Filters for small Oly primes

I have a new-to-me Pen-F and am assembling the small Oly primes. I do not have any filters. I always use a hood so don't think I need a clear glass filter just for "protection". I know I do want polarization, and I'd like to play with an ND filter or two.

The Oly primes cover this range of threads:

12mm & 17mm & 25mm = 46

45mm = 37

75mm = 58

I'd like a polarization filter for each.

I'm fairly new to ILCs, but I went out yesterday with three lenses and found that switching among them was no problem at all.

Suggestions about which way to go regarding equipping myself with, at a minimum, a polarization filter for each? One round filter and adaptor rings? Three sizes of round? (That sounds easiest.). Or a square filter set like the Lee Seven5?

And, regarding the round ones: there is an enormous range of prices. What are the best makes/models?

Buy good quality filters in the largest size you need and get a couple of step-down rings for the smaller filter threads . Best of both worlds you get good quality filters and a bit of economy by sharing them.

You can pick up very inexpensive step down rings


For ND I would avoid the variable strength models

Newbie6824 said:

I have a new-to-me Pen-F and am assembling the small Oly primes. I do not have any filters. I always use a hood so don't think I need a clear glass filter just for "protection". I know I do want polarization, and I'd like to play with an ND filter or two.

The Oly primes cover this range of threads:

12mm & 17mm & 25mm = 46

45mm = 37

75mm = 58

I'd like a polarization filter for each.

I'm fairly new to ILCs, but I went out yesterday with three lenses and found that switching among them was no problem at all.

Suggestions about which way to go regarding equipping myself with, at a minimum, a polarization filter for each? One round filter and adaptor rings? Three sizes of round? (That sounds easiest.). Or a square filter set like the Lee Seven5?

And, regarding the round ones: there is an enormous range of prices. What are the best makes/models?

Click to expand...

With polarisation filters, you get what you pay for. The best ones are the Kasemann type, they have sealed edges (pola filters are a plastic foil sandwiched between two glass plates, the plastic absorbs moisture from the edges and perishes).

Anti-reflective coatings on both glass plates are important too (pola filters have a total of 6 surfaces, two being glass-to-air).

The cheaper Polarisation filters often have a color cast. Put them on a white paper, they should look a neutral grey, not brownish.

If you want a strong polarisation effect for outdoor use, you want a dark filter. So called low light polarisation filters are not so dark, have a much reduced polarisation effect, and are intended more for indoor use like in a museum.

If money is an issue, get one (good) round filter and use adapter rings. That is not ideal, but better than three cheap filters.

46 mm round filters for those „short“ lenses, 37->46 mm step-up ring for 45 mm lens and you will see if you need filters for your tele-lens.

I occasionally use filters and invested in the Lee Seven5 system. It is expensive but quality is very good and I like the way of working with an adapter ring on each lens and a single set of filters. It will take me from the tiny 45mm f1.8 to the PRO lenses which share the same 62mm size on the PRO lenses. Very easy to use and versatile.

Do you use that system for you polarizer(s) as well? I was wondering about conflict with the hood.

Newbie6824 said:

Do you use that system for you polarizer(s) as well? I was wondering about conflict with the hood.

Click to expand...

Yes - although I can't remember when I last used a polariser - just ND or ND grads most of the time. The Lee hood works with the polariser in place. http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera-directory/camera-dir-list/category/seven5-hood

Thanks!

I have used all types of filters for many years, including owning the Lee Seven5, and also much larger rectangular filters. I would recommend getting a 58mm filter and step up rings to use the same filters, CPL and ND. Also getting a spare lens cap for the largest size so you always have a cap to put over any lens using a filter. This is what I do. Currently, I am using 72mm filters as that is my largest filter size needed for my biggest lenses (Oly 12-100 and 40-150) and using step rings for my PL 8-18 and Oly 12-40.

If you don't get older and wiser, than you just get older.

Newbie6824 said:

I have a new-to-me Pen-F and am assembling the small Oly primes. I do not have any filters. I always use a hood so don't think I need a clear glass filter just for "protection". I know I do want polarization, and I'd like to play with an ND filter or two.

The Oly primes cover this range of threads:

12mm & 17mm & 25mm = 46

45mm = 37

75mm = 58

I'd like a polarization filter for each.

I'm fairly new to ILCs, but I went out yesterday with three lenses and found that switching among them was no problem at all.

Suggestions about which way to go regarding equipping myself with, at a minimum, a polarization filter for each? One round filter and adaptor rings? Three sizes of round? (That sounds easiest.). Or a square filter set like the Lee Seven5?

And, regarding the round ones: there is an enormous range of prices. What are the best makes/models?

Click to expand...

OK, I’m a filter junkie. I use protective filters (lens hood does not stop salt sea spray, windy rain, or blowing sand), and I use polarizers. My brand of choice is B+W, the MRC line or whatever is their latest product. I understand that Marumi and Hoya make some excellent higher end filters. My protective filter on my M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 Pro and M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro are the Olympus Zero filters. My smaller lenses get B+W UV or clear filters.

I always purchase “the best” because I don’t want a cheap filter, especially polarizer, to compromise the images that my expensive lenses can project.

While each lens has its own protective filter, I purchase one polarizer for each size thread I have. I have 37mm, 46mm, and 62mm polarizers, all B+W Kaesemann. When possible, I purchase a screw-in lens hood for a polarizer so I can merely rotate the hood and not have to reach inside the hood to adjust the polarizer. B+W makes nice affordable collapsable rubber hoods in 37mm and 46mm that work for normal and tele focal lengths. I’m still looking for a good hood for my 25mm f/1.2 + polarizer, and I think I’ve found a couple of options, but I haven’t purchased yet.

