UV filter or No UV filter?

simple rule of thumb - if you don't know what something does on the front of a lens, don't put it on, as it'll only degrade your desired image.

Alternatively, experiment - try it with and without, and if you can't see any difference, don't use it.

As JR said earlier - a Lens Hood will make a huge improvement in all locations (indoors or outdoors) - although they can be bulky and slow you down, on the bright side you don't need to put a lens cap on and off all the time if you've got a big hood...

You mention you've got a Polariser - these are very useful when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine, although more fidderly to use and take a bit of practice, but well worth while. I hope its the "Circular" not "Linear" type, otherwise they can be a pain if your front element rotates when focusing (I think your kit lens does), however you probably have a CPL (circular polariser)!

I use the Hoya Protection Filters in front of my lenses that are used for digital only. I do have one UV that goes on when there is very bright sunlight, but that is only when abroad!

I use a UV filter because I am taking pictures in the surf. I stand about nearly knee deep and whenever a wave comes I lift the camera into the air, just as an adde3d protection. The only alternative is spending mega bucks on a larger lens, a good tripod, and even then it is hard to cath the quick movement of the surfers, and follow them on a wave to get the best picture. I wouldnt want to be wiping the lens after every day out. You just cant stop that salt and sea spray.

Otherwise if you cant detect the degradation of the photo, and it doesnt affect your focus, why not have one. You never know when you are going to drop the camera, some movie star (if your a paparazzi) is going to key your lens in your face etc.

Wger you are in controlled conditions, and have somewhere to stash the filter, I would take it off.

I bought the camera from a local camera shop as to keep the money in the local area and they had to order it from Pentax and it didnt come with a lens hood im afraid.

Yes it is a 52mm circular polarizer and yes it will take some practice to use this in the right situations and in the right way.
Im learning though and getting there slowly.

What Hypocorism doesn't seem to realise is that in the UK the K-x when sold with Kit lenses - is supplied with DA Ls .

These do not come with lens hoods or quickshift [ - whatever that is I've never understood the term ]

These DA Ls are lighter in physical weight as the mount is plastic - but in all other details [ glass etc ] they are identical to the DA lens

It means that after AF has locked on you can tweak the focus manually if you want to without having to set MF. The clutch mechanism that allows this is not present on the DA-L lenses or the DA 18-250mm.

John any suggestions on what type of lens hood i should purchase, seems to be quite a variety out there.

Ross

There is a dedicated Pentax hood, available from SRS, and that is the most convenient as it just bayonets onto the lens. It won't be cheasp though.

Otherwise, there are other makes and perhaps someone has a link?

Thanks john, just looked at a hood thread on here and have just purchased a clone as suggested by someone with a bayonet fitting so all good.

Thanks for the help.

If the OP intends to make extensive use of the polarising filter he would be advised to make sure the lens hood he gets has the little removable tab so that the filter can be turned while the hood is in place. The Pentax ones have this feature, I am not sure about the generic makes that are available.

Thanks Peter,

yes the clone version does have the removable tab for access to the filter.

Ross

Excellent...sounds like you are sorted.

1. That might be an understatement. I did import a demo-grade used 18-55 complete w/ hood a few months back though, and the price with lens was not much more than my local Pentax dealer would have gouged just for a genuine P hood.

2. One such aftermarket flavour here, and it even looks authentic too with the CPL adjuster door+cavity:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Lens-Hood-Pentax-18-55mm-PH-RBA-52mm-II-18-55-H174-/16047...

Please transpose to GBP, UKP, or whatever you call yours these days.

.R.

Or conversely, might it be you who doesn't seem to read posts of say, 12 hours and 24 minutes precedent to your posting that deduction above?
http://shortn.me/gIiE
It is all relative you know. As Albert E so kindly worked out for us.

Now, please, may I impose on your best of British knowledge of these L v's not L variants of the 18-55. And ask if you could kindly clarify for me if and roughly when then was a version I of the beast, and then a version II seemed to appear on the scene?

And if the change was introduced at some point, were there L type I's, are all II's L or do Pentax still make both?

My trouble was/is that I'm almost certain that at least early K-x kits released in my region were non-L equipped, and I'd assumed that may have applied similarly to your region of the planet too. And then Pentax switched, introducing L's to cut kit costs, at some point later. ??

Fwiw: I opted for a Sigma lens with my new K-x (back in April '10), which naturally included a hood by default, but of acquaintances who'd taken the genuine route I'm near positive some of them got hoods included. But then maybe they were/are vI design 18-55 lenses? I simply hadn't considered nor would really know how to tell each and all apart!

TIA.

.R.
"I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it.
It is never of any use to oneself." -- Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)