Most economical UV filter

[Chris Edgington]

I've read multiple posts that say I should get a UV filter to put on my D5 to protect the lens. Anybody recently do price shopping to find the best deal on a UV filter or set of filters?

Thanks,
-Chris

 

[StephenB]

I've read multiple posts that say I should get a UV filter to put
on my D5 to protect the lens. Anybody recently do price shopping to
find the best deal on a UV filter or set of filters?

Thanks,
-Chris

Compared to your lens, any UV filter is inexpensive. Get a good thin one. Most get the Hoya UV(0) thin series. Look at http://webpages.charter.net/bbiggers/DCExperiments/html/d7_add_on_lenses.html towards the bottom for which filters work and which don't

 

[Dave/Houston TX]

Skip the UV and go for the Circular Polarizer.

Again, refer to the previous thread link for the ones that work best.

 

[Art Cole]

I've read multiple posts that say I should get a UV filter to put
on my D5 to protect the lens. Anybody recently do price shopping to
find the best deal on a UV filter or set of filters?

Thanks,
-Chris

Well Chris, during a Nature Photography Workshop in Canaan Valley West Virginia, the course instructor, shook his head and told all those people who had followed the advice of the camera salesman and had a UV filter on their camera, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER have a piece of cheap glass over your expensive lens unless it is going to add something to your shot. He said the only time you should use a Skylight or UV lens to protect your lens is if you are in a salty or sandy environment. I now only use filters when I think they will add something to the image. The one filter I use most often is a Circular Polarizer. Also use 81a or 81b on gray rainy days.

 

[VladN]

had a UV filter on their camera, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER have a piece
of cheap glass over your expensive lens unless it is going to add
something to your shot. He said the only time you should use a

Disagree for three reasons:

1. Moderately priced multicoated filter from a good vendor does not "add" any detectable difference. Hoya HMC is my price / performance favorite. I do however try to avoid uncoated filters.

2. Damages to the front element glass or even coating can affect image contrast (and lens resell value).

3. "In the field" I can wipe the filter with any paper/fabric that looks cleen enough.

Vlad

 

[pentel]

I think that course instructor is just trying to be ideal and to conserve the most original image quality.

had a UV filter on their camera, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER have a piece
of cheap glass over your expensive lens unless it is going to add
something to your shot. He said the only time you should use a

Disagree for three reasons:

1. Moderately priced multicoated filter from a good vendor does not
"add" any detectable difference. Hoya HMC is my price / performance
favorite. I do however try to avoid uncoated filters.

2. Damages to the front element glass or even coating can affect
image contrast (and lens resell value).

3. "In the field" I can wipe the filter with any paper/fabric that
looks cleen enough.

Vlad

 

[pka]

Don't spoil your expensive lens with "economical" UV filter. I use the filter protection just in really "dangerous" environment. I have Nikon multicoated filter - heritage from Nikon SLR. Go for slim multicoated good brand filter. pka

had a UV filter on their camera, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER have a piece
of cheap glass over your expensive lens unless it is going to add
something to your shot. He said the only time you should use a

Disagree for three reasons:

1. Moderately priced multicoated filter from a good vendor does not
"add" any detectable difference. Hoya HMC is my price / performance
favorite. I do however try to avoid uncoated filters.

2. Damages to the front element glass or even coating can affect
image contrast (and lens resell value).

3. "In the field" I can wipe the filter with any paper/fabric that
looks cleen enough.

Vlad

--pka http://www.volny.cz/digialbum (in Czech

 

[VladN]

on my D5 to protect the lens. Anybody recently do price shopping to
find the best deal on a UV filter or set of filters?

Based on info in Bryan's web site I got Olympus UV/Haze filter from B&H for $19.95. It's outer ring is 3.1mm thick versus 4.1mm on my Hoya HMC (not a Pro1) filters that are my preferred choice for SLR lenses. I see no vignetting at any focal length.

For purists only: olympus appears to be single-coated on both surfaces, it has somewhat brighter reflections compared to my other Hoya HMCs (non-pro1), it's build quality/finish is very good though.

At $19.95 it is > 2x cheaper that B+H slim or Hoya Pro1 alternatives.

One note for people testing for vignetting - D7 lens shows some ligth fall-off at 28mm wide open with or without filter. This is normal - actually quite good for zoom of this range. My Nikkor 24mm prime has comparable fall-off when wide open (well OK maybe slightly better).

Vlad

 

[Jim A Hunt]

One note for people testing for vignetting - D7 lens shows some
ligth fall-off at 28mm wide open with or without filter. This is
normal - actually quite good for zoom of this range. My Nikkor 24mm
prime has comparable fall-off when wide open (well OK maybe
slightly better).

Vlad

The vignetting problem with filters is worst around 35mm. My D7 has no noticable vignetting at this focal length, but the 49mm Hoya, Kenko, Tiffen, and Tamron filters produce noticable vignetting in this range.

Jim

 

[VladN]

Thanks for pointing out - I checked 35mm using Olympus filter and found very slight trace of vignetting (totally acceptable by my standards).

As I mentioned before Olympus filter is thinner by 1mm than HMC Hoya and plain Tiffen that I have. Slim versions of B+W and Hoya should be even thinner than Olympus but are > 2x more expensive.

Vlad

The vignetting problem with filters is worst around 35mm. My D7
has no noticable vignetting at this focal length, but the 49mm
Hoya, Kenko, Tiffen, and Tamron filters produce noticable
vignetting in this range.

Jim