Is it crazy to not use a protective filter on my L lenses?

LYS · Jan 8, 2002

How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your expensive lenses?

I find it hard to bring myself to put anything between the lens and the world. All I put on is a hood.

And I feel pretty good about it until people start gasping at my unprotected $$$$ lenses and start making me feel paranoid...

So I'm curious how many of you guys don't use a filter? It's probably a minority I would imagine, but how small a minority I wonder?

Slane Masda · Jan 8, 2002

I'm squeamish about using cloths (no matter how soft) and cleansers on lens front elements. Definitely worsed than putting a B+W UV filter up front

tsp east said:
I find it hard to bring myself to put anything between the lens and
the world. All I put on is a hood.

--James

Mark B. · Jan 8, 2002

tsp east said:
How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your
expensive lenses?

I find it hard to bring myself to put anything between the lens and
the world. All I put on is a hood.

And I feel pretty good about it until people start gasping at my
unprotected $$$$ lenses and start making me feel paranoid...

So I'm curious how many of you guys don't use a filter? It's
probably a minority I would imagine, but how small a minority I
wonder?

I can't afford the L lenses, but I don't think I would if I had any. The only time I do use a protective filter is at a crowded public area like a zoo or aquarium. Other than that, I only use them for a specific effect.

Mark

Fred Miranda · Jan 8, 2002

You are not alone.

Although I understand the paranoia of sometimes having expensive equipment unprotected, IMO there are no real benefits of having an UV filter on your lenses at all times.

A few months ago, I had an expensive heliopan multi-coated UV filter attached to my 17-35L in a shooting assignment. (I used it manly to protect against moisture, since the shooting was at the beach).

When I saw the pictures, I almost had a heart attack

. Flare was very pronounced in the shots, even though the protection as of very high quality. I decided not to use the UV any longer and have no more flare problems since then. (Yes, I was using the original hood).

Therefore, I believe that making us paranoid just helps manufactures selling up these so-called essential accessories.
--Fred Mirandawww.fredmiranda.com

Dave Werner · Jan 8, 2002

tsp east said:
How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your
expensive lenses?

I only use protective filters in response to (or in anticipation of) specific danger...

--Dave Werner

boarderphreak · Jan 8, 2002

I'd rather clean a filter than the front element of a lens any day of the week - better to damage the filter than the lens! You never know when an errant finger smudge or other foreign object can come in contact with your lens. It also helps keep dust and moisture out a bit.

True, putting more glass in front of your expensive lens, especially if it's a cheaper filter may very well degrade the image - but not enough to notice in most cases. If you're in bright sunlight and worry about flare, you could take the filter off for that session. Get yourself a good, multi-coated filter and I doubt you'd notice any change.

But for day-to-day use, I always use a filter. Cheap insurance!

Dude Steve · Jan 8, 2002

Actually, I think it depends on the lens and the focal length for me. I wouldn't use one on a wide angle lens for concerns over additional flare. I have a 17-35L and I don't use one.

I'm planning on getting a long tele sometime soon, and I'll probably get a UV filter for it that will come off before I take some shots. Sort of like a see-through lens cap. Actually, maybe that's what I need. A see-through lens cap!

I do use filters, though. ND grads, polarizers. I plan on picking up a warming filter and some darker straight NDs.

-Steve

tsp east said:
How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your
expensive lenses?

I find it hard to bring myself to put anything between the lens and
the world. All I put on is a hood.

And I feel pretty good about it until people start gasping at my
unprotected $$$$ lenses and start making me feel paranoid...

So I'm curious how many of you guys don't use a filter? It's
probably a minority I would imagine, but how small a minority I
wonder?

-- http://homepage.mac.com/dudesteve/photography

Deborah Duke · Jan 8, 2002

My habit is to keep the lens cap on in between shots. If the camera is in front of my face the lens cap is off. If it's around my neck, over my shoulder, in my bag, etc. the lens cap is ALWAYS in place. Of course, my equipment is also insured against damage, loss or theft.

Deborah

tsp east said:
How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your
expensive lenses?

I find it hard to bring myself to put anything between the lens and
the world. All I put on is a hood.

And I feel pretty good about it until people start gasping at my
unprotected $$$$ lenses and start making me feel paranoid...

So I'm curious how many of you guys don't use a filter? It's
probably a minority I would imagine, but how small a minority I
wonder?

Neil Turner · Jan 8, 2002

Fred....I agree 100%, no matter how many coatings or who makes the filter they will degrade the image - sometimes by a huge degree. I don't use them, and never will.

Neil.
-- http://www.dg28.com

John Foote · Jan 8, 2002

Because John Shaw tells me not to. I believe all the gospels according to John, and he says, don't use a filter unless you see a purpose for one. I never see a purpose for one, conveniently saving me a small fortune in filters.

I'll probably catch a lot of guff for this, but I think filters are made to overcome the static inflexibility of film. Given a digital file, you can do all that and more in post-processing. It seems (to me, anyway) that this is one of the great, unheralded advantages of shooting digital.

