Yo Photographer
Register for FREE!
Go Back   Photography Forum > General Photography Forums > Photography Talk


Log-in/register to unlock all the member quick-links and features!
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >


BlackCloud's Avatar
BlackCloud
Senior Member
BlackCloud is offline
BlackCloud is Male
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Leicestershire, UK
Posts: 2,133
Comments/Critique welcome
 
26-06-10, 12:27 AM
#1

Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

Almost by habit I buy UV/Protection filters for my lenses. I always think that they offer protection from the elements, maybe someone aggresive (street photography) or just a coming together acciodent in the camera bag. However the UV filter part isn't actually required, the sensor already does this, and some people will argue that the filter glass will cause some degradation of image and extra flare.

I occasionally take mine off, sort of when I know I am in a 'safe' environment and i am concious of getting the best from the lens.

What do you folks do? Do you have filters or not? Amazingly looking in my filter collection there is a healthy £300-400 quid maybe more without even realising!
Kit 1
Nikon D700
Nikon 28-70 f2.8 ED AF-S (The Beast)
Nikon 80-200mm f2.8
Tamron 24-135 SP
Nikon 300mm f4
Nikon 70-300mm VR
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 (DX)
Nikon 28-105mm (great walkaround on D700!)
Lensbaby Composer
Nikon 20-35mm f2.8
Nikon SB800
Kit 2
Nikon D300
Nikon 20mm f2.8
Nikon 24mm f2.8
Nikon 28mm f2.8
Nikon 35mm f2
Nikon 50mm f1.4
Nikon 85mm f1.8
Micro-Nikon 60mm f2.8
Micro-Nikon 105mm f2.8
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8


     
Phil's Avatar
Phil
Fondly Remembered
Phil is offline
Phil is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Perthshire Scotland
Posts: 8,168
Comments/Critique welcome You may edit and repost my images but ONLY on this site
 
26-06-10, 12:55 AM
#2

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

You're right - a digital sensor doesn't actually require a UV filter as such but for protecting the front element - If I'm honest - no

I used to use one because I had a few lenses with the same thread size but I got fed up with having to keep getting different sizes.

To use or not to use is always a popular debate and opinion seems divided as it seems to be catch 22

It's understandable that people want to protect the front element by sticking a bit of glass on the front but on the best lenses (which tend to be the ones you want to protect) it can have quite an effect on IQ even if you go for a £100 job.

If I was shooting in sea spray or perhaps a car rally where stones were flying then I'd probably go for one but I tend to subscribe to the view that the lens hood prevents the odd knock.

Each to their own I guess based on what they shoot - I've never damaged a protective filter or an unprotected front element so I'm away to touch some wood
Kit 1
Canon 1D Mark 3
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Kit 2
1D2 & 40D


     
SteveL's Avatar
SteveL
Senior Member
SteveL is offline
SteveL is Male
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dorset
Posts: 984
Comments/Critique welcome
 
26-06-10, 01:15 AM
#3

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

With you Phil.

I do not degrade the image quality by sticking extra glass in front of the the lenses that I have saved hard and long for. And I have never damaged the front lens optic of any of my lenses, which considering how negligent of protecting them I am (using them on the beach, in wet conditions etc.) is remarkable.

So basically what I am saying is, don't bother

Steve
Kit 1
Canon 5D MkII
Canon24-105mm f4L IS USM
Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM
Canon 17-40mm f4L USM
Canon 100mm f2.8 USM Macro
Canon 70-200 f4L USM
Canon MT-24EX Macro Flash
Kit 2
Canon 5D, Canon 40D, Canon 20D
Other Kit
View my profile to see my other kit!


     
Moonstone
Senior Member
Moonstone is offline
Moonstone is Female
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: uk/usa
Posts: 10,146
 
26-06-10, 01:37 AM
#4

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

I used to religiously, but after upgrading some of my lenses, use the same reasoning as Steve, if you've spent a fair bit on decent glass to go and put another layer of glass in front makes no sense.


     
Dejavu's Avatar
Dejavu
Senior Member
Dejavu is offline
Dejavu is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Glasgow, UK
Posts: 1,608
Comments/Critique welcome
 
26-06-10, 01:41 AM
#5

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

I keep a Hoya HMC 77mm skylight (Ib) on my Canon 400mm f5.6 L. I have shot test images with and without filter and have not noticed any differance in IQ or focusing.
When I'm taking images at the beach of Loki, I'm usually standing in the water and of course there are always some splashes and sand blowing about as well, so I like the extra protection.

