15/03/2026 1:01 am
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Im honestly so fed up with these cheap filters I bought off Amazon for my Panasonic GH6 and my Olympus glass. Every single time I go out to shoot lately I get these weird ghosting artifacts and honestly its just ruining my shots at this point. I spent way too much money on these lenses—like the 12-40mm Pro wasnt cheap—and now Im terrified to take it out without protection but the protective UV filter I have makes everything look soft. I have a trip to the Oregon coast next Thursday so this is kinda urgent because the salt spray is gonna be everywhere and I need to protect the glass.
My logic was that I should probably get a solid circular polarizer and maybe some ND filters because Im starting to do more video stuff but Im totally lost on brands. Should I go with Hoya or B+W or maybe something like Breakthrough Photography? So I was thinking about getting one big 77mm filter and using step-up rings to save cash but then my lens hoods wont fit and that seems like a huge hassle when Im hiking through the brush. Im also really worried about color shift because some of these cheaper variable NDs are just trash and turn everything yellow. Does anyone have a specific set of must-haves they swear by for MFT lenses that doesnt totally break the bank? I have maybe 250 dollars left in my budget for this and I need to order them tonight...
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15/03/2026 1:25 am
Building on the earlier suggestion, I've found over the years that transmission rates on cheap filters are a total joke. Honestly, the ghosting comes from poor internal reflections. For MFT glass, dont mess with step-up rings while hiking since hoods are vital for contrast.
- Use Hoya NXT Plus 62mm UV Filter for salt spray protection.
- Grab a Hoya Fusion One Next CIR-PL 62mm for your CPL.
- For video, B+W 62mm XS-Pro Digital MRC Nano 803 ND 0.9 is basically color-neutral.
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27/03/2026 7:05 pm
I've been shooting with that 12-40mm Pro for years and honestly, putting cheap glass in front of it is a crime. I learned that the hard way during a trip to the coast where a budget ND filter gave me a nasty purple cast that ruined my sunset shots. For Oregon, you really gotta be careful with that salt air because it sticks to everything and becomes a nightmare to wipe off if the coating is bad. If you want to stay near that 250 dollar budget but get pro results, I would suggest looking at these specific ones:
- Breakthrough Photography X4 UV 62mm for protection. The nanocoatings make it way easier to wipe salt spray off compared to cheaper glass.
- Breakthrough Photography X2 CPL 62mm to cut the glare on those tide pools.
- Marumi DHG Super ND16 62mm for your video needs since it stays very neutral. I would strongly suggest avoiding the 77mm step-up ring plan while hiking. I tried it once and it was a total disaster... the filter was a magnet for stray light without the hood and I actually ended up knocking the filter against a rock because it stuck out so far. Just make sure you get the native 62mm sizes so your hood still fits. Better to be safe than sorry when you're navigating those slippery rocks near the surf.
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15/03/2026 1:01 am
I totally get the ghosting frustration! I had a similar disaster on my last trip where I thought my lens was smudgey but it was just a bad filter ruining everything. Honestly, once I upgraded, the clarity was just fantastic and I finally felt like my glass was actually safe from the ocean spray. I love the Oregon coast but that salt air is no joke! It gets everywhere and hits the front element so fast. I tried the big filter and step-up ring trick to save some cash, and it was great for my wallet but a total mess in the field when I was trying to swap lenses quickly while hiking. I felt like I needed three hands just to change a filter.
- What specific lens thread sizes are you working with besides that 12-40mm?
- Are you planning on doing more long exposures or just standard video work? Knowing that helps a ton because some setups are way better for hiking than others tho!
