newbie question: what filters?

[Guest]

Hello all -- I'm getting a DVC80 (so I'm not just a newbie, I'm also a poor cousin on the DVX forum...) and wondering what filters people actually use? I'm looking to shoot in a variety of circumstances -- outdoor doc, indoor setups, available/studio lighting...

1) What kind of UV for lens protection? I see Hazes of various types, various numbers, and vanilla UVs.

2) The DVC/DVX have built-in ND filters. Do people use additional NDs?

3) Circular polarizer or standard? Seems like everything I read disagrees on this.

4) What about softening filters like Tiffen ProMists or Cokin Sunsofts? Are these commonly in use?

5) What are people's favorite brands? What about favorite brands on a budget?

Thanks much,
Leo

 

[Zoomforce]

Re: newbie question: what filters?

Get a Multi-coated UV.. B+W is one of the best, but any multicoat around the $70 mark should be good.. dont want to cheap out on that as the cheap ones will ruin your image.

The built in ND pretty much covers a huge range of exposures, I personally have never found the need to add an external.

Circular polarizers are the way to go.. now that circular and linear are close in price there is no reason to goto linear.

I use Black promists and Gold promists all the time, they really help with a certain look

I also recommend you try out some ultra cons, they really help control the high end of luminance.. cuts down some of the blown out highlights

I dont suggest going cheap.. I recommend you slowly build you filter collection, like buying one a month or whatever, starting with a UV, then a polarizer, etc.

 

[Guest]

Re: newbie question: what filters?

Thanks, Jarred. The B+W look good (from what little I can tell). They have normal, slim, Kasemann... -- a variety of different types. What is appropriate for the DVC/DVX? Or does it matter?

 

[Zoomforce]

Re: newbie question: what filters?

dont get the slim because there are no threads on the front of it, so you cant put anymore filters on it.