PhotographyBanzai.com

I decided to do a quick test to see how my collection of 58mm UV filters damage image quality. I also took an image without a filter to see what difference using no filter makes.  A simple test. Why do I personally use filters? I want the added protection that a filter brings as well as the simplicity of cleaning a filter instead of the front element of the lens. I occasionally take the filter off when I know the situation will cause issues such as extreme reflections from that added glass. This test was intended to test reflection and glare, not image sharpness. I might eventually do another test to see if there is a reduction in sharpness. Here is an image with all filters and the no filter sample. Here is the video I put together as I was testing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ituue1zeo Get the replacement Hoya 58mm EVO Antistatic UV(0) Filter here: B&H Photo Video Amazon.com Used from KEH.com Get the Hoya 58mm Ultraviolet UV(0) Super Multi-Coated (S-HMC) Glass Haze Filte...

I returned from the trip Sunday night. Started looking through the photos and some look pretty good, although I had a few issues I’ll go over in the coming weeks through articles on the site. Quick tip: Don’t use clear lens filters. I had a higher-end clear “digital” lens filter on the FA 31mm Limited and it caused very bad flare/reflections in some situations (reflections off of the filter were showing up in the images). So my suggestion is to always buy multi-coated filters if you want to have some protection on the lens. I had a 49mm Hoya UV HMC filter on my cheap DA 50-200mm WR lens and the results were consistently great. I went against my better judgment when buying that clear filter for the 31mm. I just ordered a few Hoya UV HMC/SHMC filters to replace the clear ones I have. I like filters for convenience, but clear uncoated ones are just not up to the level of quality I require.

All items are in and ready for the trip! I think I’ve got all of my bases covered in focal length and maximum aperture. I’m looking forward to giving my two new recruits (31mm and 50-200mm) a full run-through. I’ve decided to take: DA 14mm f2.8 – Rectilinear wide angle should be great for taking images on the ship, and of course landscape vistas. FA 31mm f1.8 Limited – All rounder, which I now dub the renaissance man of lenses. DA 50-200mm WR – Give some range to the kit without much weight. – Weather resistance to go along with the K-7 on rainy days if any occur. Call me crazy, but I usually use filters with my lenses. While it’s possible that there is some very slight quality loss I prefer having something in front of the main lens element for ease of cleaning and protection. I found to today that the new 31mm has a strange filter layout. The filter threads go all the way down to the front element, so when I put a filter on the two pieces of glass were touching in the middle. Lu...