Care for square filters...

I usually take good care of my stuff, and my round filters are remain blemish free, so I'm a bit distraught over the fact that my first set of square filters, Cokin's and HiTechs are pretty well microscratched to unusable.

I think that the hiTech's are victims of their own sleeves, but does anyone else have similar problems??? Are other brands less prone to scratching. What do you store them in to keep them clean and scratch free???

Any help appreciated!!!

Jim

Hey Jim:

I have had a number of singh ray filters over the years and used to get real upset when they got scratched, mostly from hand holding them (I hate the cokin holder system). Although the scratches are annoying, I have not noticed any decrease in image quality due to the "micro scratches" you mention. The filter is so far from the plane of focus unless the scratch is large or they are ridiculously numerous, I can't image it would have an adverse effect.

Jim,

If the filters look cloudy from a very large number of microscratches this may affect the image. Run a test by shooting the same scene with the filter(s) and without, then compare. If the images with the filters look like they are exhibiting flare, it is probably time to replace them.

My Singh-Ray Grads have held up very well. I use the padded cases supplied by S-R and I am very careful to handle them by the edges and I blow any crud off them before I put them back in the case. I also use a microfiber cloth to clean them if by chance they look grungy.

-PB

I have some Cokin P size filters. I trashed 1 of the ND Grads, in camera bag, in the plastic holders that comes with them. It was just dust and garbage that got in the little box. I bought one of their Cokin P size holder. It holds seven P size filter of what ever brand.. It does not let the filters vibrate against a hard plastic container.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=3850&A=details&Q=&sku=250085&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Jim,

I've wondered about this question, too. I often get straight scratches down the middle of my Singh-Ray grads. This is an area that doesn't come in contact with the grad holder or my fingers so I assume they come from pulling the grad in and out of the padded filter cases supplied by Singh-Ray. I haven't noticed any degradation in image quality, but the scratches get progressively worse over time, and I feel compelled to replace my most used grads every two or three years. Your mileage may vary.

Anybody else have problems with vertical scratches in the middle of the filter and know if it's from the filter case? Like Jim, I'd like to hear solutions if anyone has any.

Lori

All, thanks for the replies, and I'm glad it's not just me...

I have been geting a fair bit of flair shooting into the sun, and it was bothersome to my image quality, so before I bought new ones I figured I'd ask...

Any further ideas on storage of them to minimize this???

At least on the Hitechs, the plastic sleeves certainly cause scratching. The plastic they use seems to be a magnet for dust and dirt.I threw mine away and bought a couple of large micro-fiber cloths and sewed my own filter pockets. I have noticed a huge difference in the number of scratches I get now, plus simply sliding the filters in and out cleans them. Not elegant, but it works well.
Paul

Any resin filter will scratch easily so great care is needed to keep them scratch free. Fortunately, as mentioned above, small scratches shouldn't affect image quality. I use Singh Ray's and their filter cases seem to do an excellent job of protecting them, plus I always handle them by their edges only. I use canned air to blow off any dust, residue before washing them and drying them with a Pec Pad. I've found that microfiber cloths can sometimes leave a film on the filters (from detergent/fabric softener, etc.).

I seem to remember a filter wallet for square and rectangular filters. Holds about 6 filters I think. It had lined pockets for the filters. I think it was made by Kinesis but my memory could be faulty. Anybody remember that filter wallet thing?

Rod, your memory is not faulty. Kinesis makes a very nice case for square or rectangular filters like ND grads. I bought mine from the NPN Gift Shoppe but I don't see them listed there anymore. Here is Kinesis web page.

The Kinesis case holds five filters in between soft padded dividers. I have kept my Singh Ray grads in this case for a couple of years and they have no scratches. When I'm backpacking, I just throw the Kinesis case in my backpack and don't worry about it. I highly recommend the Kinesis case.

Cheers,

I took my cue on filter care from Singh Ray, which ships them in the soft case, within which is a fitted plastic envelope. Within that the filter is "sandwiched" on each side with pieces of what looks like high rag paper. Singh Ray users know what I'm talking about. Religiously using the bag and paper has prevented almost all scratches in the 10 or so years I've owned them. All other brands I retro with protective paper and put them in fitted plastic bags. Same results- nearly pristine filters after years of use.

I tried to keep my Singh-Rays lined with the paper in the plastic bag in the padded filter case for about one day before the need to respond quickly to rapidly changing light torpedoed that idea . I'll look into the Kinesis case. Thanks to Rod and Mark for the tip .

Lori

Hi Lori. My problem has been keeping the bloomin bags from blowing away in the wind. Finally learned to leave the bottom edge in the padded case while removing the filter. They usually get folded over with case flap when I shove them in my shirt pocket while using the filter. Not very dignified, but I have been seen to scramble through the bushes chasing the plastic bag and paper when they get away from me.

I haven't had my Singh-Rays for long, but have used only the Kinesis filter bag (sold here on NPN) and so far , not a scratch. They are also much easier to get out of this bag than out of the individual S-R packets.

The Kinesis is also large enough that i can put the Cokin P- holder in the first compartment and have everything together in one place.
Sandy R

Well, I know what doesn't work: putting them in your hip pocket.


Kent in SD

Mmmm. I bet you can spell CRUNCH now Kent!

I spend a lot of time in the Southwestern dust and in Alaskan volcanic ash, so anything sliding against filters is a threat. That includes any circumstance that allows the filter itself to slide around a bit.

Dust accumulates not only on filters, but in and on their storage containers.

For that reason, the little pieces of paper SR puts on either side of the filter are key. Cover the filter with those before sliding them in and out of the case, and you immediately eliminate one cause of scratching. The paper also helps protect filters from vibration and wear within the case during carry.

I change the paper out every so often, just in case it accumulates dust along with everything else. I even retro my non-SR filters with the paper.

Like I said, mine are still more or less pristine though some are 10+ years old. Must be working for me, cuzz I can't keep scratches off reading glasses for a week!

I gave up on the plastic baggies for my SR filters and I think the little tissues are somewhere east of Nevada by now.

I like the idea of the tissue, I'll try that. Thanks Hank.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that very once in a while, or if I have been 'in the crud' I'll use a vaccuum to clean the pouches, and also my pack.

-PB