Take Care of Your Camera Equipment

Hi Steve-Very well said. In this day and age especially you need to take real good care of your investments especially when it is livelihood. <SMILE>

Hi Steve, you know I just got my camera, and I know its only an entry level camera, but I like it. I lost the lens cap the other day, I am frantic about that. I have it all wrapped up. But now, I have to look up about the lens filters. It is so much to learn, and I am trying, I just want someone to tell me what to do.

Oh wait, you just did, LOL.

Thank you.

I will have to order new lens covers, Pentax is not knows for having good ones, they are not attachable in any way, and are not that tight fitting.

:(

It's interesting that this person didn't understand the simple math you provided here. SLR camara bodies are like computers today. They have limited life because of the changing technology but lenes they can still last a very long time.

Hi Steve....My favorite lens is my Canon 100-400mm IS...and....I don't have a filter on it.  Now before you go telling me I'm an idiot (just kidding) I'll tell you why.  The large lens hood is always on it keeping it very well protected.  The second thing I feel is that the more between you and the subject the less clarity will be achieved.  I know this is an ongoing argument which, in the end, is personal choice.  BTW I do own several filters but just don't use them.  Having said all that, it would take one bad experience to make me a convert.....

LOL @Steve.....I was just kidding....really, I know you would NEVER say anything like that - ROTFLMHO.  Have a great weekend and see you for SS :-)

Great post,.....I have replaced several filters because of mishaps. If your like me and carry your camera with you everywhere its bound to happen!

I agree,  Jess Graves

Here is another handy tip...only screw the filter on to where it just starts to get tight, it will not back off.  Also, occasionally unscrew the filter to make sure it has not tightened up.  I have seen to many times where people screw a filter on real tight then leave it on for a long period of time, and what happens is that the lens will become so tight that it takes a tool or a trip to the camera shop to get the filter off.  Barely hand tight is sufficient, anything tighter and your looking for trouble later when you want to change filters.

BTW...not all filters are the same, don't go cheap on your filter...remember the old saying "you get what you pay for"...it really applies to filters!!  A high quality filter and an "Accidental Damage Warranty" (if offered) are the 2 best investments you can make for your expense lens!

Les

www.360-virtualtours.com

Interactive 360 Virtual Tour Provider for Southwest Michigan

Steve - This is a great reminder. After spending thousands for a lens I want it protected. I use a UV/Skylight filter to protect the glass and an ExpoDisc as a lens cap. That way I can pull my camera out of the bag, snap a photo through the ExpoDisc for white balance and I'm good to go. I never use a lens hood like Gail, too bulky for me. Gail - Nice lens! :-) Mike

Steve, This is a very interesting post.  I have just bought the Nikon d90 and am learning.   I will check out filters. 

Mike:

The lens hood is good for preventing lens flare created by the numerous elements of the lens from ruining a great shot.

Steve:

Nice call and great pencil sell...=)  Hope all is well in the Queen City.

Let me post the counter-opinion: not every professional thinks you should put protective filters on your lenses at all times. See here: http://bythom.com/filters.htm

The idea is that it doesn't make sense to put a $40 hunk of glass (or worse, plastic) in front of your $1000 lens.

There are certain times where they make sense - seaside or water-front where youmight get spray or extremely dusty environs.

Not saying this is right per se but not every pro photog agrees with putting protective filters on. It's an issue of some intense debate int he serious photographer community. . . .

Hi Steve,  Great story.  I just bought a Nikon D80 and added a 10-20 mm wide angle.  The best thing the sales rep did was to educate me on the imporance of filters.  The polarizing filter is amazing !

I didn't mean to overstate my position. Protective filters are a great idea and many good photogs use them 100% of the time - Ken Rockwell for instance. But there is a penalty to pay for them: at best they do not affect the quality of your lens and at worst they degrade the quality of your lens. Like I said in my earlier post, there is no consensus among serious photogs (of which I am certainly NOT one of them).

But your point is well-taken - learn how to care for your equipment. When I was in Hawaii in January, I saw a guy aggressively cleaning the lens of his very expenseive DSLR with his shirt-tail! Yikes! Spend the $5 on a cleaning cloth. . . .

Kind of like not buying insurance for your car or home is the way I see it.

I prefer protecting the lens with a filter.  If users are concerned about a filter interferring with a photograph, they could always remove the filter before taking the picture and then putting the filter back on afterwards.  In this situation, the lens would be protected for most situations.

I prefer protecting the lens with a filter.  If users are concerned about a filter interferring with a photograph, they could always remove the filter before taking the picture and then putting the filter back on afterwards.  In this situation, the lens would be protected for most situations.