This post is for those photographers out there who read my blog (thank you for reading!). I thought I’d share something I’ve learned by trial and error.
After you’ve invested your hard-earned money on some beautiful lenses, the last thing you want to happen is for those pretty pieces of glass to get scratched up. So, you buy the little UV filter that shows up as your checking out online. You just want something simple that will give your lens a layer of protection from sand, sticks, and stray fingerprint smudges.
This is exactly what I did when I purchased some of my really nice lenses. Sure, I saw other filters out there…but they cost upwards of $100. I didn’t see a need for something “fancy.”
Wrong.
What I didn’t realize at the time (though it seems silly to me now), is that good lenses have multiple coatings to prevent, among other things, “ghosting.” Basically, when you aim your camera and lens at a bright object–the sun, a chandelier, a backlit window–you may find a miniature faded “ghost” image of the light source in another part of your photo. I’m no expert as to all the mechanics of why this happens, but I know it has to do with the different elements within your lens and your camera’s mirror catching and reflecting the light.
So, when you take a cheap piece of glass and put it over your expensive lens, you basically destroy its flare-fighting value. This is especially noticeable when you have your aperture wide open. Case in point: the below image was shot using my cheap UV filter I bought. I pointed it a bare bulb light in our outdoor hallway.
Camera data:
Lens: Canon 85mm f1.2 II
Shutter speed: 1/160th
F stop: f/ 1.2
ISO: 100
Notice the ugly reflection on the right side of the photo.
Here is the same shot, same data without a filter. No ugly ghosting.
And here is the last shot with my new Hoya Hardened Glass Filter.
You can actually still see a tiny bit of flare in that last image…it’s reddish tinted. Obviously, the lens without a filter produces the cleanest image, but I did notice a slight reduction in chromatic aberration with my Hoya Hardened Glass Filter. Plus, the filter provides the layer of protection that I want for my lens. I’ll take the tiny bit of flaring if it means my lens is protected. What I don’t want is that monstrous blob in the first photo.
Interestingly, I tried the same test on my Canon 70-200 2.8 IS zoom lens, but in every test (including the one with no filter at all), I saw a bit of ghosting. So, the jury is still out on that one as to which filter is better. I think I need to test it in more settings.
Finally, here’s a look at the two filters. The one on the left is my old cheapie filter, the one on the right is the new one.
And here’s a shot of the cheap filter in the light.
And the hardened glass one. Notice how the light passes through it more nicely.
In conclusion, if you’re buying a nice lens, I really recommend purchasing a good UV filter to go with it. Otherwise, you’re wasting your money on the lens.
by mary
Maryland CBD - Thank you for sharing.
mary - Thanks Merrit for reading! I’m totally with you, too, on the flare–I love it, too. But what the cheap filter does is something a bit different…it doesn’t look like pretty flare but an ugly blob of light. (I know, because I’ve gotten plenty of nice flare with the cheap lens…but this ghosting thing is different). The hardened glass filter doesn’t take the flare away, either…otherwise, I wouldn’t want it!
merrit - Hi Mary!
I’ve been reading your blog here and there from time to time and I LOVE it! I’m a fellow Pittsburgh photographer and wish that I kept up on the blogging as well as you!
Beautiful work!!!!!
Had no idea about the cheap lens filter. Thanks for that test! I do like flare though, so maybe cheap is better for me 🙂
Hope to shoot with you someday.
peace and cartwheels,
m