Manfrotto Filters for Mirrorless Cameras

Today’s post by Joe Farace

Last week, I wrote about the importance of using camera filters with mirrorless camera and this week, I’ve put my money where my post was.

Manfrotto, not previously known for camera filters, introduced a series of filters in Essential, Advanced, and Professional series, including UV, Circular Polarizer, and Protection. Essential filters offer protection and a water repellent coating; Advanced filters offer the highest level of protection due to their layers of antistatic coating. Every filter features anti-reflective coating, the number of layers varying from two to eight in the Essential collection on up to 12 layers in Advanced and Professional collections.

Manfrotto filter are made in Japan in 52mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm and 82mm sizes and come with a reusable storage case. The filters are available online at www.manfrotto.us with prices from $24.99-$169.99 depending on size. I ordered 52mm filters because they fit the majority on my Lumix lenses and my Digital Zuiko lenses with an adapter. Here’s what I’m using…

• Advanced UV Filter: The Manfrotto Ultraviolet filter blocks UV light from entering the lens eliminating blurring, haziness and blue casts. You can leave the UV filter on your lens to protect against dust, moisture and scratches. Manfrotto Advanced UV filter ($39.99) offers 12 layers of coating and is also water repellent.
• Advanced Circular Polarizer: The CPL filter improves the image quality by increasing color contrast and saturation when photographing landscapes with blue skies against white clouds and reduce reflections when photographing water, glass and similar reflective surfaces. CPL filters are available in all three collections, and the Advanced CPL F filter ($69.99) transmits 68.1% of light and includes 12 layers of coating.
• Professional Protection Filter: The Manfrotto Protection filter has been designed specifically for the photographer who requires maximum protection of his or her gear. Available only at the Professional level, the Protection filter ($54.99) is antistatic protecting against dust, moisture and scratches. With 12 layers of coating, it offers a stronger anti-reflective surface, greater ease of cleaning, allows for 99.3% light transmission, and is oil resistant. It’s ideal for photographers who work outdoors or in dusty and/or wet environments.

Look for some photos and more hands-in experience with these Manfrotto experiences in the coming weeks.