Filter storage

JustinRebbert

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Just wondering what people are using these days for storing filters.

I'm talking about while you bring them with you, not leaving them at home.

If your bag or case, how do you keep the filters you're not using protected? Do you have a case or wallet, or do you use whatever hard case they came in?

I'm thinking of going with something like http://www.adorama.com/GBSFWP.html What I'm not too sure about, though, is how well the filter is actually protected while in something like that. Protected from dust or protected from being scratched by the material of the case itself.

If a filter comes in a hardshell case, that's great, but then you have a lot of individual cases to keep track of.
 
What you provided in the link works. Or you can stack round filters and use a set of stack caps. Like this for example:
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/stackcaps.html

How many filters do you intend to carry and in how many sizes?
Ah, well, you see, your question is difficult to answer, mainly because I don't currently carry any. I'm still buying my first whole set of gear, stepping up from the P&S world, and just wondering how certain "little" details like this are done in world up multiple accessories and things bouncing (hopefully not) around inside gear bags.

What I can say is that with my first big purchase, which will be including a D700 body and 24-70 f/2.8 lens, I will also be getting a B+W circular polarizer filter and B+W UV/haze filter. I'm sure I will be adding to that as I begin to recognize the need for other filters, but for starters, I figured I'd start with the basics.

The link you gave is certainly an interesting concept. Unfortunately there are two things against it: 1. The note about suitability for B+W filters, which is the brand I've already chosen; 2. When possible, I would prefer to get the slim filters, which usually don't have threads on both sides. Not that I necessarily need slim filters for this lens, at least alone, but if I stack them, then at 24mm, maybe? Or if I get a wide-angle lens in the future that truly does need a slim filter, it'd be great to already have it, and not have to buy another filter that's the same as one I already have except for being too thick and causing vignetting.

Still, the product in that link is a really neat idea.
 
I'm thinking of going with something like http://www.adorama.com/GBSFWP.html What I'm not too sure about, though, is how well the filter is actually protected while in something like that. Protected from dust or protected from being scratched by the material of the case itself.
Good morning

:)

I've been in too many threads of using filters to protect lenses and it's entertaining to hear someone speak their mind about protecting the filter....

:)

I have two of those. Previously, I had them in the free cases provided by the filter maker.
  • Those wallets will NOT protect your filter from cracking stresses. They ware soft plastic wallets. On the other hand, you should get a padded bag for your gear and find a nice pocket for them that does not expose the filters to heavy stresses.
  • Protection from dust - well, if you use the filter, it will be exposed to dust. When you take it off and put it into/out of your lint free bag and lint free wallet, some lint, dust, fingerprints may happen. But really, camera gear isn't meant for sea, sand, grime (unless you get an Olympus Tough type of camera) and there's little point having a nice expensive DSLR (for me) if I expose it to tough environments. I've had cameras now for thirty or more years. On the other hand, there is a new generation of cavers, hikers, kayakers, adventurers, soliders who do go to tough environments. In which case, whether it is a hard case or whether it is a soft wallet, as you take the filter in and out, you will get contaminants. That's life.
If a filter comes in a hardshell case, that's great, but then you have a lot of individual cases to keep track of.
Not just that. You spend your life opening these plastic things, closing them, changing to another filter and when you walk down the street, your jacket, pants or bag goes clack, clack, clack as your hard cases bounce around. Way too much irritation for me.

--



Ananda
http://anandasim.blogspot.com
 
What you provided in the link works. Or you can stack round filters and use a set of stack caps. Like this for example:
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/stackcaps.html

How many filters do you intend to carry and in how many sizes?
Ah, well, you see, your question is difficult to answer, mainly because I don't currently carry any. I'm still buying my first whole set of gear, stepping up from the P&S world, and just wondering how certain "little" details like this are done in world up multiple accessories and things bouncing (hopefully not) around inside gear bags.

What I can say is that with my first big purchase, which will be including a D700 body and 24-70 f/2.8 lens, I will also be getting a B+W circular polarizer filter and B+W UV/haze filter. I'm sure I will be adding to that as I begin to recognize the need for other filters, but for starters, I figured I'd start with the basics.
The UV/Haze isn't "basic", it's a very advanced filter, only used in a few specialized situations. I typically drag mine out when I'm shooting in a factory with spraying abrasive compounds, or at a beach with blowing sand.

I store a set of polarizers (52, 62, and a pair of 77mm) in a Lowepro filter wallet that looks a lot like the Adorama one you pointed to. Often some 80A filters in the same case.
The link you gave is certainly an interesting concept. Unfortunately there are two things against it: 1. The note about suitability for B+W filters, which is the brand I've already chosen; 2. When possible, I would prefer to get the slim filters, which usually don't have threads on both sides.
There are more than two things against it. Here's a few more:

It offers zero protection from side impacts, while the filter wallet offers substantial protection.

It takes forever to screw and unscrew the stack to get filters in and out of the middle. Not the "flip and grab" ease of the wallet.

Yes, it saves some space and some cost. But I find the convenience of a wallet to be worth the space and cost.
Not that I necessarily need slim filters for this lens,
You don't. And the regular polarizer is a lot easier to turn reaching around the edge of the hood.
at least alone, but if I stack them, then at 24mm, maybe?
What are you going to stack? For those rare occasions where you'd actually use a UV filter, you remove it when using the polarizer, because you get multiple reflections between the filters.

I sometimes stack mine with an enhancing filter, but my good enhancing filter is in Cokin P mount, and P-rings don't vignette when stacked in front of normal thickness polarizers.
Or if I get a wide-angle lens in the future that truly does need a slim filter, it'd be great to already have it, and not have to buy another filter that's the same as one I already have except for being too thick and causing vignetting.
Which wide are you considering? I doubt the new 16-35, being an f4, would vignette with a normal filter.
Still, the product in that link is a really neat idea.
Only if you redefine "neat" to mean "lot of trouble to save a few $".

--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.

Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.

Ciao! Joseph

http://www.swissarmyfork.com
 
I have something like you indicate. I bought it used from Adorama. Get a small one first, that fits maybe 4 filters that you can carry with you. If you need more capacity, get a larger one to hold all filters, and you can carry around either one depending on how many lenses you have with you when you are out.
--
Ed
 
Depends on what filters and bag I am carrying.

I carry a Canon 30D, a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, a Canon L 70-200 f/4 IS. and a Canon 50 f/1.8 Mk II.

Most of the time I carry screw-in UV, Circular Polarizer, and a Neutral grad- they are all the same size (lucked out there) so I just stack them with a couple of aluminum stack caps. and toss them in the bag. A optically clear glass filter lives on the 50mm to keep my fat fingers off of it. In dusty/rainy/dank conditions I put the one on the other lens too to keep the smut off.

If I am going after serious sunrise/set shots I use a set of rectangular Cokin filters with the right adapter rings for the lenses I am carrying. They live in a padded case I made for them.

--
---------------------------------------------
AJL Cary
Curmudgeon Emeritas
Capturing electrons in little magnetic cages since 1999,
and photons on film since 1968
 

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