Filter Systems Compared - Kase vs Nisi vs Haida vs Hoya

/

Don't waste money on UV Filters
In general I am not a fan of UV filters, they offer little protection from a fall and the glass at the end of your lens is pretty tough, it's not going to get scratched unless you are very careless. I prefer lens hoods as they do offer some protection from falls and nicely protect the end of the lens from coming into contact with  random objects without degrading image quality.   I do prefer camera brand lens hoods, I have tried a few of the third party and they often fit just a bit awkwardly making the putting on and taking off just a bit slower. Some of the very cheap 3rd party lens hoods actually use the filter threads to attach, this is bad as it blocks you from adding a filter and is very cumbersome to put on take off.

Circular Polarizer Filters are useful
The one filter I do recommend landscape photographers own (or anyone taking scenic view photos) is a circular polarizer (CP Filter). Some benefits of a CP filter include:

  • CP filters reduce reflections and glare

  • Reduces Haze and blue cast in landscapes

  • Adds saturation to your sky and greenery

Recommended Hoods and Polarizers for Common Lenses

More about CP filters. There are other specialized filters worth owning for some situations but a CP is one that many don't know they need and gives you a look that is not reproducible with post processing. The brands I list I find to be safe choices at each of those price points, there are certainly other brands/choices at each price point.Roll your mouse over the image to see the effects of using a circular polarizer ( no other changes were made - I simply rotated the circular polarizer from what I call zero effect to maximum effect)[himage][/himage]Scroll to the bottom for a plan to save on filters.  Don't see your lens listed? Check the list at the bottom for all current Canon and Nikon lens sizes.

77mm CP Filters

72mm CP Filters

67mm includes Canon Lenses 18-135mm EF-S STM, 10-18 STM and Nikon 18-140 

58mm Recommended lens hood for 18-135 STM 58mm 18-55 EF-S, 18-55 STM, 75-300, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2.8 macro 

52mm Recommended lens hood for 75-300 & (Kit Lens)18-55 EF-S 52mm includes Canon lenses 60 EF-S, 50mm f/1.8, 35mm f/2,  Nikon Lenses 18-55(kit), 55-200

Recommended lens hood for 60mm EF-S

Recommended lens hood for 40 f/2.8 STM
Instead of buying a filter or filters for each sized lens you can but this set of step UP adapters and then buy the largest filter(s) you need and use the adapter(s) to fit to each of your smaller mm lenses. So in this example you would buy filters in the 67mm size and use the 67-62 + the 62-58 adapters to use that filter on your 58mm lens. And throw on the 58-55 and the 55-52 to step down to the smallest lens in this example. Truthfully I have never used more than one at a time but there isn't any reason why it shouldn't work and these adapters are glassless, so nothing extra between you and your filters.

Fotodiox 7 Metal Step UP Ring Set, Anodized Black Metal. 77-72mm, 72-67mm, 67-62mm, 62-58mm, 58-55mm, 55-52mm, 52-49mm

Ready to get more serious about your filter system? I recommend the NiSi System or Kase Magnetic System

Video Links

Wolverine Kase Magnetic Kit - https://bhpho.to/3D8DVGk
Magnetic Lens hood - https://bhpho.to/3vEuUCv
Kase Magnetic Step Up Ring - https://bhpho.to/3m1b0yv

Nisi v6 Pro Starter Kit - https://bhpho.to/3m1aMHD
Nisi 6 stop ND - https://bhpho.to/3vvx07M

Haida Rear Filter Kits - https://bhpho.to/3vEvAYz

Hoya CPL Filter -https://bhpho.to/30DuSPO
6 Stop ND Filter - https://bhpho.to/3jHxUth


Complete List of Nikon and Canon Lenses/Filter Sizes

1

NIkon LENS

Filter Size

2

3

DX Lenses

4

10.5mm f/2.8G AF DX Fish

5

12-24mm f/4.06 AF-S DX

77MM

6

16-85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX

77MM

7

17-55mm f/2.8G AF-S DX

52MM

8

18-55mm f/3.5-56 II AF-S DX

52MM

9

18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR AFS DX

52MM

10

18.70mm f/3.5-4.56 AF-S DX

67MM

11

18-135mm f13.5-5.66 AF-S DX

67MM

12

18-200mm 1/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX

72MM

13

55.200mm f/4.0-5.66 AF-S DX

52MM

14

55-200mm f14.0-5.66 ED AF-S VR DX

52MM

15

AP-D NIKKOR LENS (For Digital & 35MM)

