Why you shouldn't stack 50 UV filters

[feppe]

Reason here.

via DPReview.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Reason here.

via DPReview.

It's nice that someone else did the research already, so I don't have to go out and buy 50 UV filters (of mixed parentage) to do the test myself.

Eric

[bill t.]

But wouldn't that protect your investment in photographic equipment 50 times better than just 1 filter?

Has anybody tested multiple stacked 10 stop ND filters?  And stacked Polarizers could use some research as well.  How about stacked primary colors?  There's a lot we still need to learn.

[Rob C]

But wouldn't that protect your investment in photographic equipment 50 times better than just 1 filter?

Has anybody tested multiple stacked 10 stop ND filters?  And stacked Polarizers could use some research as well.  How about stacked primary colors?  There's a lot we still need to learn.

I'm quite partial to well-stacked things myself; professionally speaking, of course.

Rob C

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

That reminds me of the "Supersize Me" documentary. If you eat nothing but McDonald's for a month, you are going to end up with all sort of health troubles. Well... duh!

If you eat pretty much anything else exclusively, you are going to end up with some sort of health trouble too. Too much of even a good stuff is... well... too much.

The main point of the test for me is that cheap filters are not as good as more expensive ones. Well... duh!

Any more fun truisms?

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

But wouldn't that protect your investment in photographic equipment 50 times better than just 1 filter?

Has anybody tested multiple stacked 10 stop ND filters?  And stacked Polarizers could use some research as well.  How about stacked primary colors?  There's a lot we still need to learn.

For instance: How many stacked (ND, Polarizers, whatever) filters does it take to protect your precious camera from a nuclear attack?

[Rob C]

For instance: How many stacked (ND, Polarizers, whatever) filters does it take to protect your precious camera from a nuclear attack?

It's academic. But my guess would be that you'd be better off using polarizers...

Rob C

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

It's academic. But my guess would be that you'd be better off using polarizers...

Rob C

Thanks, Rob. I guess I better trade my NDs and UVs in before I start the experiments.

Eric

[bill t.]

For instance: How many stacked (ND, Polarizers, whatever) filters does it take to protect your precious camera from a nuclear attack?

No need to get obsessive about this stuff.  One of these attached to your keychain will instantly inform you of nearby nuclear detonations with plenty of time to get your lenscap back on.

[Rob C]

I'm not sure if Bill's latest post is for real or just some clever PSing, but the product and the Made in the USA sticker speaks volumes for the mindset. Perhaps. Worse, it's also academic. Save your pennies for a boat and then waste them bigtime!

;-(

Rob C

[bill t.]

That's right off the web.  It was all too easy to google similar devices made in the EU, Canada, China, Japan, and at least the Ukraine.   It doesn't take much for one group's particular paranoia-du-jour to hot-swap to another, there is no immunity for anyone.

And that device wasn't actually made in the USA, it was made in Texas.

Was actually merely trying to send up the "UV filter as protection" thing.

[degrub]

"And that device wasn't actually made in the USA, it was made in Texas.
"
At least someone knows the difference 

[ErikKaffehr]

Hi!

I don't see how lens cap will help with nuclear detonations. Better to keep safe distance.

Best regards
Erik

No need to get obsessive about this stuff.  One of these attached to your keychain will instantly inform you of nearby nuclear detonations with plenty of time to get your lenscap back on.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Of course use a lead lens cap.