square filters

[cmorrow05]

I have a Canon Rebel G with a 28-80 lens and an 80-210. I'd like to get some filters, namely a polarizer, warming (81A), enhancing, and a neutral-density filter. I've been doing some reading, and I think my best bet would be square filters, so that I don't have to get one for each lens. Is this correct, and does anyone have any recommendations on this topic?

Thanks in advance!

[Roan]

hrm, what's a square filter? While I was doing research for my Nikon it was recommended that I buy a set of filters for the 28-80 smaller lens (58mm) and then a step-up ring (58mm-62mm) to fit the filters onto the 70-300 Tamron (62mm).

I posed this question here and on photographyreview.com and no one ever said anything about a "square" filter?

FWIW, a step-up ring will produce a vignette around photos taken with the larger lens and several people suggested I would be better off with a step-down ring instead (no vignette).

Instead of all that, I bought a UV for the 62mm and the same set you are referring to for the 58mm.

Switching filters is a pain.

[cmorrow05]

Roan, check out this site for info on square filters.

http://www.chriscamera.com/filters.htm

And Amazon.com sells the holders and filters.

The main reason for my interest in them is that you wouldn't have to buy separate filters for each lens. You fit an adapter ring onto the lens and slide on the filter holder. Then you can use one or more filters (square or round) by sliding them into the holder.

It looks ideal, but I wanted to see if anyone here has tried this, and if so, how they liked it.

[nancymae]

The brand name that I am familiar with is Cokin. I have the square filters with that brand. It is true, there is a holder which holds about 3 filters, so you can use more than one filter at a time. Also, changing filters is not hard, just slide it out and pop a new one in. The expense is not as great either as previously mentioned because all you need is a step up ring to fit the holder and you can fit on any lens. I really love them.

[IRDOC]

Cokin is the best I have found for square filters with the largest
selection of special effects and density sensitive filters.
Doc

[MLFLY]

Whew. Finally moved in from my relocation to Orlando from Fort Lauderdale. Well, almost - there are still some boxes to go.

Roan, I think the person that mentioned step-down filter to you was mis-naming them. Step-up rings allow you to use a larger diameter glass filter on a smaller diameter lens (eg. "steps up" your 58mm lens to accept 62 mm filters). Step-down allows your 62 mm lenses to use 58mm filters. Stepping down can lead to vignetting but always. Similarly, stepping up can cause vignetting also, especially with wide angle lenses. I would not suspect the zoom you were talking about (widest setting at 70mm) to be prone to vignetting using a step up ring.

The square filters use a holder (sometimes sized only for their brand) which is mounted by a ring which attaches to your lens on the filter threads. These filters are often 4x5 inches - large enough to avoid vignetting.

I've found that I prefer polarizers in glass filters and prefer to buy one for each size lens I have. Split color polarizers & Grad ND's are designed for the filter holders. For protection in sandy conditions or at the seashore with sale spray, I'll use a UV filter of glass and carry one for each lens, in that case. Polarizers I like are a normal circulat, warm circular and the Yellow-Blue (this fits in a Cokin holder but the filter brand itself is not Cokin).

Mike