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Sigma 10-20 and UV filters...

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legui

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Hello,

I am planning to buy this lens for a Nikon D80 so i started looking for a UV filter to protect the lens from an unexpected accident. I was looking all the model of filters, specially from HOYA (do you recommend me another brand not too much expensive?), and i found that there are some "ultra thin" filters specially designed for ultra wide lenses... but the cost much more.
Question:

Since the sigma is an ultra wide lens, do i need to buy ONLY those ultra thin filters? or can i buy the "normal" uv filters (always multicoated)? If i use the normal filter... will it cause vignetting?
Thank you!!
--
Pablo Legarreta
http://www.photolegarreta.com.ar
 
Do yourself a big favour, do not buy a UV filter for any of your lenses.

If your life is boring and you need some excitement then by all mean get UV filters for all your lenses then you can get busy chasing all sorts of non existant faults with your lens to eventually discover it was that super duper multi coated UV filter.

On this forum you will find a lot of posts about weird lens faults VR faults etc that eventually turn out to be the useless UV filter.

If you are accident prone, consider a different hoby.

I haven't had an unexpected accident with any of my lenses in years, still waiting for the first one :-) I use the lens hood and when not shooting reverse the lens hood and attach the lens cap religiously after a while you don't even think about it.

--
Inspector Kluso
 
legui said:
Hello,

I am planning to buy this lens for a Nikon D80 so i started looking
for a UV filter to protect the lens from an unexpected accident. I
was looking all the model of filters, specially from HOYA (do you
recommend me another brand not too much expensive?), and i found
that there are some "ultra thin" filters specially designed for
ultra wide lenses... but the cost much more.
Question:
Since the sigma is an ultra wide lens, do i need to buy ONLY those
ultra thin filters? or can i buy the "normal" uv filters (always
multicoated)? If i use the normal filter... will it cause
vignetting?
Click to expand...
I used to be afraid of lens damage and use UV filters. I used to be terrified of damaging the front elements, so I understand your feeling. However, I realized that I have never ever even come close to hurting the front of a lens, that lens coatings are actually pretty tough, and that I don't want to mess around with expensive filters and removing them for important shots. So, I have given up on filters altogether, and I use lens hoods all the time. My 17-55 lens hood is very important anyway since it is very prone to flare.

That said, I did recently buy a Sigma 10-20, and the front element of wide angle lenses is pretty exposed (and the hood is useless for protection). So, if it makes YOU feel better, get a UV or clear filter for protection. But, please, please, please only use it for setting up shots and unimportant shots. When you have the main shot ready, remove the filter to take the shot. There are enough optical problems with ultra-wide zooms; you don't need extra reflections from the filter. Therefore, I would recommend that you buy a CHEAP UV filter for protection and always remove it before shooting. Otherwise, you need to buy the most expensive multi-coated filter that you can afford (very expensive for 77mm).

Also, all discussion threads suggest that you don't need the thin filters for this lens. Remember that you will never, ever, ever stack more than one filter (e.g., UV + polarizing)!!

In any case, I'm not going to buy a filter; that's what a lens cap is for.

Doug
 
I am one of those that uses filters and I don't have any problems with my lens.

--
Bluenose
 
I don't know if the Marumi brand filters are available in your country. They are also produced in thin versions and are ca 30-50% less expensive than Hoya. they are made in Japan.
 
Take a look at the Tokina 12-24 ATX Pro. I looked at the Sigma and read bad press about IQ so I went for the Tokina. Price was a major issue aswell so I bought from UR Galaxy in HK saving a heap of cash from the UK prices.

As far as filters go, I never use a UV just a CP when required and always use the lens hood.

As always, do your own research.
--
http://www.kevin-barton.co.uk
 
My Sigma 10-20mm is the only lens that has a UV filter because of the exposed front element. I picked up a Kenko (rebagged Hoya) Digital Pro 1 UV filter from E-bay for mine and haven't had any issues. It only cost me $40 if I remember correctly.
--
I got to get out and shoot more.
 
Agree, if you are using super multicoated filters that have a light transmission of 99.7%, your eyes cannot see the .3% difference. When you are shooting against any light, just remove it, or use it only in situations where you think some unwanted stuff might settle on your lens. It is so easy to screw and unscrew as you wish, but I am amazed to see how some are hell bent to demonize filters.
raymondox said:
I am one of those that uses filters and I don't have any problems
with my lens.

--
Bluenose
Click to expand...
 
I've just bought the Sigma 10-20mm, and having seen the exposed front element have now ordered the Hoya Pro UV. I've pretty much always keep filters on the front of my lenses, and have never had any problems. Some years ago, I was walking on the hills in Snowdonia (Wales), and I had a red filter on for b&w work. Scrambling over a dry stone wall I bashed the filter on the wall and put a big scratch on it - but it saved the front element of the lens. One of those formative experiences. I've kept filters on ever since.

--
http://www.pbase.com/anthony
 
I use Hoya Pro 1 Filters on all my zoom lenses 10-20, 17-55, 70-200, but I don't bother with the cheaper primes that seem to be recessed much more into the lens barrel anyway, 35/2, 50/1.4 and 60/2.8.

