On Sun, 18 Mar 2001 08:12:39 GMT, "George" wrote:

>I have a Sony Camcorder that uses the 37mm thread. To protect its lens I
>bought a standard UV filter which the sales person also recommended.
>
>The only problem is that when I remove the lens , the image quality is
>noticeably better and I get better video quality overall.

This should not happen with a good-quality, clean filter,
especially in video where optical standards are relatively
low compared with still-gear. Check to see if the filter has
a light fogging on it - this is common with Tiffen, and why
I rarely recommend this brand. If so, clean the filter, and
check it every couple of months for fogging. Also, Tiffen
filters are generally not coated...

>The lens is "Tiffen HAZE-1" - is this the right lens to be used for lens /
>UV protection?

Yes - but I prefer single-coated Hoya filters for their
high quality (glass and rims) and low price. BTW, the "UV"
part has no effect - the multi-element camcorder zoom
lenses absorb UV on their own; use the filter for lens
protection. A good shade is also a worthwhile addition.

>I'd appreciate any help on selecting the right type of lens for this
>camcorder.

I would not use a polarizer except for specific purposes,
since you lose about 1.5 stops of lens "speed" using one.
There are other good brands than Hoya, but not as common,
and some brands (like Sony) are often relabelled Tiffen...
For slight warming (with "daylight" WB preset used, if
your camera has that option...), you can use a "skylight"
filter in place of the UV.