I apologize if this topic has been discussed a million times already, but I was hoping for a little advice on various filters I'm looking at purchasing.

I recently acquired my first canon "L" lens, a 24-105mm, and like so many pieces of photography equipment, when you buy one thing, it usually means buying more accessories! haha

The two lenses I anticipate using the most for my outdoor / landscape photography is the 24-105 and sigma 10-20, and lucky for me they both have the same front element diameter (77mm).

I'm looking at getting UV filters for both simply to protect the front element from scratches, a polarized filter I can share, possibly an IR filter, and some GND filters. I'm looking at Hoya or B+H for the UV/polarized filters, but its hard for me to justify $100 for a UV or polarized filter at times....

Lee and Cokin are the two GND manufactures that have caught my eye for filter holders, and then maybe some Hitech filters to use? I haven't looked at all the specific kits yet, but looks like I can buy a 'foundation' or 'starter' kit that gives me a filter holder and some starter filters as well. Otherwise I'd look at getting a 2 stop (0.6 I think), hard and soft neutral filter along with a filter holder.

So to sum things up:

At the moment my 10-20 is naked, and the 24-105 has a Hoya HMC 77mm UV(0) filter on it.
From what little I know B+H is one of the top brands for circular filters out there, so how do the Hoya's stand up?
On average do the $100 filters make a significant difference over the $50 filters? Is it worth buying the higher end UV and polarized filters, especially on high end glass?
Opinions on Lee, Cokin and Hitech GND systems? ( I assume I'd need the wide angle setup with 77mm lenses)
Any advice for IR filters? I've never used one, or extensively researched them.

Phew, that felt a little discombobulated, but hopefully someone can make some sense out of it. Thanks for any advice anyone can offer!

I suspect you mean B+W filters (instead of B+H) and I do have a B+W 77mm, 010 UV-Haze 1X MRC on my Canon EF-S 17-55mm, f2.8 IS USM and it is very high quality construction and optically neutral by my tests.

I do caution about filters on the Sigma 10-20mm, f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM because you really need a "slim" filter to avoid vignetting at the widest setting.

I do not recommend a polarizer for the Sigma 10-20mm because the field of view is too wide through most of the range to be tremendously useful. A polarizer is best used on lenses of normal to telephoto field of view. On the wider lenses the polarization effect can (often does) create a sky with varied degrees of effect. Of course used to eliminate glare on water or glass it has greater value, even on a wide lens.

Originally Posted by ziggy53 I suspect you mean B+W filters (instead of B+H) and I do have a B+W 77mm, 010 UV-Haze 1X MRC on my Canon EF-S 17-55mm, f2.8 IS USM and it is very high quality construction and optically neutral by my tests.

Sorry about the typo, yes I meant B+W, haha. Must have had bhphoto on my brain or something.

Originally Posted by ziggy53 I do caution about filters on the Sigma 10-20mm, f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM because you really need a "slim" filter to avoid vignetting at the widest setting.

Thats good to know, I'll have to do some tests with the one UV filter I have that'll fit the 10-20, and see if I notice a difference. I've heard people debate UV filters, and how they can cause a degradation of quality, but never thought about vignetting on ultra wide angel lenses.

Originally Posted by ziggy53 I do not recommend a polarizer for the Sigma 10-20mm because the field of view is too wide through most of the range to be tremendously useful. A polarizer is best used on lenses of normal to telephoto field of view. On the wider lenses the polarization effect can (often does) create a sky with varied degrees of effect. Of course used to eliminate glare on water or glass it has greater value, even on a wide lens.

Guess I'll just plan on the polarizer being use almost exclusively for the 24-105 then, thanks for the tip!

I also use the B+W 010 UV-Haze MRC on all of my lenses. Whatever brand you go with make sure it is a multi-coated filter. If you look at a filter on an angle and try to see a light in it's surface, any light being reflected back at you is light that is not hitting the camera's sensor.

I don't recommend shooting with a UV filter on your lenses, but they are great for protection while carrying around and in a bag - then again, so is the lens hood + cap and you can shoot with the hood on.

You should definately look this up on the canon site, but I think if you buy an IR filter for your XSi you will be wasting money as they have some sort of filter on the sensor that prevents IR from even reaching the image. That filter also negates the image improvement from a UV filter (as they do the same thing, from my understanding).

I have B+W ND and Plarizing filters and they are really nice (and heavy). Definately recommend them. I get my from hvstar.com because of the cost savings over USA - the shipping takes forever though (direct from hong kong).

Just my opinion:

Use the money that you are contemplating on spending on filters and buy a good filter software plugin for photoshop like Nik's Color Efex Pro. Easier to do in post...the way you intended...instead of being locked in by the way it came out at capture.

I have about $600 (or more) of filters I never use...just because I don't mess with them in the field or have the wrong one on when that opportunity of a lifetime presents itself.

If your in a shooting situation that you have total control over, then filters can be very useful.

Edit: If I had noticed this was an old posting, I wouldn't have bothered, because I'm sure you bought some by now...been there, done that!