My Canon 17-40mm f4.0 L usually has either my Hoya polariser or one of my ND's or GND's in front of it when taking landscape images so I don't bother with a UV for this lens.

My Canon 70-200 f4.0 L has a cheap filter that I don't use very often now unless absolutely necessary as I have noticed there is a difference in IQ and reflections on this one. I will probablly buy a Hoya HD for this one.

And finally my nifty fifty, what do you think?
a hood is recommended for this lens
Kit 1
Canon 5D MKII
Canon 400mm f5.6 L
Canon 70-200mm f4.0 L
Canon 17-40mm f4.0 L
Kit 2
Canon 50d


     
BlackCloud's Avatar
BlackCloud
Senior Member
BlackCloud is offline
BlackCloud is Male
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Leicestershire, UK
Posts: 2,133
Comments/Critique welcome
 
26-06-10, 07:21 AM
#6

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

Thanks for the responses so far, great to hear your take on it. I've seen a few marks on my filters which has made me a bit nervous of not having it on as protection. Hmmm... off to a 'support the forces' event today...might go naked...(er, filterless!).
Kit 1
Nikon D700
Nikon 28-70 f2.8 ED AF-S (The Beast)
Nikon 80-200mm f2.8
Tamron 24-135 SP
Nikon 300mm f4
Nikon 70-300mm VR
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 (DX)
Nikon 28-105mm (great walkaround on D700!)
Lensbaby Composer
Nikon 20-35mm f2.8
Nikon SB800
Kit 2
Nikon D300
Nikon 20mm f2.8
Nikon 24mm f2.8
Nikon 28mm f2.8
Nikon 35mm f2
Nikon 50mm f1.4
Nikon 85mm f1.8
Micro-Nikon 60mm f2.8
Micro-Nikon 105mm f2.8
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8


     
little me's Avatar
little me
Senior Member
little me is offline
little me is Female
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Norfolk, UK
Posts: 2,615
Comments/Critique welcome
 
26-06-10, 08:03 AM
#7

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonstone View Post
I used to religiously, but after upgrading some of my lenses, use the same reasoning as Steve, if you've spent a fair bit on decent glass to go and put another layer of glass in front makes no sense.
My reason for ditching the filters too.
I do use a lens hood though to offer some protection.
Kit 1
Canon 550D
Canon 50mm 1.8
Sigma 30mm 1.4
on loan: Tamron 90mm
Kit 2
Canon 300D (in use by my 10 year old)
Other Kit
View my profile to see my other kit!
My Compact/P&S: broken


     
Bazza
Senior Member
Bazza is offline
Bazza is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
 
26-06-10, 08:05 AM
#8

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

I always have a filter on my lenses, be they UV or Skylight. I would rather replace a filter then have a lens wrecked. There is no degregation if a skylight filter is used .

Bazza


     
Azz's Avatar
Azz
Admin Team
Azz is offline
Azz is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 15,385
Comments/Critique welcome You may edit and repost my images but ONLY on this site
 
26-06-10, 11:06 AM
#9

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

I use Hoya filters as a form of protection too - like Grant I did tests with/without and couldn't notice a difference.
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
bobmielke's Avatar
bobmielke
Senior Member
bobmielke is offline
bobmielke is Male
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 2,657
Comments/Critique welcome You may edit and repost my images but ONLY on this site
 
26-06-10, 12:22 PM
#10

Re: Who uses UV/Protection filters or not?

This is an age old debate and one that has been tossed around in YO a few times. I keep a skylite filter on all my lenses, replacing it with a circular polorizer for the sky or when a body of water is involved. I do shoot on occasion without a filter as fumbling through my camera bag for the right size can lose you the shot.

I can understand both sides of the debate since there are dangers of vignetting with certain lens/filter combinations. I avoid this by buying quality thin filters and never having more than one on the end of my lens. I go to the beach a lot and protection is needed in that environment but with street photography a few experts say it can detract. To each his own.
18mm Fujinon
35mm Fujinon
60mm Fujinon
18-55 Fujinon
55-200mm Fujinon
Other Kit
View my profile to see my other kit!
My Compact/P&S: Fuji X-E1


     
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Top


© Copyright 2008, Yo Photographer   Yo Photographer | Contact Us | Archive | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Top