drop in filter

teekc · 5th September 2006

hi all. some lenses especially the exotic teles have drop in filters that come with the lenses. i wonder for normal use, should the (supplied) filter be taken out or just left in there as is. i know the filter holder is used for polariser or ND filters if the need arises, but if you don't need that? thanks in advance for any help.

_espn_ · 5th September 2006

It's ok not to leave it inside.

Not just the exotic teles, 10.5 FE also.

sykestang · 6th September 2006

Originally Posted by _espn_

It's ok not to leave it inside.

Not just the exotic teles, 10.5 FE also.

Most cases the drop in filter is a NC filter. NC abbreviate for Neutral Colour is used. NC filters are highly multi-coated on both sides so that there is almost no reflection on either sides of the filter. As such, the filter would not affect image quality. Thus you can safely leave the default filter inside.

I've personally compared the quality of the Nikon NC with B+W, Tamron, Heliopan filters. It turns out that the Nikon made NC filter surpass the rest in terms of the clarity, colour casting and reflection. However only setback is the difficulty in 1st cleaning if you gets your finger print on it. There seems to be a layer of sticky coating on the glass, however after the 1st time cleaning, subsequent cleaning is very much easy just like any other filters.

The second in line that I like is the Heliopan Carl Zeiss filter. The glass is made of tough shock proof glass which is almost unbreakable. But only setback is that it is not as clear as compared to the Nikon made NC.

For lenses that supports a drop in filter and you need to use a Cir-Pol filter with it, you need to purchase a special drop-in filter holder that supports the turning of the cir pol. And one cautious warning, the special holder for cir-pol is not cheap.

Hope the above answers to the doubts that most of you have.

ipin · 6th September 2006

Originally Posted by sykestang

For lenses that supports a drop in filter and you need to use a Cir-Pol filter with it, you need to purchase a special drop-in filter holder that supports the turning of the cir pol. And one cautious warning, the special holder for cir-pol is not cheap.

Bro, you referring to the 10.5mm lens? Roughly what kind of prices are we looking at for the drop-in CPL and holder?

Thanks!

sykestang · 6th September 2006

Originally Posted by ipin

Bro, you referring to the 10.5mm lens? Roughly what kind of prices are we looking at for the drop-in CPL and holder? Thanks!

There isn't any drop in filter for 10.5 lah!!! it is just a rear element filter!

ipin · 6th September 2006

Originally Posted by sykestang

There isn't any drop in filter for 10.5 lah!!! it is just a rear element filter!

hehehe, dun own one yet, so dunno.

Thanks for the clarification!

_espn_ · 6th September 2006

Originally Posted by ipin

hehehe, dun own one yet, so dunno. Thanks for the clarification!

I know of a CSer who owns it... but don't think the rear filter is cheap...

5th September 2006	#1
teekc Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 192	drop in filter hi all. some lenses especially the exotic teles have drop in filters that come with the lenses. i wonder for normal use, should the (supplied) filter be taken out or just left in there as is. i know the filter holder is used for polariser or ND filters if the need arises, but if you don't need that? thanks in advance for any help.

5th September 2006	#2
_espn_ Deregistered Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 3,553	Re: drop in filter It's ok not to leave it inside. Not just the exotic teles, 10.5 FE also.