Which protective filters are best for Sigma Art series lenses?

Question

I'm honestly so fed up with these cheap UV filters I've been using lately. I just dropped a ton of cash on the Sigma 35mm and 85mm Art primes and they are insanely sharp but as soon as I put these basic filters on for protection the image quality just tanks and I get these weird ghosting flares everywhere.

I've got a high-stakes wedding shoot coming up in rainy Seattle next month and I can't be dealing with soft images but I also don't want to ruin my glass in the damp weather. What protective filters are you guys actually using on your Sigma Art series that dont mess up the sharpness or am I just wasting money at this point?

Chapman · Accepted Answer

Regarding what #1 said about I totally get the frustration, cheap filters will... well, they basically turn your high-end Sigma glass into a potato. It is painful. But honestly, you dont always need to drop 150 bucks to get pro results. Over the years I have tried many and found a few sweet spots for budget-conscious gear heads. Check out the Hoya Fusion Antistatic Next Protector. The water-repellent coating is legit, which you will definitely need for Seattle rain. It handles ghosting way better than the generic stuff. Another solid shout is the Marumi EXUS Lens Protect. It is a bit of a hidden gem... amazing build quality and transparency but usually way cheaper than the big European brands. TL;DR: Grab the Hoya Fusion or Marumi Exus. You get pro-level flare control without the luxury price tag.

Leupolddxa · Answer

I totally get the frustration, cheap filters will absolutely ruin the output of those gorgeous Art primes. I've been using high-end glass on my own Sigma Arts for years and they work perfectly without any loss in sharpness. Here are the two I've had the best results with:

B+W Master 010 UV Haze MRC Nano 67mm

This one is incredibly easy to clean in wet weather and has zero ghosting.

Hoya HD3 UV Filter 77mm

Super tough glass and practically invisible, no complaints about sharpness at all. Both of these have kept my gear safe in nasty weather without ruining my shots. Let me know if you need help figuring out the exact thread sizes for your specific versions!