Digital Filter Hoya

hoya camera filter?

I want to buy a filter to protect the lens of my SLR digital camera (Nikon D80). Should I buy the non coated uv Hoya filter, in the green box (the cheapest in the range) Or is there a reason to buy a more expensive coated filter, and if so what do you recomend?

Many people use a skylight or UV filter to protect the front glass of the lens, but you can also buy high quality plano glass filters for that purpose. Whatever you do, at least buy a decent quality filter instead of trying to get off cheap.

Many people use a UV filter simply to protect the front element of their lens from damage. “UV filters absorb ultraviolet rays which often make outdoor photos hazy or indistinct.” (from: http://www.thkphoto.com/products/hoya/gf-01.html )

We get this question often enough that I decided to upload a sample to Flickr showing the same subject taken with and without a UV filter. Download the image, cut a small section out of the top half and drag it to the same section in the bottom half and see what you think. The photos were taken about 15 seconds apart in subdued sunlight, so I think the lighting was virtually identical for each. There was no post-processing at all so you can make a fair comparison. I will not comment any further and let you decide for yourself if there is any color shift.

The picture was taken with a Nikon D200 at ISO 100 with the Nikon 18-200 VR lens @ 112 mm at f/5.3.

Here’s a comparison that I did by accident. Read the comments and you’ll understand:

Buy a name brand like Hoya or Tiffen. Don’t get cheap junk to put on the front of your fine lens. Personally, I am now switching over to plain high quality optical glass “filters” from Nikon for lens protection, even though they cost more than a good UV filter.

iPhone 3GS + Hoya R72 filter = near infrared camera

Kenko by Hoya 52mm UV protection Digital Camera Lens Filter In Japan $0.99

Kenko by Hoya 46mm UV protection Digital Camera Lens Filter In Japan $0.99

Hoya HD Digital Circular Polarizer CPL Lens Filter 72mm *USA Authorized Dealer* $102.50

Hoya PRO1 Digital 72mm 72 mm DMC Circular Pol Filter $114.58

Hoya Pro 1 Digital – 62mm Protector Filter **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $32.50

Kenko By Hoya 30.5mm 30.5 UV Protection Digital Camera Lens Filter – UK Stock $12.63

Kenko By Hoya 37mm 37 UV Protection Digital Camera Lens Filter – UK Stock $12.63

Hoya HD High Definition Digital UV Filter 77 77mm $68.99

Genuine Hoya 77mm Pro1 DMC UV Digital Filter $55.00

Genuine Hoya 58mm Pro1 Digital UV Filter Pro1D DMC $28.61

Canon EF III 35 – 80mm 4-5.6 AF Lens EOS DIGITAL BONUS Cap + Hood & Hoya Filter $52.99

Hoya Digital Circular Polarizing CPL Filter NEW 72mm 72 $38.90

HOYA Digital CPL 52mm Filter PL-CIR CIR-POLARIZING $27.50

Hoya PRO1 Digital – Filter – UV – 72 mm $47.95

Hoya Pro 1 Digital – Filter – UV – 55 mm $28.95

HOYA PRO1Digital Protector 82mm Lens Filter Clear Pro1D 1pcs.FREESHIP $54.50

Hoya 52mm High Definition HD Protector Digital Filter $35.50

Hoya PRO1 Digital Circular Polarizer Filter DMC 77mm 77 $101.90

Hoya PRO1 Digital Circular Polarizer CPL DMC 72mm Canon $80.90

Hoya PRO1 Digital Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 52mm 52 $45.90

HOYA 55mm Circular Polarizer Digital CPL Filter 55 mm $29.90

HOYA 52mm 52 PRO1D PRO1 D Digital UV Filter $28.00

Kenko 37mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarizing PL Filter Pro 1D CPL C-PL (Hoya) NEW $40.90

HOYA 67mm Circular Polarizer Digital CPL Filter 67 mm $41.90

HOYA 58mm Circular Polarizer Digital CPL Filter 58 mm $32.00

HOYA 62mm Circular Polarizer Digital CPL Filter 62 mm $37.50

Kenko 58mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarizing PL Filter Pro 1D CPL C-PL (Hoya) NEW $46.90

Kenko 62mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarizing PL Filter Pro 1D CPL C-PL (Hoya) NEW $52.90

Kenko 67mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarizing PL Filter Pro 1D CPL C-PL (Hoya) NEW $59.90

Kenko 72mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarizing PL Filter Pro 1D CPL C-PL (Hoya) NEW $64.90

Kenko 82mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarizing PL Filter Pro 1D CPL C-PL (Hoya) NEW $77.90

HOYA 77mm Circular Polarizer Digital CPL Filter 77 mm $49.90

HOYA 82mm Circular Polarizer Digital CPL Filter 82 mm $63.50

77mm Hoya Pro 1 Digital 16x (4-stop) Neutral Density Filter Made in Japan $93.71

Hoya 58mm Pro1 UV XD DMC Digital Filter XD58UV – New $30.00

New Kenko by Hoya 77mm 77 UV protection Digital Camera Lens Filter Free Shipping $12.63

HOYA 67MM PRO1 DIGITAL FILTER MC UV 391 $2.07

Kenko 67mm Digital UV Filter 67mm for HOYA Canon Nikon Sony Sigma Tokina Lens $12.90

Kenko 62mm Digital UV Filter for HOYA Canon Nikon Sony Pentax Olympus Lens $11.39

Kenko Slim MC UV(O) Digital Filter 77mm for HOYA Sigma Tokina Tamron Lens $28.99

HOYA PRO 1 Digital Filter – Circular Polarizer 52mm $25.00

HOYA PRO 1 Digital Filter – 77mm UV $30.00

Hoya Digital HD 67mm filter High Density Sharp Cut UV $58.95

Hoya HD Digital Circular Polarizer CPL Lens Filter 55mm *USA Authorized Dealer* $61.95

Hoya HD Digital Circular Polarizer CPL Lens Filter 58mm *USA Authorized Dealer* $72.50

Hoya HD Digital Circular Polarizer CPL Lens Filter 62mm *USA Authorized Dealer* $94.50

Hoya HMC UV & IR CUT 49mm Filter for Digital (A-49UVIR) *USA Authorized Dealer* $84.90

Hoya HMC UV & IR CUT 82mm Filter for Digital (A-82UVIR) *USA Authorized Dealer* $204.90

Hoya Digital HD 52mm filter High Density Sharp Cut UV $37.95

Hoya 37mm Digital Filter Kit – Includes UV, Cir-Polarizer & NDX8 with Pouch NEW $59.95

Hoya 40.5mm Digital Filter Kit -Includes UV, Cir-Polarizer & NDX8 with Pouch NEW $43.97

Hoya 52mm Circular Polarizing HD Digital Filter MC NEW $62.97

Hoya 52mm Digital Filter Kit – Includes UV, Cir-Polarizer & NDX8 with Pouch NEW $59.95

Hoya 52mm Pro1 Digital MC Close-Up +3 Glass Filter NEW $64.97

Hoya 55mm Circular Polarizing HD Digital Filter MC NEW $62.97

Hoya 55mm Digital Filter Kit – Includes UV, Cir-Polarizer & NDX8 with Pouch NEW $59.95

Hoya 62mm Circular Polarizing HD Digital Filter MC NEW $83.97