Beecher's Handouts /

Focal Length / 17.2 - Odds & Ends

Cleaning

Lens cleaning is described in the camera section.

Clear Filters

You may wish use a clear filter, such as a UV, haze, or skylight filter.

1) A clear filter can act like a shock absorber and shield if the lens bangs into something.

These filters are for protection, only, nowadays.

They do little to eliminate haze from UV light because all modern lenses have a UV filter incorporated into the lens.

2) Filter glass is harder than lens glass, allowing you to clean dust or water drops off your lens more easily.

3) Be sure to remove the clear filter when using another filter to prevent vignetting of the corners of your photographs.

4) Some will chide you for having a $20 filter on your $200 lens.

They'll rant about how the quality of your lens is being degraded by the filter.

It's not.