Which Brand Filters?

[snurkyea]

I am planning on purchasing and ND, a UV, and an FLD (they often come in 3 packs) filters for my HXV200. Willoughbys was trying to push on me a brand called Digital Concepts for $120. However, I've never heard of this brand.

Can anyone recommend a particular brand of filters for me please?


An example of what I'm looking for can be found here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=240&A=details&Q=&sku=163495&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Thanks :dankk2:

[THoff]

The Digital Concepts filters are also sold under a number of other names, including Merkury. They are complete garbage.

Stay with Tiffen, Hoya etc. as a minimum. There are more expensive and better brands, but those two for instance offer good performance for the price.

[snp]

I agree - stay with Tiffen, Hoya and Schneider. Why downgrade the Leica lens with inferior glass on the front end. Also, The FLD is useful mainly for still film photography - the white balance will clean up any florescent challenge in the HVX.

As for the ND, I find a more useful filter for video to be a 4x4 ND Grad series in a matte box. Knocking the sky down gives video a much cleaner exposure and improves your contrast range.

Another trick using the white balance is to use a slighty bluish white card to balance - this will warm your scene a few hundred degrees kelvin and avoid putting more glass (ie. coral or 812 filters) in front of the lens.

I use additional glass only when necessary such as a UV protector when shooting in a non-clean industrial or dusty environment.

[THoff]

Speaking of flourescent lights and filters, the HVX has a FLUO matrix setting to deal with the green spike common in flourescent light.

[MDP 16mm]

as already stated B+W are well worth it. Keep them in good shape and they will last for years and years. Never never skimp on the glass.

[dusterdoo]

Barry Green recommends this one, which I have, and is great. Again - dont skimp.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=FP8CVvxpYh!1240249234!117122579401 3?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=product.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=82mm+uv+mrc&image.x=12&image.y=3

[abeljerrod]

For those that do not have a Mattebox for 4x4 filters, Tiffen does sell an 82mm screw-in ND 0.6 Grad. The other filter you might seriously consider would be a Polarizer. Especially if you have any shoots through glass/water or to deepen the blue in the sky.