16

14mm f/2.8D

17

16mm f/2.8D AF Fish

18

20mm f/2.8D AF

62MM

19

24nim f/2.8D AF

52MM

20

24mm f/3.5D ED PCE Manual

77MM

21

28mm f/2.8D AF

52MM

22

35mm f/2.00 AF

52MM

23

45mm 1/2.80 ED PCE Manual

77MM

24

50mm f/1.8D AF

52MM

25

50mm f/1.4D AF

52MM

26

60mm f/2.8D AF Micro

62MM

27

60mm f/2.8D ED Micro

62MM

28

85mm f/2.8D PC Micro PCE Manual

77MM

29

85mm f/1.80 AF

62MM

30

85mm f/1.40 AF

77MM

31

105mm f/2.86 AF-S VR Micro

62MM

32

105mm f/2.0D AF DC

72MM

33

135mm f/2.00 AF DC

72MM

34

180mm 1/2.80 AF (720)

72MM

35

200mm f/4.00 AF Micro

62MM

36

200mm f/2.0G AF-S VR 52MM

rear

37

300mm f/4.0D AF-S

77MM

38

300mm f/2.86 AF-S VR 52MM

rear

39

400mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR L

40

500mm f/46 AF-S ED VR L

41

600mm f/4G AF-S ED VR L

42

AF ZOOM NIKKOR LENS (For Digital & 35MM)

43

14.24mm f/2.8G AF-S

44

17-35mm f/2.8D

77MM

45

24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S

46

24.85mm f12.8-4

47

24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR

72MM

48

70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR

77MM

49

70-300mm f/4-5.6G

62MM

50

70.300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR

67MM

51

80-200mm f/2.80

77MM

52

80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR

77MM

53

200-400mm f/4.0G AF-S VR 52MM

rear

54

MANUAL FOCUS AIS NIKKOR LENSES

55

20mm f/2.8

62MM

56

28mm f/2.8 AIS MF

52MM

57

35mm f/1.4 AIS MF

52MM

58

50mm f/1.2 AIS MF

52MM

59

50mm f/1.4 AIS MF

52MM

60

55mm f/2.8 Micro

52MM

61

135mm f/2.8 Series E

52MM

62

TC-201 2x Teleconver

63

TC-301 2x Teleconver

1

LENS

Filter Size

2

3

14mm f/2.8L11USM Super Wide-Angle (Rear 8e1)...

4

15mm f/2.8 Fisheye (

Rear

5

24mm f/1.4L USM AF.

77MM

6

24mm f/2.8

58MM

7

TS-E 24mm f/3.5L MF Tilt Shift

72MM

8

35mm f/1.4L USM AF

72MM

9

45mm f/2.8 TS-E (Manual Focus)

72MM

10

50mrn f/1.2L USM AF Normal..

72MM

11

50mm f/1.4 USM .

58MM

12

50mm f/2.5 Macro (1:2) 5

52MM

13

65mm f/2.8 MP-E Macro 1x-5x (MF) 5

58MM

14

85mm f/1.2L II USM AF 7

72MM

15

85mm f/1.8 USM 5

58MM

16

90mm f/2.8 TS-E (Manual Focus) 5

58MM

17

100mm f/2.0 USM 5

58MM

18

100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

58MM

19

135mm f/2.0L USM Lens..

72MM

20

135mm f/2.8 Soft

52MM

21

180mm f/3.5L Macro USM

72MM

22

200mm f/2.8L II USM .

72MM

23

200mm /2 EF IS U

24

25

300mm f/2.8L IS USM . 52MM

rear

26

300mm f/4.0L IS USM

77MM

27

400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM.. 52MM

rear

28

500mm f/4.0L IS USM AF... 52MM

rear

29

600mm f/4.0L IS IS USM AF.. 52MM

rear

30

800mm f/5.6L IS USM 52MM

rear

31

2x EF Extender

32

16-35mm f/2.8L II USM AF

77MM

33

17-40mm f/4L USM AF.

77MM

34

24.70mm f/2.8L USM AF

77MM

35

24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM AF

67MM

36

24-105mm f/4L IS USM AF..