For my uses, putting a larger filter on a lens via step-down adaptor is not an option. I’ll do without before I adopt such an awkward configuration. I do understand the cost savings, though.

Jim Pilcher
Bonita Springs, Florida, USA
Life is a breeze by the sea

Thank you for that run down! Since you seem meticulous (which is a good thing, in my book at least) can I ask how you clean your filters?

James Stirling said:

… and get a couple of step-down rings for the smaller filter threads.

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Step-down rings would be the wrong choice – in this case OP would need step-up rings.

As a polarizer fan, I prefer to have 1 filter per lens. The one exception is if I use different lens at different times (i.e., no switching between except at home) - I can then move one to another. This saves some fumbling around when trying to take photos AND keep up with companions.

I find, too, brass rings are far better than aluminum. I have to fight hard to rotate a few, although those are good filters (quality) ,they are not good filters (ring).

I have a Galen Rowell ND square that I handhold when I want a ND and I've picked up a couple of other squares that I haven't yet used.

If you are interested in filters to replace a lens cap, then I highly recommend super slim Cokin Pure Harmonie filters. I got 37 and 46 mm for my small primes, so that my GM5 that lives in my pockets is always ready to shoot without fiddling with lens caps. Here's how they look like on a camera. Have used them for over a year now and they proved to be excellent. No problems with scratches, stains or anything. There is no discernible impact on image quality.

For protective filters I recommend using the right filter size for each lens, so you can still use lens hoods.

For polarizers, you will not be able to use a lens hood (unless it has a special cutout), so you can use step up rings. So you can cover all the bases with a 58mm filter and a set of step up rings. But I think that's a bit of a big difference in diameter and I would go for 46mm filter and 37->46mm step up ring. For the 58, either get the dedicated filter, or get a bigger one if you expect to get a bigger lens in the future.

The 46mm filter actually works great on Oly 45.



As for filter brand, I use Hoya Fusion CIR-PL. I have a 46 and 72 mm (for Oly 12-100) and have been very happy with them. On my last trip, it was permanently mounted on my 12-100 and I was very happy that I had it.

--
My photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/astrotripper2000/

If you don't put a lens cap on top of them, don't they get dirty & fingerprint-y?

Newbie6824 said:

I have a new-to-me Pen-F and am assembling the small Oly primes. I do not have any filters. I always use a hood so don't think I need a clear glass filter just for "protection". I know I do want polarization, and I'd like to play with an ND filter or two.

The Oly primes cover this range of threads:

12mm & 17mm & 25mm = 46

45mm = 37

75mm = 58

I'd like a polarization filter for each.

I'm fairly new to ILCs, but I went out yesterday with three lenses and found that switching among them was no problem at all.

Suggestions about which way to go regarding equipping myself with, at a minimum, a polarization filter for each? One round filter and adaptor rings? Three sizes of round? (That sounds easiest.). Or a square filter set like the Lee Seven5?

And, regarding the round ones: there is an enormous range of prices. What are the best makes/models?

Click to expand...

I'd probably get a 46 and a 58 and a 37-48 step-up ring. Stepping all the way to 58 would make hoods a challenge and be pretty clunky, especially the 45mm.

As to brand and model--hoo-boy there are a lot of choices!

First, you don't need a circular pola but most polas these days are circular. Problem being they're more expensive and have higher filter factors, although some recent CPs have lower filter factors. Then there are uncoated and coated.

My most recent polas have been high-transmission, multicoated CPs, one from Vu and one from Kasemann. I wait for sales!

Cheers,

Rick

Newbie6824 said:

If you don't put a lens cap on top of them, don't they get dirty & fingerprint-y?

Click to expand...

No, not really. I mean I clean them from time to time, but it's not like they are a dust magnet or anything. And if I accidentally leave a fingerprint, well, I just wipe it off with whatever is at hand and continue as if nothing happened.

Amazing sale on VU filters at B&H. Looks like the inventory is getting low, but I picked up a bunch a few months back. Take a look see if anything jumps out at you. Never had a VU filter previously, they seem very nice, got some polarizers, ND and UV of all different sizes. My understanding in the Sion model is better than the Ariel.

lathspell said:

James Stirling said:

… and get a couple of step-down rings for the smaller filter threads.

Click to expand...

Step-down rings would be the wrong choice – in this case OP would need step-up rings.

Click to expand...

Not if you buy one high quality filter in the largest size you need and then use the stop down rings to adapt to the smaller size . Adapting a 37mm filter { for his 45mm lens} up the way to cover the 58mm {of the 75mm lens} virtually guarantees issues

Newbie6824 said:

Thank you for that run down! Since you seem meticulous (which is a good thing, in my book at least) can I ask how you clean your filters?

Click to expand...

1. Blow off any dust with canned air or rocket blower
2. Brush off any remaining dust with soft brush (built into my Lens Pen)
3. Moist breath on glass and clean softly with clean microfiber
4. If Step 3 is not good enough, I drop a bit of lens cleaning fluid on the microfiber and swirl on the glass. Then I dry with microfiber. Never apply fluid directly to any glass surface; it can run and leak in around the edges of the filter or lens.
5. Touch up with Lens Pen

I use the same approach for lens surfaces, such as my M.Zuiko 8mm f/1.8 Pro fisheye, which doesn't accept filters.

Jim Pilcher
Bonita Springs, Florida, USA
Life is a breeze by the sea