Essential lens filters every Sony camera owner should have?

Question

So I just dropped way too much money on a Sony A7IV and the 24-70 GM II and now I am lowkey panicking about keeping the lens safe and actually getting good shots on my Iceland trip next month. I keep reading that I need filters but there are so many brands and I dont want to ruin the image quality of such an expensive lens with cheap glass. My logic was that I definitely need a circular polarizer for the waterfalls and maybe an ND filter for those long exposure shots. I am torn between getting the PolarPro Peter McKinnon VND because everyone says it is the gold standard for video and quick changes but then I see the Tiffen filters and they are so much cheaper. Is the PolarPro actually worth double the price? Or should I just get a set of K&F Concept filters and save the cash for more gas money in Reykjavik? My budget is capped at like $350 for the whole kit and I am worried about the weird X patterns people talk about on the VNDs. If I get the PolarPro I can probably only afford one but if I go with Tiffen I can get a whole stack of them. I am just worried about getting home and seeing weird green tints on my photos because I cheaped out on the glass... what do you guys think is the best move for a Sony setup?

VelvetVortex · Accepted Answer

Honestly, be careful with VNDs on a lens like that 24-70 GM II. The X-pattern is a physical limitation you want to avoid. I would suggest opting for high-quality fixed filters instead of a cheap VND to prevent color shifts.

K&F Concept Nano-X Series Circular Polarizer 82mm

Hoya PROND EX 1000 82mm This combo stays way under your $350 budget while maintaining optical clarity. Make sure to check those thread sizes.

RogueSignal · Answer

I remember my first big landscape trip to the Oregon coast with a shiny new kit. I brought a cheap variable ND and basically ruined half my long exposures because of that dreaded X pattern and a nasty magenta cast that took forever to fix in Lightroom. Since you are hitting Iceland, you really want color neutrality above all else. The light there is so unique, you dont want to be fighting your gear in post. If you are worried about the PolarPro price, honestly, you are paying for the branding and the name a bit. Tiffen is decent for video, but for high-res stills on an A7IV, they can sometimes feel a bit soft. Coming back to the technical side, the X pattern happens because you are stacking two polarizers and rotating them; at wide angles like 24mm, the physics just starts to break down. Here is what I would look at for a pro-level kit that stays under your budget:

Breakthrough Photography 82mm X4 Circular Polarizer

This is my go-to for neutrality. I checked the data on sites like LensTip before buying mine and the light transmission is incredible.

Breakthrough Photography 82mm X4 ND 6-Stop

For waterfalls in Iceland, 6 stops is usually the sweet spot to get that silky water without needing a crazy long exposure that blows out your highlights.

NiSi 82mm Protection Lens Filter Pro Nano HUC UV

If you just want a clear glass to protect that GM front element from salt spray and sand. Check out the reviews on The Digital Picture if you want to see side-by-side sharpness tests. They really show why spending a bit more on glass matters when you have a lens that sharp.