77MM

37

28-90mm f/4-5.6111

58MM

38

28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

58MM

39

28-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

72MM

40

28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

72MM

41

28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

77MM

42

70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

77MM

43

70-200mm f/2.8L

44

67MM

45

70.200mm f/4.0L

46

70-200mm f/4L IS USM

67MM

47

70.300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

58MM

48

70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

58MM

49

75-300mm f/4-5.6111

58MM

50

75.300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

58MM

51

100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM5

58MM

52

100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM AF 7

77MM

53

EF-S LENSES

54

10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM 7

77MM

55

17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

77MM

56

17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS

67MM

57

18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 13 ..

72MM

58

f/2.8 USM Macro Lens ..

52MM

59

55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS AF

58MM

Black Rapid Strap - Mini-review and gif

/

Mini Review of the Black Rapid RS-7 Sport Strap.Pro:

  • Having your camera at the hip, no banging against your stomach
  • The attachment is on the bottom(tripod socket), traditional straps always seemed to be in my way when they are attached at the left and right strap hooks.
  • The strap is super comfy
  • The quick release system allows you to quickly go from no strap to strap in seconds. Even unscrewing the camera connector is quick.

Cons

  • Pricey - but a good strap that is going to last you years and years
  • If you are not careful the quick release lock could come undone.
  • On occasion, when I lift the camera to shoot, the strap slides off the shoulder.  I know others are having this issue because Black Rapid addresses it on their FAQ page.   I plan to add some small rubber grip-e-ness to the bottom of the strap to see if that helps.  I am also considering going with their double strap system and attaching a lens bag on the other side.

Quick Gif of me using a Black Rapid StrapSupport this site- Order your Black Rapid Strap from Amazon or B&H. Let me know if you have any questions.

Capbuckle - Product Review and Giveaway

/

Win a capbuckleI have lost more than a few lens caps over the last year, usually the issue is not having a consistent place to put my lens cap after taking it off the lens.  Capbuckle solves that, it threads onto your camera strap and gives you a place to snap the cap. A snug little home for your lens cap.   The only downside I have found is that it does not work without an extra bit of string with my favorite strap, the Black Rapid Straps.    Watch the video review below and then pop over to my facebook page to enter to win your very own Capbuckle.    Enter to Win (contest open to residents of the US only)

Canon GPS GP-E2 - Easy Geotagging for Canon DSLRS

/
I have had the little Canon GPS GP-E2 for a little over a month now, used it exclusively with my Canon 5D Mark III.  Tonight I realized it works perfectly with my Canon t4i too.   In both cameras you turn it on, slide it into the hot shoe and as soon as it has a satellite lock, and it often gets that lock quickly, it feeds the camera your precise location and altitude, UTC time too.  This can all be displayed on the LCD screen under the GPS Device Setting screen.  It also works  with the Canon 1Dx and 7D Cameras(needs USB cable connection when used with Canon 7D).  Can be used with any camera via the logging function but not recommended for use that way as there are cheaper options including using an app on your smartphone. My Original Review of the GP-E2 Unit

Triggertrap - Use your smart phone to smartly trigger your camera

/

 The video is long and only covers a few of the functions of the Triggertrap app/system - that's how cool this app is (or how much I like to hear myself talk?)I have one more Triggertrap to give away (given away 4 so far) Like my Facebook page and stay tuned for the last giveaway.Also seen in this video -Hotshoe Tripod Mount: http://goo.gl/FqLFbSmartphone Tripod Adapter: http://goo.gl/pcNcfI love making or creating time lapse movies and although I don’t get to do it nearly as often as  I like I am always on the lookout for gadgets that help. I have talked about the little Neweer intervalometer before, it is only $13 bucks and does a great job of telling your camera to take a picture every X seconds, it can also allow you to control bulb mode on your camera which allows you to set your shutter speed to longer than 30 second exposures.   The Neweer Intervalometer does its job well but doesn’t offer much in the way of options beyond the standard picture every x seconds.We have another option that is lots smarter and it only costs a bit more but does require a smartphone or tablet.  For the last few weeks I have been testing and app from a company called Triggertrap. They make apps for android and iOS and a small dongle that you plug into the headphone jack of your smartphone or tablet.   The benefit of a setup like this over the standard intervalometer is the sky is really the limit – your smartphone is a powerful computer and using that as the brains of the intervalometer allows dozens of creative ways for you to control the shutter of your camera.Some of the functions of the Triggertrap app include

