topic Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond in Gear Guide

Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:05:33 GMT

Hi folks

Following my post on photography on a train journey, a few of you recommended I get CPL lens filters to avoid glare. Quick check of my kit and unsurprisingly, they're weren't any!

Apart from one (photo attached) my filters are all the UV type.

So a few related questions.

1) do you experienced guys carry a few filters and change them as the situation alters? If so could you please share some best practice.

2) are there any 'does and don'ts' when using filters? If so, what are they?

3) some of my filters appear to be stuck in the lens, which I suspect is the aluminum thread oxidised into the lens thread. So any advice on how to prevent this happening, as I've always been warey of applying substances to my camera.

4) and finaly, what is the filter in the photograph as I can't remember buying it and for what purpose. I suspect it was for landscape shots at sunrise or sunset

Thanks as ever

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:19:55 GMT

@Ramsden wrote:

Hi folks

Following my post on photography on a train journey, a few of you recommended I get CPL lens filters to avoid glare. Quick check of my kit and unsurprisingly, they're weren't any!

Apart from one (photo attached) my filters are all the UV type.

So a few related questions.

1) do you experienced guys carry a few filters and change them as the situation alters? If so could you please share some best practice.

2) are there any 'does and don'ts' when using filters? If so, what are they?

3) some of my filters appear to be stuck in the lens, which I suspect is the aluminum thread oxidised into the lens thread. So any advice on how to prevent this happening, as I've always been warey of applying substances to my camera.

4) and finaly, what is the filter in the photograph as I can't remember buying it and for what purpose. I suspect it was for landscape shots at sunrise or sunset

Thanks as ever

Ramsden

That filter is a graduated neutral density filter. You are correct-it is used to balance exposure when a portion of the framing is significantly brighter than the rest, like sunset/sunrise landscape shots.

Filter use or no filter use will engender an unending stream of opinions/comments. Some correct and some specious.

"Don't put a $100 filter on a $3000 lens". Much of a lens' cost is engineering and mechanism, not the glass. A small flat piece of glass can be high quality at a $100 price point.

Some lenses behave badly when a filter added because of reflections of the filter back into the lens.

Some lenses require a clear filter to complete the weatherproofing - the instruction manuals will say when.

Some folks only use a filter when the desired result cannot be achieved in post-processing - i.e. a polarizing filter.

Some folks put a clear protective filter on every lens.

Others rely on a lens hood except in adverse conditions, like blowing sand.

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:43:00 GMT

Thanks John

Some very helpful information.

I'll look forward to 'endless stream'

Apologies if you guys have discussed this to death in the past.

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

shadowsports — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:01:23 GMT

I think John has covered your questions.

I use protective filters on every lens I own. I also move with both eyes open even when I'm looking through the viewfinder. Especially true if I'm walking through high brush or something where a branch or stick may poke at the camera. I also do this for situational awareness so that I'm not bumping into or tripping on people who usually aren't looking where they're walking. This is true of wedding receptions or other outdoors venues where you're in close proximity to others. 😂

Filters are a matter of personal preference. Anything that gets put on the front of a lens is finger tight. This way they never become fused to the lens threads. You can try rubber gloves to get a better grip and help with removal.

I regularly wipe my lenses down after use and this often includes loosening and retightening a filter gently. I also keep my gear in a dry cabinet so if it gets put away clean it's ready to go the next time I am.

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:13:38 GMT

Thanks Rick.

What you say makes perfect sense.

I can see how this thread is going to work out. I don’t have very expensive lenses and equipment but I want to look after it, and get the best out of it. So I'll soldier on with my uv's and new CPLs for now.

Best

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

TomRamsey — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:31:05 GMT

I have several CPL and ND filters, but rarely use them as I shoot more often when the light is low. If you have to shoot in bright sunlight a CPL filter can be handy. I do not use any "protection filters" as they can degrade your image quality. I feel the best protection is a hood, as it has some give and is weaker than the lens, beside doing it's job to keep stray light off the lens. I've actually seen a camera dropped on the hood first and no damage was done, without that hood the threads on the lens would have been bent and possibly more damage. If you want to use a filter for protection a clear filter is better than a UV filter, but don't forget that the hood will protect it from most impact. People will argue about using or not using filters, but it's your choice.

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:12:02 GMT

Hi Tom

Thank you so much your response. In fact (over night) the one previous comment that stuck in my mind was: why stick a £100 filter on £3000 lens (dollars).

