The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Has anyone experience or thoughts on the use of camera filters on 'scope objectives? I was primarily thinking about yellow however there is always the option of using a polarising filter as well. These days you can source camera filters in just about every conceivable thread size so fitting should not be a problem.

As an example I always fit a 1A Skylight filter to new camera lenses to act as a protective screen as they are easier to inspect and clean, this practice stems back to the good old days of SLR roll films and I have continued the practice. Back to shooting, these days I often wear shooting glasses and have sets in clear, tinted and yellow and find they all work in certain scenarios so it set me thinking, why not use a filter on a 'scope/

Anyone?

David,

You can use any colour filter, at any time. The 'best' colour is the best for you, at that time. Sodium / yellow will enhance black / white 'Bisley' targets nicely, particularly on a dull day.(You would probably be best to use clear shooting spex with a filter - double dose otherwise!!) Brown or green on sunny days - the choice is your preference.

Polarising filters are good but make sure they are set up correctly otherwise they are just a grey filter! Two cross polarising filters can be good if you can set them up. You can then reduce reflected light and reduce brightness by rotating one filter against the other.

If you have the filters just use it as an excuse for another range day!

On my open TR sights I have been using a grey filter with a central hole. Yet another choice!! It works!

Have fun

JohnG :cornwall:

John, are you only using them on TR type sights or on 'scopes as well?

I used to use UV filters on my air rifle scopes, partly to clear the images up a bit, but mostly as a cheap protection for the lens, thanks for bringing this up I had forgotten all about it .

David,

My use of filters is only on TR, RPA aperture & RightSight sights. If I'm honest, I only 'plink' with scoped rifles (.22 & .308).

Use of filters should be about the same with scope or open. Just different fixing and varying amounts of extraneous light ie if you have a scope filter you are much more 'sealed in' compared to using a filter in a foresight with all the open distance between you and foresight. (Length of barrel)

At the end of the day we are viewing a pretty small target object, so any filtering will have a similar effect as you are using a narrow ray of light.

JohnG

Going back to your use of filters on cameras. With digital cameras there is no need for teh Skylight S1A or S1B or UV filters any longer. However, for protection Hoya and others make "Protector Filters" which are just plain glass with the normal protective coating.

May also be worth considering for use on a scope - a small investment to protect a larger one.

I have some shooting specs with rose coloured lenses, I find when wearing them, that my standard Remmy can shoot .25 moa all day long. :)

Ah, I have similar tinted glasses for when I ride old British Motorbikes.

I have different coloured filters for my scopes. Leupold made them.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/817814 ... tive-matte