BabyRebel wrote:.

I have been seeing lots of question regarding 'filters'..

What is the main purpose of them? I think I would like one for justprotecting the lens 'in case' I drop the camera....is there a goodfilter for that?.

If you've noticed the previous questions, then... you should also notice that they've already been answered...

Well, obviously I didn't see the answer, hence the work for me to type out specifically what I wanted to know...

Wow, gee, thank you for the time you put into posting those links for me..

However, doesn't answer everything I wanted to know. This IS the beginners forum so I feel I am allowed to ask simple questions like this..

Can I put my lens cap over a filter?Which one specifically is for lens protection? (ie, the name, model, etc).

I also added the specfic lens into my post in case just 'maybe' someone might be able to suggest something specifically for that lens...

All these have already been answered in previous discussions....

Can I put my lens cap over a filter?.

Yes if front threads, no otherwise. 'Slim' filters normally don't have front threads..

Which one specifically is for lens protection? (ie, the name, model,etc).

UV. Plain glass. Multicoated if you feel you MUST use one. Quite a few including myself view the lens hood as normally sufficient. B+W. Heliopan come to mind..

I also added the specfic lens into my post in case just 'maybe'someone might be able to suggest something specifically for that lens..

It's not wide enough to mandate anything special. Fun comes in with polarizers and ultrawides...

Thanks for the info!.

When you say you feel a lens hood is sufficient, do you think if I was to drop my camera (I highly doubt I would though, just in case!), a lens hood would protect just as well as a filter?.

Also, can I put my regular lens cap over a lens hood? I have never seen one up cloes before..

Thanks!..

When you say you feel a lens hood is sufficient, do you think if Iwas to drop my camera (I highly doubt I would though, just in case!),a lens hood would protect just as well as a filter?.

Depends on the hood material and construction, but it seems rather likely..

The most obvious case in which a hood wouldn't be sufficient is when dealing with problems directly headed towards the lens, straight-on ex. if wind is blowing sand (eek!) directly towards you, from the direction you're facing..

Also, can I put my regular lens cap over a lens hood? I have neverseen one up cloes before..

Hood's stored inverted on the lens, lens cap goes in front. Normally, anyway. If the hood is in use... seems unlikely, unless your hood is threaded and you have a (larger) lens cap...

BabyRebel wrote:.

Thanks for the info!.

When you say you feel a lens hood is sufficient, do you think if Iwas to drop my camera (I highly doubt I would though, just in case!),a lens hood would protect just as well as a filter?.

Also, can I put my regular lens cap over a lens hood? I have neverseen one up cloes before..

Thanks!.

Dear bR,.

I'm probably only one or two steps ahead of you, but.....

People use either polarizing, ultra-violet, or skylight filters, permanently srewed into their lenses for the protection of the front element. In addition, the polarizing filter actually has an effect on the picture that is not reproducible by post-processing (check one out on your camera). The other two have negligible picture quality effect on modern (digital) cameras. All three are manufactured by a variety of companies in a variety of qualities (cheap to expensive)..

The one time I dropped a camera (in it's case), it fell lens first -about 2 to 3 feet onto concrete - breaking the UV filter and jamming the lens cap onto the filter ring so hard that I needed to prise it off with the point of a knife. It also drove the lens (Sigma, 28-80mm autofocus zoom) back into the focussing threads so hard they jammed and I needed to use considerable force to get the lens to turn.) After replacing the filter with a new one, fortumately, everthing seems to work OK..

Filters (any make) have the same external diameter as the lens they fit, so lens-caps and hoods fit OK..

The outer diameter of any lens-hood is greater than the corresponding diameter of the lens/filter, so the original lens cap will not fit over the lens-hood, which must be removed to replace the lens-cap. However, with "ancient" film cameras, e.g. my Asahi Pentax, it is possible that some lens caps -originally intended tor a lens with a larger diameter- will, happenstantially- fit over the lenshood of different lens. For example, it just happens I am able to fit the lens cap intended for my 200mm fixed screw-mount lens over the lenshood of my 50mm fixed screwmount lens. Very convenient!.

The current crop of lens-hoods is made of plastic, which would act as a shock-aborber, but would not protect the front of the lens from dirt or scratches. (Most scratches are inflicted through inappropriate cleaning of the lens, using unsuitalbe materials, such as paper tissues/towels. I know, I've done it). So, having a filter protects the lens from you, as only the filter is exposed and may need a clean...

Thank you Mikelis,.

I didn't realize they are permanently screwed into the lens. Do you mean I can't take the filter off as I please?.

I don't intend to be in any harsh conditions however I am somehow worried that I MIGHT drop the camera one day when I least expect it. I don't want to bang up the lens or the edge of the lens if I did that. I"m thinking a lenshood is probably the way to go for me. Does the canon 50mm 1.4 have it's own lens hood I should get? (Ie, does it have different sizes, etc?).

Thank you!..

BabyRebel wrote:.

Thank you Mikelis,.

I didn't realize they are permanently screwed into the lens. Do umean I can't take the filter off as I please?.

Unless it gets stuck, you can remove it and replace it at any time..

Whatever filter you get, whether it is for protecting the lens (which some people think is important and others do not) or special effects (e.g. polarizer), get a quality filter. There's little point in spending a lot of money for a nice lens and then getting a cheap filter. Multi-coated filters are preferred, and for a 50mm, there is no need for a slim one...

Dear bR,.

When I said "permanently screwed to the lens", I simply meant they leave it there. It can, of course, be removed at any time: either to clean the filter or lens, or to place a different filter, or simply to take it off because it isn't required...

Thanks! for a second there I thought I can't ever change my mind about it after screwing it on permanently!!..