Filters

Ignore the "UV" filter. IMO, it's pointless.

As for ordering of ND and CPL, I don't suppose it matters much, but I'd have the CPL on first since I use it far more often. Tt also depends on whether the filters you have are threaded on both ends. Some aren't.

 

I have UV filters on all of my lenses just in case I get a scratch. Easier to replace a $50 filter than a $300+ lens.

 

Just read an article on polarizing filters..

Take one filter on lens, hold another few inches in front of it and shoot a clear plastic item....Every LSD color in the Book appears...In wave formation..

Anyone Remember LSD ?

 

In many ways, filters died with film. ~Mostly~ anything you used to do with a filter you can do today with Photoshop et al.

There are a few exceptions; a CP and an ND grad are the only two 'effects' filters I use. I ALWAYS keep a high quality UV filter on the front of my lens. I clean it religiously and it acts as 'sacrificial' glass. Cleaning glass puts microscopic scratches in the coating. I'd rather throw away a $40 filter than a $1200 lens. 'nuff said.

I did not follow your links but from the text descriptions, you're 100% going in the right direction. B+W = Yum.

As far as the order you put the filters on, every piece of glass you add to the lens, will cause some level of light to be reflected where you don't want it. If you're in a clean environment, and in a perfect world, you would take the UV off to put the CP on... but then if you lived in that world, you would never need the UV.

With modern coatings, adding another hunk of glass to the stack is really not that big a deal. So the 'real world' advice is leave the UV in place and add the CP over it.

The last bit of filter advice I have for you is buy a 50mm 1.8 (or 1.4 if you're serious) and get a good set of closeup filters. I think mine are Hoyas. Amazon reviews will get you there.

A 50mm 1.8 and a (good) set of closeup lenses will run you about $200... but MAN they are fun to have in a camera bag.

The pic below is both TTL and AUTOFOCUS (with a $200 rig!) AND I took it holding the camera in one hand an a 16 month old in the other. That flower is about the size of a U.S. Quarter.

We saw a butterfly garden in Florida and pulled over to let the kids see it... before this pic, I had no idea, butterflies had eyeballs much less what they looked like. (and this is jpeged down to like 30K)

This also illustrates the first rule of portrait photography. Always focus on the eye closer to the camera. ;-)

(and yes for you real photo geeks more DOf would have been 'better.' I actually got some of those too.. but I love this eyeball shot)

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I realized after I posted, some people might not know what I'm talking about as far as closeup lenses (filters) go.

I use this set.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009SY8GU?ie=UTF8&tag=tgdo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0009SY8GU

It was a gift from a VERY serious pro I know for helping him with a job. They are only 40 bucks but amazing. He said he liked the Hoyas the best because of the little pouch. After using it, he was right. Too cheap for everyone not to own.

The eyeball pic above was all 3 of them stacked IIRC. I know that eyeball is like the size of a pin head in real life.

 

I've always kinda figured that since it's SO out of focus, a scratch on the face of the lens is unlikely to appreciably affect image quality.

 

I used to have a UV filter on my 'everyday' lens, a Canon 24-105. The filter does degrade the image quality. I only use it now if I'm on the water or shooting at the beach. I have a variable ND filter and am looking at getting a CP & Red soon.

 

http://www.lensrentals.com/news/2008.10.30/front-element-scratches

save flare if the angle is right that's largely the case.

not a fan of filter's...

 

nice

 

I just use a generic filter to protect my lens. I don't see much of a difference with or without it as long as its clean, but I'm also not professionally analyzing it.

 

Here's your problem. You drop a lens with a UV filter, the filter will break and the lens glass will be fine, except that the glass from the UV filter scratches up your lens glass.

If I drop a lens without a UV filter (and trust me I have), nothing breaks and I keep shooting.

 

The only filters I use are polarizing and ND. Mainly just ND to get long exposures in bright daylight. Not a fan of using either, though, as the quality drop is somewhat noticeable.