I have never had flare, or AF, or any other problem with these high end filters. But I do find they somehow get dusty or finger printed regularly, i'm always very pleased I have a high quality filter on that doesn't cause any problems, but saves me from repeatedly cleaning the front lens element.

Get a microfiber lens cleaning cloth and it works great, keep the filters clean or you'll have worse reflection and other problems than you would with a dirty lens. Frankly, I believe if you're going to routinely keep the front clean, you're better off with a high end filter, if you're not, you're probably better off without a filter.

Roland.

--
Gallery at http://www.rolandwooster.com
 
rockjano said:
... I use a simple ordinary cheap sigma UV filter
Click to expand...
.....you spend good money on a lens and (in your own words) "I use a simple ordinary cheap sigma UV filter"....I don't mean to pick on you but my question is why?

If you are going to use a UV filter, spend the money to get a good quaility one, it has been my experience that you can see the difference.

Regards
Terry
 
legui said:
and i found that there are some "ultra thin" filters specially designed for
ultra wide lenses... but the cost much more.
Click to expand...
Pablo

I have the Sigma 10-20 and I personally have a normal B+W circular polarizer that I use on it and it doesn't vignette.

My suggestion to you and others in this situation would be to take your camera and lens to your local camera shop and try it for yourself. Put a normal filter on and take several photos at the 10mm setting at the maximum aperture (not wide open) and see for yourself if it vignettes. I'm pretty sure it won't but give it a try.

Regards
Terry
 
D Knisely said:
I used to be afraid of lens damage and use UV filters. I used to
be terrified of damaging the front elements, so I understand your
feeling. However, I realized that I have never ever even come
close to hurting the front of a lens, that lens coatings are
actually pretty tough, and that I don't want to mess around with
expensive filters and removing them for important shots. So, I
have given up on filters altogether, and I use lens hoods all the
time. My 17-55 lens hood is very important anyway since it is very
prone to flare.

That said, I did recently buy a Sigma 10-20, and the front element
of wide angle lenses is pretty exposed (and the hood is useless for
protection). So, if it makes YOU feel better, get a UV or clear
filter for protection. But, please, please, please only use it for
setting up shots and unimportant shots. When you have the main
shot ready, remove the filter to take the shot. There are enough
optical problems with ultra-wide zooms; you don't need extra
reflections from the filter. Therefore, I would recommend that you
buy a CHEAP UV filter for protection and always remove it before
shooting. Otherwise, you need to buy the most expensive
multi-coated filter that you can afford (very expensive for 77mm).

Also, all discussion threads suggest that you don't need the thin
filters for this lens. Remember that you will never, ever, ever
stack more than one filter (e.g., UV + polarizing)!!

In any case, I'm not going to buy a filter; that's what a lens cap
is for.

Doug
Click to expand...
 
I've got a B+W Slim 77 E MRC UV filter on the Sigma 10-20 and haven't noticed any side effects. As others say, because of the exposed front element it seemed like a good idea.

There is however a different side effect from the slim filter that has nothing to do with picture quality. Because it's so slim it doesn't have any front threading and the lens cap will no longer fit. Instead, B+W provide a rubber cap with the filter that slides over it. While that works fine, it does have a tendency to slip off very easily when getting the lens out of a bag, or putting it back in for that matter. Putting the hood on in reverse, for storage, also no longer works with that B+W provided cap on it. I now find myself often taking the filter off because of that, especially when I'm somewhere where I frequently have to switch lenses to the 10-20. This of course defeats the purpose of "protection" a lot of the time.

--
Stefan Didak
http://www.stefandidak.com
 
I used to have "slim" filters that had no front thread, and you'd have to use a slip on rubber cap, not only do these fall off, but the rubber cap bends just enough to touch the filter, and leave a smear RIGHT in the middle of the lens.

I hated that as a solution, then came along the Hoya Pro 1.

It's thin, it has Hoya's best optical coatings (S-HMC) with 99.7% transmission, which I believe is the best of any filter manufacturer out there from any brand. And it has enough front threads for a cap. I have these types of filters on all my 77mm lenses and use the Nikon rigid plastic pinch grip front lens caps so I can take them on and off even with a lens hood on. All in all a wonderful solution, albeit rather expensive. Even with my Sigma 10-20 it now has a Nikon lens cap which at $18 is expensive, but IMHO certainly worth the money for the conveinence of being the only way to get the cap on and off with the lens hood on. I tried some cheaper other brand of pinch grip cap but it just didn't work well with the Hoya Pro 1 filter.

Roland.

--
Gallery at http://www.rolandwooster.com
 
Me too,
Roland Wooster said:
I use Hoya Pro 1 Filters on all my zoom lenses 10-20, 17-55,
70-200, but I don't bother with the cheaper primes that seem to be
recessed much more into the lens barrel anyway, 35/2, 50/1.4 and
60/2.8.
Click to expand...
--
I got to get out and shoot more.
 
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