-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
filters are protecting the lens or?
- Thread starter zoranbbb
- Start date
Scorpio_2005
Active member
Most important is not to follow a false paradigm "All filters are created equal, so why I should pay more". They are not. A good filter can not cost $12. Period. I had a nice hands-on experience, when my friend brought to me from the USA a brand new Nikkor 50/1.4G with a Tiffen UV filter on it. I was testing the lens in different light and scenes, and I was surprised to see that much flare in the direct light. OK, I have read before a lot of articles and reviews on 50/1.4G, several were noting this effect. You won't believe how much I was shocked when some day I took off the filter for some reason, and saw that the flare is GONE!!! After that I started to read on filters. I found a very good article on UV filter comparison http://www.lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html . Guess what? Tiffen UV filter was the worst one in the tested bunch. So I got out and bought myself a nice Hoya filter. Yep, it was not cheap at all, I had to pop up about $60, but - no flares, no visual effect on the image at all.
--
'For an idea that does not at first seem insane, there is no hope.' -- Albert Einstein
--
'For an idea that does not at first seem insane, there is no hope.' -- Albert Einstein
Footski
Senior Member
Many people advocate no filter at all for protection. I must admit I am one of those. In over 40 years as a photographer, I have never damaged a lens front element, so why am I trying to protect something that does not need it. I know that for some, it is comforting and if you are a heavy user and regularly changing lenses in a less than perfect environment it may on occasions help to have a protective filter, but in my case and by my experience it is not required.
Another point is this. Manufacturers make lenses to a high degree of optical quality. Put any glass in front of it and you must degrade the final image, if only by a small amount.
Look after your lenses is the best advise...but then this is only my opinion. I am sure many will disagree.
Another point is this. Manufacturers make lenses to a high degree of optical quality. Put any glass in front of it and you must degrade the final image, if only by a small amount.
Look after your lenses is the best advise...but then this is only my opinion. I am sure many will disagree.
No filter. The lens is not protected by a filter. I mean if you are talking about if you drop it or something like that. A filter would protect the lens from kids greasy fingers. What is more protecting is the lens hood and cap.
--
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/prebenr/
M42 on Foveon: http://www.flickr.com/groups/m42-foveon/
Scorpio_2005
Active member
I support this position heartily, but it is my greedy part of me that yet resists and puts a UV filter on each and every lens 
Long time ago I was presented by my parents a beautiful film camera with an amazing quality lanthanum optics lens. I adored it so much, I was cleaning off all those tiny specks and water drips and dust parts, just to discover one day that the greenish-bluish layer of the lens was destroyed :-( Since then I never use my lenses without a filter. Just can't force myself.
--
'For an idea that does not at first seem insane, there is no hope.' -- Albert Einstein
Long time ago I was presented by my parents a beautiful film camera with an amazing quality lanthanum optics lens. I adored it so much, I was cleaning off all those tiny specks and water drips and dust parts, just to discover one day that the greenish-bluish layer of the lens was destroyed :-( Since then I never use my lenses without a filter. Just can't force myself. --
'For an idea that does not at first seem insane, there is no hope.' -- Albert Einstein
David Grabowski
Veteran Member
I only use filters for an effects purpose. I've been photographing since 1957 with my own cameras and was allowed to take a snap here and there before that, have not used filters for protection except for a brief period back in the 80s. Since then I put on a filter for it's effect and take it back off when done. I do use a hood and lens cap though. My lens cap is on and off like a gentleman's hat might have been back in the 19th century. The only damage my lenses have incurred is one got mildew inside and another element separation. Nothing a filter would have helped out with. I own many lenses in multi brands of cameras.
I do not over clean my lenses obsessively, wearing the coatings off of them. That's rediculous, IMO..
I would consider a protection filter at the beach with high waves and salt water but I'm likely to have a polarizing or Skylight filter on my lens at that time anyway.
David
I do not over clean my lenses obsessively, wearing the coatings off of them. That's rediculous, IMO..
I would consider a protection filter at the beach with high waves and salt water but I'm likely to have a polarizing or Skylight filter on my lens at that time anyway.
David
NikonScavenger
Well-known member
why put a UV filter on a DSLR? i thought they already had a UV and IR filter in front of the sensor.
P
Patco
Guest
There have been literally hundreds of threads started on this exact same topic, like this recent one:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=40866554
A simple search, like the one below, will yield all the info you will ever need to know about filters ;-)
https://www.google.ca/#hl=en&safe=off&sclient=psy-ab&q=filters+protection+site:forums.dpreview.com&oq=filters+protection+site:forums.dpreview.com&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=hp.12...1891l29198l0l32853l45l42l1l2l2l0l433l5470l3j36j2j0j1l45l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=bb172f9f74669927&biw=1170&bih=577
--
Patco
A photograph is more than a bunch of pixels
beshannon
Senior Member
None
--
My Smugmug photos http://www.brianshannonphotography.com/
My photo blog http://brianshannonphotography.blogspot.com/
My 500px photos http://500px.com/brianshannonphotography/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Shannon-Photography/157237647635870
S
Schroedingers_cat
Guest
The use of filters is a frequently debated subject on this forum. Many knowledgeable indivuals will advocate not using a filter anytime you can avoid it. The reasons given are generally that the filter may not measure up to the optical quality of the camera lens, and even if it does will add another piece of glass and an air gap. Regrding it's protective qualitites, the sort o fincident a filter will protect against may not be worth worrying about in any case.
On the other hand, many people simply enjoy the warm and fuzzy feeling of having something out there that might, under certain conditions, prevent minor damage to the lens. If you feel better about it by all means put on one, but use the highest quality filter you can get.
UV is not the issue it once was with film cameras and a clear filter used only for protection will be satisfactory.
If you photograph in an environment which would dictate frequent lens cleaning it might be useful to conduct this cleaning on a readily disposable filter, but this is likely not the norm. I suggest you use filters for reasons of creativity rather than as protection. In any case, this is not the sort of decision that should cause a lot of concern. Just go out and make photographs.
--
One day long ago, a sorcerer and a warrior did battle, as such things were commonplace in that age. Sometimes the sorcerer won, and the sum value of human abilities was improved some trifling amount. Sometimes the warrior won, and again the human race improved by some insignificant amount, for a sorcerer who can't defeat one miserable warrior is a poor sorcerer indeed.
On the other hand, many people simply enjoy the warm and fuzzy feeling of having something out there that might, under certain conditions, prevent minor damage to the lens. If you feel better about it by all means put on one, but use the highest quality filter you can get.
UV is not the issue it once was with film cameras and a clear filter used only for protection will be satisfactory.
If you photograph in an environment which would dictate frequent lens cleaning it might be useful to conduct this cleaning on a readily disposable filter, but this is likely not the norm. I suggest you use filters for reasons of creativity rather than as protection. In any case, this is not the sort of decision that should cause a lot of concern. Just go out and make photographs.
--
One day long ago, a sorcerer and a warrior did battle, as such things were commonplace in that age. Sometimes the sorcerer won, and the sum value of human abilities was improved some trifling amount. Sometimes the warrior won, and again the human race improved by some insignificant amount, for a sorcerer who can't defeat one miserable warrior is a poor sorcerer indeed.
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum