uv filter or lens cap for cla-1?

What's all the talk about using a uv filter instead of a lens cap? Is there really something that the uv rays from the sun can do to damage my lens?

Also, if I choose to use a lens cap, is it recommended that I buy the 43mm cap from Olympus instead of using the 41mm one on the cla-1?

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

What's all the talk about using a uv filter instead of a lens cap?
Is there really something that the uv rays from the sun can do to
damage my lens?

Click to expand...

I can't say anything about what a UV filter can do as far as the Sun is concerned. But I do know that a UV filter on the CLA-1 tube can protect my lens PHYSICALLY so that if I accidentally hit/scratch the lens (that's not possible anymore becuase I have the UV filter in front of it) actually hit/scratch the CHEAP UV filter, it will not cost me too much. With a camera like the C-5050 with a non-interchangeable lens, what do you do and how much would it cost you to replace the camera lens if the lens itself is badly scratched or damaged???

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

Also, if I choose to use a lens cap, is it recommended that I buy
the 43mm cap from Olympus instead of using the 41mm one on the
cla-1?

Click to expand...

41mm one on the CLA-1? The end of the CLA-1 is already 43mm not 41mm!!!

First of all , you have to decide on a cla1 or a tube made by another manufacturer.

One end is threaded for the camera, the other for lens or filter. You buy what you need to fit that thread.

My opinion is put a UV filter on the end to protect lens from mechanical damage (sand, dirt, bumping) You can always replace filter cheaply. Replacing lens is expensive.

You are better off to buy 3rd party tube that is a little longer so that you will not get lens bump when you put on filter. The cla1 is short and you have to use a spacer or adapter with UV filter to avoid lens bump.
Buy the lens cap to fit the UV filter.

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

What's all the talk about using a uv filter instead of a lens cap?
Is there really something that the uv rays from the sun can do to
damage my lens?

Also, if I choose to use a lens cap, is it recommended that I buy
the 43mm cap from Olympus instead of using the 41mm one on the
cla-1?

Click to expand...

I have:

C-5050 + CLA-1 tube + a cheap 43mm UV filter with the glass taken out + a top quality 43mm UV filter + 43mm lens cap

Note that the CLA-1 tube is also a 41.5mm to 43mm stepup. And since the CLA-1 tube is not long enough so that if you put a 43mm UV filter (or any filter for this matter) directly onto the CLA-1, when the camera is powered on and thus its lens is fully extended, the lens may hit the filter glass! And for this very reason, I have to add a cheap 43mm UV fiilter wiith its glass taken out to act as a spacer or to add an extra inch ;-) to the CLA-1 tube. Did I mention the longer the better ;-) ! By the way, I keep receiving 10, 20 or 30 junk emails everyday selling pills to add a few more inches to or enlarge some human body parts!

James_With_Olympus_C-5050 said:

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

What's all the talk about using a uv filter instead of a lens cap?
Is there really something that the uv rays from the sun can do to
damage my lens?

Click to expand...

I can't say anything about what a UV filter can do as far as the
Sun is concerned. But I do know that a UV filter on the CLA-1 tube
can protect my lens PHYSICALLY so that if I accidentally
hit/scratch the lens (that's not possible anymore becuase I have
the UV filter in front of it) actually hit/scratch the CHEAP UV
filter, it will not cost me too much. With a camera like the C-5050
with a non-interchangeable lens, what do you do and how much would
it cost you to replace the camera lens if the lens itself is badly
scratched or damaged???

James_With_Olympus_C-5050 said:

Also, if I choose to use a lens cap, is it recommended that I buy
the 43mm cap from Olympus instead of using the 41mm one on the
cla-1?

Click to expand...

41mm one on the CLA-1? The end of the CLA-1 is already 43mm not
41mm!!!

Click to expand...

James_With_Olympus_C-5050 said:

James_With_Olympus_C-5050 said:

Also, if I choose to use a lens cap, is it recommended that I buy
the 43mm cap from Olympus instead of using the 41mm one on the
cla-1?

Click to expand...

41mm one on the CLA-1? The end of the CLA-1 is already 43mm not
41mm!!!

