters can be seen at the wide angle so it is best to buy a thin filter to avoid this problem. I used the Nikon 72mm on my 18-200 and it was an excellent filter, quite expensive but very good.

Harriet I believe Alchemy's point is the most valid and you probably won't find an inexpensively made thin 72mm polarizing filter.

IMHO, what's the deal of getting cheap filter if You spend a lot of money on Your lens. OTOH, what's the idea of putting an expensive or any filter on cheap lens, when it's not a special fx filter? just some thoughts.

I liked the comparison of the Rolls Royce and other cars made by the same manufacturer
it brought a truism home to me. I haven't got the Kenko yet and I will only have the cheapo to compare it with but it will be interesting (I suppose).
For being a skinflint I will probably end up spending much more than if I had chosen the best first off, I am now going to look at the Nikon.....Photography can be an expensive hobby that is true.
Harriet

You also have to watch out for vignette when you are shooting 18mm. A thicker filters can be seen at the wide angle so it is best to buy a thin filter to avoid this problem. I used the Nikon 72mm on my 18-200 and it was an excellent filter, quite expensive but very good.

I've never used a Kenko so can't speak from experience, but Volkswagen make Rolls Royce's, and Ford own Aston Martin. It doesn't make them the same. You are right however, sometimes factories produce an identical item sold more cheaply under another name, question is which?

I have just been watching a video about polarizer filters on Youtube and something caught my attention, Hoya and Kenko are made by the same factory. In fact it was said that they are the same, I wonder.

I tried out a cheapo polarizer (feeling a bit skinflint this week) and it got stuck, thank goodness for the tip about a rubber band. I have one of those thick rubber bands to stop lens creep and all I did was slip it down (a bit fiddly but I managed) and got the thing off. I say "thing" as it is going in the bin and I am going to order one of those recommended good ones mentioned above.
Harriet

Spy Black said:
>>BTW, it's a filter, not a lens. <<

It's still a lens, albeit a simple one...

Isn't. A lens changes the ray paths using refraction. A filter doesn't, just like a window.

>>BTW, it's a filter, not a lens. <<

It's still a lens, albeit a simple one, and it WILL have an effect on the "lens" you're putting it on. Granted, sometimes you need to do this, as with a polarizer, but putting UVs in a lens to "protect" it is like wearing a condom all the time. Use one only when you need to.

Hi all,

I use the wrenches, too, and have for a long time. They are great to have. Filters will get stuck.

I tend to use either Nikon filters or B+W on nearly all my lenses. There was a 'UV (AKA protective filter' thread

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=1367

that when on for quite a while. Points I agree with are that an expensive lens can degrade with a really poor quality filter - but these days, good techniques in manufacturing have helped a lot in making some things equal out.

Photoshoper's can do a lot with layers in post, of course, which is a terrific way to ease some burden in shooting.

My best,

Mike

LostNinja and Adamz, I used to use the rubber band method, but for the few bucks for the filter wrenches (and they pack easily) and they're actually quicker than getting the rubbber band around the filter (every millisecond counts !! LOL), I got the wrenches. I've also used mousepads (in the manner Adamz suggests) and jar openers (those floppy thin pieces of rubber). Actually, I think the real reason I bought the wrenches is that I'm basically a stuff person. If I think I may need something (be photography related, motorcycle related, etc.), I buy it.

Oh it does a large margin and not having a filter on at all is optically the best. If you should choose to put a filter on your camera dont waist your time with cheap filters.

I would like to see the difference between my cheaper Kenko filter and say, a B&W - just to see if the performance justifies the crazy price.

I was a big fan of filters until i did a comparison test of sharpness with several top of the line multicoated filters. I was shocked to find out how much it reduces the sharpness when looking at imaged 100% some people dont care about the slight sharpness loss but for me it bothered me knowing it was giving me less detail.

Back when I used my 18-200 Nikon (with 72mm thread) the person I bought from suggested I get a 77mm filter and a 72mm->77mm step up ring. The idea is that there are more lenses with a 77mm diameter, and if ever I bought new glass, I'd have a filter that worked on more than one lens. Turns out, I got rid of my 18-200, and that 77mm polarizer is still in use on my new lenses today.

So now I tell everyone in a similar situation the same thing. :D

@warprints - if You have problems with filter locking on Your lens, the easiest way to unscrew them is to put the lens (filter down) on a rubber surface, i.e. flipflop and twist the lens counterclockwise; cheapest than any tool and You can use it everywhere:)

nikon polarizers are very good. thought by many to be the best, and about the same a b+w, and cheaper than heliopan.

they dont do nd's though

warprints said:
however, I have found that the B+W sometimes "lock" onto the lens a bit tighter (for which I have filter removal tools).

There are tools? I usually just use a rubber band around the filter (which i carry with my in my camera bag). I once fought for almost 2 days trying to get a locked filter of my lens till i found this tip on the net.

I have B+W, Hoya and Nikon filters (not just polarizing filters) and I've been happy with all of them - however, I have found that the B+W sometimes "lock" onto the lens a bit tighter (for which I have filter removal tools).

Sorry I meant filter it is for my lens of course. Typo!
I never buy without getting advice and reading reviews etc.
I have bought things straight from China in the past, I have sometimes been lucky (Customs the darlings) and other times I have been sorry.
I am now going to look up prices etc.
Thanks,
Harriet

SkintBrit said:
my 77mm's cost about £60. They're about three times that in a camera store.

Ay Caramba!