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Which Board? => Main Forum => : Harvey June 04, 2011, 10:09:30 PM

: Effect of multi-coated filters
: Harvey June 04, 2011, 10:09:30 PM
Bear with me on this one and if I'm being a muppet just give me a virtual pat on the head and I'll go quietly :)

I'm guessing a lot of us use older lenses which are single-coated and therefore 'comparatively' lower contrast than newer multi-coated versions.
So, what effect does adding a multi-coated filter, say skylight or UV as I use these as lens protectors anyway, to a single coated lens have? I'm guessing it will have some effect just because it's there but will it actually noticeably improve image contrast/quality?

Thanks

Harvey
: Re: Effect of multi-coated filters
: Francois June 05, 2011, 12:23:45 AM
That's a really good question...
On one side, I know it can't be bad... but my question is about how good it is?
Is it worth the extra or not...

I know a good lens hood on non coated lenses works fine and is always recommended. Thing is the lower contrast on these optics is mostly when shooting into the light...
I also know the contrast reduction comes to some extent from the light bouncing inside the lenses themselves.
Now, how are lenses coated... individually or as a cemented group? Is it only the first lens or are they all coated before assembly? I know how the coating machines work but apart from that, I really don't know.
: Re: Effect of multi-coated filters
: Harvey June 05, 2011, 08:03:47 PM
Thanks Francois,
I'm relieved it wasn't a stupid question and I guess if you don't know the answer it's probably not worth worrying about! ;)

Harvey
: Re: Effect of multi-coated filters
: Francois June 05, 2011, 09:30:05 PM
Well you know, I don't know it all... and I don't believe anyone would have gone through the trouble of doing extensive testing on this one. For one, it would be a complicated test to conduct. You'd need two identical lenses with one having uncoated surfaces. Similar shooting conditions and a side by side blind test with a control... hard to do for something I feel is quite trivial.