Click to expand...

I realize that, but the 41mm cap that came with the 5050 fits on the end of the cla-1 - go figure?

I already have the cla-1, so I'm just sticking with it.

I have read in other threads that there are uv fliters that will screw onto the cla-1 without bumping the lens when it is turned on.

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

Also, if I choose to use a lens cap, is it recommended that I buy
the 43mm cap from Olympus instead of using the 41mm one on the
cla-1?

Click to expand...

41mm one on the CLA-1? The end of the CLA-1 is already 43mm not
41mm!!!

Click to expand...

I realize that, but the 41mm cap that came with the 5050 fits on
the end of the cla-1 - go figure?

Click to expand...

Yes the 41.5mm cap that came with the C-5050 fits on the 43mm end of the CLA-1, but a bit loosely! I once tried it, too so I know it's not a tight fit.

The SUNPAK PicturePlus Filter, (UV) Haze, 43mm will go directly on the CLA-1 and you won't need a spacer since the glass is just far enough away from the filter's threads to avoid the 5050 lens from hitting it on power up. Other UV filter like Hoya have glass that's too close to their threads and the 5050 lens hits the glass on power up.

James_With_Olympus_C-5050 said:

I have:

C-5050 + CLA-1 tube + a cheap 43mm UV filter with the glass taken
out + a top quality 43mm UV filter + 43mm lens cap

Note that the CLA-1 tube is also a 41.5mm to 43mm stepup. And since
the CLA-1 tube is not long enough so that if you put a 43mm UV
filter (or any filter for this matter) directly onto the CLA-1,
when the camera is powered on and thus its lens is fully extended,
the lens may hit the filter glass! And for this very reason, I have
to add a cheap 43mm UV fiilter wiith its glass taken out to act as
a spacer or to add an extra inch ;-) to the CLA-1 tube.

Click to expand...

he SUNPAK PicturePlus Filter, (UV) Haze, 43mm will go directly on the CLA-1 and you won't need a spacer since the glass is just far enough away from the filter's threads to avoid the 5050 lens from hitting it on power up. Other UV filter like Hoya have glass that's too close to their threads and the 5050 lens hits the glass on power up.

G. Gray said:

The cla1 is
short and you have to use a spacer or adapter with UV filter to
avoid lens bump.
Buy the lens cap to fit the UV filter.

Click to expand...

jrynash said:

he SUNPAK PicturePlus Filter, (UV) Haze, 43mm will go directly on
the CLA-1 and you won't need a spacer since the glass is just far
enough away from the filter's threads to avoid the 5050 lens from
hitting it on power up. Other UV filter like Hoya have glass
that's too close to their threads and the 5050 lens hits the glass
on power up.

Click to expand...

Sounds good but I couldn't find it at yahoo shopping. Care to provide a link to where I can purchase this. Also, what is recommended if one is going to leave the filter on the cla-1 to protect it while taking pics at all times - the UV filter or the haze filter (or maybe even could use a polarizer??)

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

jrynash said:

he SUNPAK PicturePlus Filter, (UV) Haze, 43mm will go directly on
the CLA-1 and you won't need a spacer since the glass is just far
enough away from the filter's threads to avoid the 5050 lens from
hitting it on power up. Other UV filter like Hoya have glass
that's too close to their threads and the 5050 lens hits the glass
on power up.

Click to expand...

Sounds good but I couldn't find it at yahoo shopping. Care to
provide a link to where I can purchase this. Also, what is
recommended if one is going to leave the filter on the cla-1 to
protect it while taking pics at all times - the UV filter or the
haze filter (or maybe even could use a polarizer??)

Click to expand...

Do a google search for:
SUNPAK 43mm UV Glass Filter

Or go to http://www.bhphoto.com and search on
their webpage for:
SUNPAK 43mm UV Glass Filter
Their webpage says they have it in stock for $9.95

James_With_Olympus_C-5050 said:

OlyOlyOxenFree said:

What's all the talk about using a uv filter instead of a lens cap?
Is there really something that the uv rays from the sun can do to
damage my lens?