I have neither, but I do have a few cheaper UV's stuck on my lenses, that cost a few hundred pounds. And I like to look after my gear. My photography has several themes, but probably 4-5 days a week, weather permitting, I take my little dog and camera for a walk around the Pennine footpaths. Its not ideal, but thats what I do, and I'm always aware of branches poking the camera if I have it on my camstrap. But even without a UV filter, this process is perfectly manageable. I'll just be more careful.

So I'm going to keep the CPL filters for train window glare, and put the UV's back in their box.

Thanks for the nudge!

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

JeffXB — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:21:44 GMT

As others have said, it’s your decision to use or not use a clear glass protection filter; or any filter for that matter, but a CPL or LPL (linear polarizer) will come in handy for your trip. Modern mirrorless and DLSR’s don’t need UV protection filters, they’re a throw back to the days of film.

Personally I use clear glass filters as I’m a bit of klutz. A little over a year ago I sold all my screw on filters and switched over to Maven’s magnetically mounted ones. You need either a screw on adapter ring or what they call a splash adapter ring for the filters to attach to. I use the splash adapter rings and haven’t noticed one bit of difference in image quality or auto focus speed / tracking, nor have I noticed any glare from the reflection off the filter to the lens. I also use their magnetic lens caps, much faster and easier to put on and take off, especially with a longer lens hood attached. I don’t know if I’m allowed to post a link here to their website, so just google search Maven Filters. Disclaimer: I’m not affected with nor do I have any interest in the company, I’m just a satisfied customer like thousands of other people.

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:41:13 GMT

Good morning Jeff

Thank you for a fascinating addition to my enquiry. I keep learning from you guys. I feel a bit silly admitting that I'd never heard of the magnetic fitting. These make absolute sense to me, as nearly all my screw on filters feel stuck!

Equally the clear glass makes sense, if the UV is not needed on my EOS90D.

I feel the need for some protection for the lens, and while I can see that the hood offers a little bit, a clear filter is more appropriate.

I'll check out the link.

Thanks as ever.

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:49:21 GMT

Not cheap- but I think I can justify the conversion of my relatively small numbers of lenses. I call that a result, and I had no idea we would end up at this place! Hopefully better quality photography and ease and flexibility of operations greatly improved.

Thanks guys.

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:13:15 GMT

You really only need to purchase the magnetic ring for each lens. Then with one filter to can put it on the lens you are using at the time. No need to have a filter for each lens.

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:47:29 GMT

Hi John

Thanks, that's good news. I'll be interested to see how this works in practice. It will certainly save me a lot of money.

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:09:29 GMT

Hi again John

Could you please explain in more detail how this works with the different sizes?

I feel I'm being a bit dumb not understanding how the different sizes integrate.

Thanks

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:58:44 GMT

You get a filter for your largest diameter lens and step up rings that match that filter on female thread and each lens on the male thread.

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

JeffXB — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:27:32 GMT

Maven also recently introduced thread-less and extra strength thread-less step up and step down rings. You’d still need an adapter ring or splash adapter on each lens. The extra strength ones are quite strong and mainly designed for when you want to stack filters or use some of their heavier filters (like the diopters).

So as an example if the largest diameter lens you have is 82mm and you also have 67 or 77mm lenses. Buy 82mm filters and use step up rings to attach them to your other lenses. The only downside to using them is you won’t be able to attach your lens hood. They do however make magnetic lens hoods as well.

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:39:20 GMT

Thanks Jeff

This is quite fascinating. I never expected my post to deliver so many new ideas, and on such a simple concept as the filter.

I can see a visit to camera shop is now on the agenda, after first doing my research with you guys to guide me!

Thanks as ever

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:25:09 GMT

Hi Jeff

Just clarifying my shopping list.

Ive currently got 7 lenses for my EOS90D and luckily some of them have the same thread size.

So my smallest is 52mm

2 x 58mm

3 x 67mm

1 x 68mm

So I order a 68mm filter

A 52, 58 and 67mm adapters- are these magnetic?

A magnetic hood

But Im not sure how to order the step up rings.

Great if you could check this over and advise on the step ups. Would that be '52 to 68 step up ring' ?

Kind regards

Ramsden

Re: Recommendations for lens filters and beyond

Ramsden — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:43:42 GMT

Apologies

My smallest is 49mm

Largest 67mm

And I can see the step up rings on line.

Sorted

Thanks