nikon d90 gear: recommendations for filter and lens cleaner

[endervalentine]

I'm still a camera noob but I'm slowly picking it up. I want to pick up something to add to my nikon gear, I have the d90, a trusty lens and a flash. I really want to get another lens but I think I've overspent my xmas budget w/ my new computer and my wife will kill me I get another something that's a couple hundred dollars.

Having said that, I figure I would get a filter to mainly protect the camera and maybe a lens cleaning kit? Or maybe something else? I'm not too much into macro shots, so that's why I'm not opting for the tripod.

Any recommendations or tips? TIA!

 

[996GT2]

I recommend lens hoods over UV/clear filters for protection. Filters can be a hassle because you must remove them for nighttime shooting (or risk increased lens flare). Even the best multicoated filters (Hoya Super HMC, B+W F-PRO MRC, Heliopan SH-PMC) will degrade image quality somewhat and cause slightly inceased flare. If you still insist on using a filter, stick with the best. Do not buy a cheap uncoated filter like Tiffen (or worse, one of the eBay no-names). The worst filters can not only wreak havoc on image quality, but can also mess with your camera's AF system and cause focus inaccuracies.

Someone on the Canon forum once posted a thread asking why his brand-new, $1000 135mm f/2L lens produced images that were soft and mis-focused. After a few pages of replies, somebody finally suggested that he remove the cheapo filter that came with the lens. That solved the problem immediately.

Also, if you drop a lens with a lens hood attached, all you have to replace is a $20 lens hood. The plastic hood will absorb most of the shock. In contrast, if you drop a lens with a metal filter attached, the metal filter ring can deform and make the filter nearly impossible to remove (this actually happened with a Nikon 20-35mm f/2.8 that we use at the school newspaper...the filter, sans glass, is still stuck on the lens). In addition, if the glass in the filter cracks upon impact, it will send shards of glass straight into the front element of your lens. How's that for protection?

The only filters that I can endorse the use of are circular polarizers and neutral density filters. UV filters are unnecessary under nearly all conditions and will only degrade image quality. I would only use a UV filter if it was absolutely necessary to complete the sealing on an already weather-sealed lens like the Canon 17-40L. Otherwise, unless you're shooting in wet/dusty/dangerous conditions with a weather-sealed lens and camera (which the D90 and 18-105 are not), then I don't see the point of using a UV or protection filter.

 

[endervalentine]

Thanks 996GT2! Glad I asked, I'll skip the filters then.

The d90 does come with a lens hood, but I started removing it because sometimes it would cast a faint shadow on the subject if I was not using the external flash. Is this common or am I doing something dumb?

 

[Anubis]

no its normal, it happens because the flash isnt tall enough and casts a shadow, only way to avoid it is to not use it or get a flash bracket which raises the height of the flash. taking it off is easier and cheaper

Ill also mirror what GT said about filters, i however do own some UV filters (heliopan) i have 1 for every lens size i have, and i pretty much only use them when i shoot at the beach due to blowing sand

 

[Silenus]

Nothing sparks a debate on photography forums like lens filters. I am also someone who sees very little chance of a filter helping protect a lens long term. With perhaps the exception of temporary use in a nasty environment as Anubis mentioned. I DO always use my lens hoods though! I no longer run any filters on my lenses, including my somewhat expensive Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR. Carefully cleaning the front element every once in a while is fine by me.

PS- Another exception here is situational use of a circular polarizing filter. Certain outdoors landscape shots, especially water shots, can be greatly enhance with a polarizer. This serves a purpose which cannot be duplicated in post processing. But it is only something you use when you need it and remove it afterward.

 

[endervalentine]

Thanks for the replies guys, really appreciate!

hmm, any recommendations on a good lens cleaning kit? Is something like this all I really need?
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7072-Len...0491095&sr=1-1

 

[Silenus]

Thanks for the replies guys, really appreciate!

hmm, any recommendations on a good lens cleaning kit? Is something like this all I really need?
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7072-Len...0491095&sr=1-1

I know some people like the lens pens, but I have personally never tried it. I will tell you what I've found that works great for me. It's called lensclens and it was recommended by Moose Peterson. Just some lens cleaning tissue paper with a drop or two of lens clens on it works great (bunch up the paper, put a drop or two on the paper, wipe the lens with it in a circular motion starting in the center and working towards the outer edges). I've tried other cleaners and I've settled on this. Be aware you want the #1 cleaner for coated optics. http://www.lensclens.com/

The only other thing you might want is a brush or blower. Before you wet clean a lens you should always first gently brush or blow away any looses dust or dirt that can be removed so that you don't grind those particles into the coating while cleaning with the tissue.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

My 2 cents:

1) Filters. High quality filters only. B+W Pro or Hoya HD for me. I am clumsy. I lose lens caps, I touch my lenses by accident. Stupid people touch my lenses by accident. I'm glad it's the filter. As for the argument about drops, if you dropped your lens and it shatters your filter, at least it's just the filter. And what if that shattered glass then punctures your actual front element of your lens? Well once again, without the filter, your front element would've been destroyed period. So if you can destroy a filter, you can destroy a lens too. Be glad it lessened the damage. There's the argument of not being able to unscrew the filter though. Not sure about that. But I love my high quality filters. They cost me $80 a pop for those 77mm ones, but eh... it's solid.

2) Lens cleaning. I've done wet cleaning, dry cleaning, alcohol does a great job, but its annoying. My new step is just breath + t-shirt. You'd be surprised how hard coated glass is. It's like the whole iPhone/gorilla glass crap. Watch the Hoya HD demonstration and you'll see the guy slamming the filter on a sharp corner of the counter trying to scratch it. No good. OBviously soft clothes + breath. If it's a bunch of sand, I'd blow it off first with a blower. Avoid OBVIOUS scratching techniques. But other than that, glass is VERY hard.

Lens pen to get the residue off. Lens pens work so damn well. The most annoying part after getting a smudge gone is to get the oil off. You could IPA it off because IPA is a degreaser, but it gets messy. What about residue from the cloth you're using? Kimwipes? Do you have all that stuff? Annoying. LEns pen it is!