Click to expand...

I can't say anything about what a UV filter can do as far as the
Sun is concerned. But I do know that a UV filter on the CLA-1 tube
can protect my lens PHYSICALLY so that if I accidentally
hit/scratch the lens (that's not possible anymore becuase I have
the UV filter in front of it) actually hit/scratch the CHEAP UV
filter, it will not cost me too much. With a camera like the C-5050
with a non-interchangeable lens, what do you do and how much would
it cost you to replace the camera lens if the lens itself is badly
scratched or damaged???

James_With_Olympus_C-5050 said:

Also, if I choose to use a lens cap, is it recommended that I buy
the 43mm cap from Olympus instead of using the 41mm one on the
cla-1?

Click to expand...

41mm one on the CLA-1? The end of the CLA-1 is already 43mm not
41mm!!!

Click to expand...

The UV filter is strictly there to protect the lens. With that on, I never use a lens cap.

--
Oly c750, Fl-40 Flash, B-300.
Raynox 6600, 5000.
For those interested in the 7xx cameras, join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Olympus-C730-c740-c750/?yguid=23347682

OlyOlyOxenFree wrote:

The CLA-1 was designed short for the purpose allowing the user to decide what size thread they would like at the end of the tube, and still get any additional glass as close to the lens as possible. They've dropped this idea in later lens tubes (probably for good reason).

You will want to be carefull about choosing a good multi-coated, UV or hayes (basically the same thing) filter. I know that Hoya gets pretty good marks, unfortunately I haven't heard that much about the Sunpak brand of filters. They could be just fine, but I would rather have a spacer and good glass than use cheap glass just to avoid a spacer. Also, stay away from skylight because it is a tinted filter that will increase the warmth of the colors in the image. A nice effect, but I wouldn't use it as a standard part of the camera.

So,

C-5050 + CLA-1 + sunpak 43mm UV + 43mm lens cap .... or.....

C-5050 + CLA-1 + 43-55mm step-up + 55mm UV + 55mm lens cap.

The latter may be a better fit if you were to want to use either the tele or wide angle converter lenses as they are threaded at 55mm. Of course, you can always purchase a 43-55mm step-up ring, but that will increase the distance between the lenses.

I know, too many choices.

--
Randy C.
C-2100 * C-740 * C-5050 * TCON-17
San Antonio, TX

Randy Collins said:

OlyOlyOxenFree wrote:

The CLA-1 was designed short for the purpose allowing the user to
decide what size thread they would like at the end of the tube, and
still get any additional glass as close to the lens as possible.
They've dropped this idea in later lens tubes (probably for good
reason).

You will want to be carefull about choosing a good multi-coated, UV
or hayes

Click to expand...

absolutely true, but I've been real happy with the results I've gotten with just the SUNPAK (UV) haze filter directly on the CLA-1.

WIth a 43mm spacer and then a 43mm filter, I start getting vignetting. Solution is to go with a 43mm-5xmm spacer and then larger filter, but that adds lots of issues with viewfinder, etc.

jrynash said:

Randy Collins said:

OlyOlyOxenFree wrote:

The CLA-1 was designed short for the purpose allowing the user to
decide what size thread they would like at the end of the tube, and
still get any additional glass as close to the lens as possible.
They've dropped this idea in later lens tubes (probably for good
reason).

You will want to be carefull about choosing a good multi-coated, UV
or hayes

Click to expand...

absolutely true, but I've been real happy with the results I've
gotten with just the SUNPAK (UV) haze filter directly on the CLA-1.

Click to expand...

jrynash188707 said:

WIth a 43mm spacer and then a 43mm filter, I start getting
vignetting. Solution is to go with a 43mm-5xmm spacer and then
larger filter, but that adds lots of issues with viewfinder, etc.

Click to expand...

This is what i use a cla-1 with a 43-46 step up ring and a Hoya uv(0) multi coated filter,This filter works the best with the 5050.No need to go to sunpak cheaper glass or even plastic,plastic will cause blurriness,Trust me i have tried plenty,Very good glass that works great with olmpus.