  • Bulb Ramping Timelapse enables seamless sunrise/sunset timelapses,
  • HDR timelapse lets you combine the power of HDR and timelapses,
  • TimeWarp, a feature unique to Triggertrap, uses algorithms developed for animation to create more dynamic and natural-looking timelapses.
  • Sensor Controls: Leverages the smart device’s on-board sensors to release the shutter; Sound Sensor Mode uses the microphone to trigger at a set audio level, Seismic Mode fires based on vibrations, bumps or knocks, and Metal & Magnetism Sensor Mode can be used to fire the shutter in their presence
  • Facial recognition: Takes a photo once Triggertrap detects the programmed number of faces in the frame
  • Multiple HDR Capture Modes: Provides expanded control over bracketed exposures for Long Exposure HDR, or automates Long Exposure HDR Timelapse capture
  • DistanceLapse: Unique to Triggertrap, this mode relies on the smart device’s on-board GPS chip to fire the shutter over pre-determined distances
  • Motion detection mode: Triggers camera whenever motion is detected in the
  • Star trail mode: Allows external cameras to automatically take a series of long exposures in sequence to reduce noise
  • Wireless mode: Unique to Triggertrap, this new Wi-Fi triggering technology enables photographers to leverage the range and speed of a Wi-fi network to control the dynamic features of the Triggertrap Mobile app wirelessly

The Sensor controls are missing from the Android app, the devs tell me that they will be added soon, the Android app is also a bit laggy on my rezound, I also tested on the nexus and it was much smoother but still missing the sensor controls found on the iOS version.There are actually three parts to the set up – Your smartphone running the triggertrap app, the dongle and the camera specific cable.  Make sure you get the new v2 dongle (red wire) I bought the original dongle, with a black wire and although it works fine with my iPad refused to do anything when plugged into my android phone – I contacted support and Lucy was awesome, she walked me through a series of tests and even though it seemed it was more of my phone as the problem she sent me the newer red wire dongle free of charge, it arrived just a few days later and works perfectly.  I love working with people that take an extra step to make things right.My phone and my camera go everywhere with me and now I just throw these two little cables in my bag and I have a very smart and versatile trigger system for my camera.   I have added a little hot shoe tripod adapter that I use for some of my microphones and a generic cell phone tripod holder and now I can easily use the facial feature to snap photos.What am I most excited about –The wireless control is pretty niftyOn Black Friday 2011 I picked up a suction cup mount and have tried a few drivelapses (timelapse while driving) Now I can use the GPS to trigger over distance instead of time, this should give a different look and feel more true to the trip)Bulb Ramping Timelapse – Sunset and sunrise is very difficult to capture - you either lose light quickly or you use P mode and the light remains constant through the sunset totally ruining the idea of capturing a lovely sunset.  Did you know that as the sun sets you lose about a stop of light every 10 minutes.  Using the Bramping mode (for bulb ramping) you can pre-adjust for the light lost and really extend the length of time your timelapse will run while actually capturing the decreasing light.

The Best Presents?

/

I have given loads of presents in my days - presents to little people, big people and everyone in between and those presents almost always elicit smiles but the only presents I have ever seen elicit smiles AND tears are photo books.  There is something about holding a book of images that is so much more than one image provides. The images and words that you have chosen - maybe it tells a story, maybe it is just a collection of special images, maybe it is something useful(like a daily planner) but with images you have carefully selected - it doesn't really matter what form this takes people find it wonderful and special.I have plans for at least two photo books this year and I will be using Blurb. Their online tools range from super easy, even my technology challenged mother could do it, (and she really did) to blank pages that let you design the books the way you want without getting your way.  In the past the books I created were fairly traditional - loosely telling the story of a vacation or summer adventures with the kids but you are only limited by your imagination. My 5 year old wrote a story last year and I had a friend and local artist illustrate, as a present I took his words and combined them into an actual book - the look on his face when he realized the book he was holding was his own words was priceless.  He has asked for another one this year.  This year I plan to make him his own comic book with photos from a story we created using his Legos.  My daughter will be getting a cookbook illustrated with scenes she created of her her little dolls cooking.   So- start thinking about ways that you can give photo books and take some time to look at Blurb- as I said their tools are excellent, their prices are always cheaper than I expect and the finished products really are quite magical.Blurb is offering 15% off with the code FALLTHANKS Deal ends 11/21/12