Exploring my new 300mm f2.8 Prime lens I discovered that it is fitted with a 52mm NC filter. What purpose does it serve and is it necessary and/or recommended to always have this filter in place?
Drop in filter
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Warren D
Well-known member
All the exotics have them. I have nothing to base this on, but here goes. They want to have a slot for a cpol so if you aren't using the cpol they need something to fill the hole. I don't know for sure why a NC filter vs a blank hole (you'd need something to cover the opening in the lens barrel) but I seem to recall hearing years ago that it was part of the optical design to have some sort of glass in that location. It does make a certain amount of sense. I've never tried to shoot without something (either NC or cpol) installed and never wanted to spend the money to buy a second NC filter just to remove the glass. These filters aren't exactly cheap and if it turned out it's really obvious that it is necessary, the cost would be lost.
Long way to get there, but I always keep a filter in place, I figure Nikon wouldn't have put it there if it wasn't needed.
Long way to get there, but I always keep a filter in place, I figure Nikon wouldn't have put it there if it wasn't needed.
The optical design on the big primes that have drop in filter slots assumes a filter in there. Nikon's advice has always been to leave some filter in that holder whether an NC, Polarizer or something else as taking it out subtly changes the optical formula and may degrade lens performance. I've never tried to test this to see if it's true, but as I recall that's what the lens manuals from Nikon state.
Thanks guys, I'll just leave it in there. 