Should I get the B+W XS-Pro Clear MRC Nano or the Hoya HD3 UV filter for my Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 VR?
I just bought this lens used and I am terrified of scratching the front element. I have a landscape shoot in Iceland next month and need to order something ASAP. My budget is around $80 max, so I cant go crazy but I also dont want to ruin the image quality on such an expensive lens.
Torn between:
Which one should I go with?
Adding my two cents here because I had a nightmare experience with a stuck filter a few years back on a trip to the Oregon coast. I was using a cheaper aluminum-framed filter, and the salt spray combined with the cold air basically cold-welded the threads to my lens. I had to use a rubber strap wrench to get it off when I got home, and I almost wrecked the zoom mechanism. Since you are heading to Iceland, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Iceland can be pretty brutal on gear, honestly. I have shot there a few times and the wind-blown black sand is absolute murder on front elements if you arent careful. Since you are choosing between a clear protection filter and a UV, I wanted to ask a couple of quick questions first to make sure you get the right setup for the trip. Are you planning to shoot mostly during the day near the waterfalls where mist is a constant battle, or are you aiming for longer exposures where you might want to consider stacking filters like NDs later? Also, is your main concern physical impact protection from drops, or are you more worried about sealing the lens against the harsh environment like salt spray and abrasive dust? Depending on what you are actually facing out there, one of those glass types might be much easier to clean in the field than the other, which is a massive deal when your fingers are freezing. Let me know what your shooting conditions are gonna look like so we can figure this out.