To be sure, I could no doubt improve the quality of my initial capture by the intelligent use of filters, but lacking that intelligence (and most of the filters), I'll trust my nekkid lens, and photoshop. John

Slane Masda · Jan 8, 2002

Since we all, so far, have only answered your "do you or don't you" question, but not the semi-rhetorical one, I'll have a go at that: I think most SLR photographers use filters most of the time.

tsp east said:
How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your
expensive lenses?

It's probably a minority I would imagine, but how small a minority I

LYS said:
wonder?

--James

Daniel Lauring · Jan 8, 2002

Don't use them either...for the same flare issue.

Neil Turner said:
Fred....I agree 100%, no matter how many coatings or who makes the
filter they will degrade the image - sometimes by a huge degree. I
don't use them, and never will.

Neil.

--
http://www.dg28.com

Simon Wicker · Jan 8, 2002

well i have always used uv or skylight filters on my lenses. i do a lot of work in the field and when i come back at the end of the day i can be quite amazed at the rubbish on the front of the lens.

also purely from a cleaning point of view it is easier to completely clean a flat filter than a (sometimes highly) curved lens surface.

this is purely a personal preference but i would rather be rubbing away at a $24 filter than the front element of my $1200 lens!

i am curious how people can make the blanket statement that any kind of filter will degrade the image when canons literature states that the large lenses like the 300mm f2.8 include a flat 'protective' element on the front. lenses contain multiple elements and i would have thought that adding one extra will have a minimal effect.

cheers, simon w.

David Livingston · Jan 8, 2002

not on any of my other lenses. I do this because of the days of crying that would ensue if I accidentally scratched my most cherished lens. :~

Dave

James Knowles said:
tsp east said:

How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your
expensive lenses?

Click to expand...

It's probably a minority I would imagine, but how small a minority I

Slane Masda said:

wonder?

Click to expand...

--
James

--SincerelyDavid LivingstonD30Sigma 50mm f2.8 MACROCanon EF 28-70mm f2.8 L USMTamron SP AF24-135mm f3.5-5.6 AD Asph (IF) MACROSigma 14mm f2.8Canon EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 IS USMCanon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM

Arem · Jan 8, 2002

I agree with the above. I've been shooting for over 35 years and haven't used a protective filter in over 30 years now, without any misshaps. Lenses were not designed to have an extra element added to their design. Filters can only add flare and added distortions.

boarderphreak · Jan 8, 2002

Forgot to add that it also depends on your situation.

If you're shotting in a studio, there's no use for a filter since there's not much endangering your lens anyway. If however you're out on the beach, then I think a filter is critical to keep sand or ocean spray off your lens. For the day trip on vacation or whatever, you never know what to expect - which is why I usually keep mine on.

Remember, you get what you pay for (usually) in terms of filters. Care for your filters as you would your lens and they'll have a long, happy life together. If not, one's certainly cheaper than the other to replace.

Robert Bedwell · Jan 8, 2002

I started purchasing good cameras in the late 60's and during that time I have owned many lenses. I have never placed a filter over the lens for any purpose other than to control the light. To spend big bucks on the best lenses and then put a $50(or less) UV filter in front of it doesn't make sense to me at all. To place more importance on the front element of the lens than the negative affect that it might have on the image is senseless to me. There are situations that I have placed a filter on the lens for protective reasons; sand, wind, rain, etc. However this is seldom. In my opinion a sunshade offers better protection.

I find that many people worship their equipment more than I. To me lenses and cameras are tools for taking pictures. They shouldn't be abused but they are replaceable objects. Legs, arms, feet, head, eyes and hearts are worth taking extra measures to protect.

Bob

tsp east said:
How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your
expensive lenses?

I find it hard to bring myself to put anything between the lens and
the world. All I put on is a hood.

And I feel pretty good about it until people start gasping at my
unprotected $$$$ lenses and start making me feel paranoid...

So I'm curious how many of you guys don't use a filter? It's
probably a minority I would imagine, but how small a minority I
wonder?

doctor digi · Jan 8, 2002

tsp east said:
How many of you out there don't use any protective filters on your
expensive lenses?

I've never had flare problems with using filters - either on wide angle or tele lenses. I much prefer to know that any mishap will probably result only in the need for a new filter and not a new front element.

But then what would I know... according to some I'm not worthy of having a D30.

dd

;-)

Lee Rothman · Jan 8, 2002

For me it's like putting my shoes on before I go outside. LOL. I RATHER doubt that a diamond cut piece of Schott (Zeiss) glass with 6 coatings on each side (one on each being a scratch resistant coating) is going to optically ruin or deleteriously effect the outcome of a picture being taken with one of my L or other lenses. I would ONLY speak of those that use this superb high quality glass. If it's good enough for Zeiss lenses, it's good enought to use as a filter on my L glass.

I am just NOT one to throw caution to the wind and would prefer to err on the side of protection.

Peter Foiles · Jan 8, 2002

Always use a hood, rarely use a filter.

==PeterF==

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