What protection for an 'L' lense?

[JerryOB]

And if you have one of these 'bad-luck' days it doesn't matter how
many filters/lens hoods are on your lens...

http://www.tom-crowning.com

Yeah, if the gods are against you ... I recall a conversation with a Leica technician telling me NOT to get a UV filter for my 21mm (now gone to finance Canon L lenses) because the lens coating was much harder than the filter!

BTW if you haven't ... check out Tom's galleries - they're excellent. i particulary like the "Low ligt" one

Jerry
--
If it ain't broke ... it ain't been used enough

 

[tdhg566]

At the end of a day's shooting on my last trip I found a very visible scratch on one of my 77mm filters. Won't polish out. Had the UV filter not been on there, that scratch would be on the front element. I always have an extra UV filter in each size available, esp. on trips. Sometimes it's faster to change the filter and clean the dirty one later, esp. in marine environments where you're removing salt spray. I just use the Canon UV when available. I personally can't tell the difference between a $20-30 UV and an $80 one. Probably looking for the wrong effect. But, I use the filter for protection, not "filtering". I always keep the lens cap on when not in use, and store it in one of my day or back packs. I don't use the cases unless I'm transporting the lens outside one of my packs. After I'm sure I will keep the lens, I discard the original packing. I use a lens hood whenever possible, but I find lens hood's hard to transport. When possible I turn them around and store them on the lens, backwards. That requires a pack of some sort where the lens doesn't fit tightly in a compartment.

Just my $0.02.

What kind of protection do you use? hard lense hood? uv filter on
all the time? How do you store it? In the original box? In your
carring case in a felt bag?

--

This space reserved for a clever phrase, as soon as I find one that hasn't already been taken.

Photos linked from http://www.defenbaugh.com
Equipment list in profile

 

[MikeLee]

Care doesn't prevent the "Joe" or "Jane" standing next to you from bumping something into your lens though. I agree that an ounce of prevention goes a long way, but it doesn't hurt to protect against variables we can't control. )

Mike

What kind of protection do you use? hard lense hood? uv filter on
all the time? How do you store it? In the original box? In your
carring case in a felt bag?
Thanks
Debbi

--
http://www.pbase.com/debbi
pBase Supporter

--
Some digital cameras, some lenses, 2 eyes

http://www.tom-crowning.com

 

[lisafx]

Geez, I live in Florida and never thought about fungus getting in the lenses. I have recently been having a mold problem. I'm going to have to relocate my lenses from where I am currently storing them (an unventilated closet).

Thanks so much for bringing this up! You may have saved me a lot of pain.

Lisa

storing your lens in long periods in dark and humid environment is
not a good idea. I use a lowepro soft padded lens case.

What kind of protection do you use? hard lense hood? uv filter on
all the time? How do you store it? In the original box? In your
carring case in a felt bag?
Thanks
Debbi

--
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pBase Supporter

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Minë Corma hostië të ilyë ar mordossë nutië të
Mornórëo Nóressë yassë i Fuini caitar.
Un thoron arart’a s’un hith mal’kemen ioke.
Saurulmaiel

--
LisaFX
http://www.pbase.com/lisafx

 

[lisafx]

Very good points. Thanks for the info .

It is a much better idea because if it get scratched then it is a
lot cheaper to replace than a front element. But don't put cheap
filter on a L lens..not a good idea. Don't put cheap filter on any
lens with a dslr. I tried the cheapo filter on the kit lens and it
was a disaster.

I am wondering what the consensus is on using a UV filter with an L
lens. Is it better to protect such an expensive investment or is
it silly to put any glass in front of that great lens?

Lisa

What kind of protection do you use? hard lense hood? uv filter on
all the time? How do you store it? In the original box? In your
carring case in a felt bag?
Thanks
Debbi

--
http://www.pbase.com/debbi
pBase Supporter

--
LisaFX
http://www.pbase.com/lisafx

--
Minë Corma hostië të ilyë ar mordossë nutië të
Mornórëo Nóressë yassë i Fuini caitar.
Un thoron arart’a s’un hith mal’kemen ioke.
Saurulmaiel

--
LisaFX
http://www.pbase.com/lisafx

 

[Joshua Moses Diamond]

they are not scratch resistant

my old 80-200 was bought from a guy who never used lens caps and
the front glass was still about as good as it gets. Its really
hard to scratch that glass as its very hard and so is the
multicoating they put on it. I wouldnt suggest trying it of
course, but its not by any means fragile

the paint can get a little wear, far easier than the glass, but
thats pretty cosmetic.

If you want to keep the lens looking like new for collector purpoes
or something thats one thing, but nearly every serious wildlife
photog ive met who has a bit supertele like a 500 or 600, has alot
of wear on the lens.

Its just something that happens from taking it out into the wild
but thats what you pay all that money for.

Plus once you get that first scrach, then other ones dont matter as
much. My new 300 2.8 IS is still mint so I dont like to set it on
the ground. My old non IS lens was all scratched up already. I
woulnd just lay it down on the ground and no worry. It was alot
easier since I try to get a towel or something to lay the new one
on.
--
http://www.pbase.com/bigbad

 

[Justme]

I tried different UV filter but you do see degradation with cheapo
filter.

Which cheapo UV filter did you try that degraded the image? You may have mentioned it previously but I may have forgotten.

I bougth my Hoya Pro-1 UV from ebay and paid 39$ instead
of 80$..yes they can be really expensive but if you get a good deal
like I did...mine was brand in box scealed, then you can always
resell it the same price if it is not damaged.

It is a much better idea because if it get scratched then it is a
lot cheaper to replace than a front element. But don't put cheap
filter on a L lens..not a good idea. Don't put cheap filter on any
lens with a dslr. I tried the cheapo filter on the kit lens and it
was a disaster.

I am wondering what the consensus is on using a UV filter with an L
lens. Is it better to protect such an expensive investment or is
it silly to put any glass in front of that great lens?

Lisa

What kind of protection do you use? hard lense hood? uv filter on
all the time? How do you store it? In the original box? In your
carring case in a felt bag?
Thanks
Debbi

--
http://www.pbase.com/debbi
pBase Supporter

--
LisaFX
http://www.pbase.com/lisafx

--
Minë Corma hostië të ilyë ar mordossë nutië të
Mornórëo Nóressë yassë i Fuini caitar.
Un thoron arart’a s’un hith mal’kemen ioke.
Saurulmaiel

--
I know you mean well but please do not link my images into the forum. Thanks.

http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/parc_omega
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/digital_rebel_birds

 

[santa]

to each their own - because I know many people who eschew the use of a filter, but I virtually always have a filter on my lenses, and I use high quality B&H, Heliopan or Hoya filters. I have had to throw three filters away after cracking them or scratching them, and have thus saved three good camera lenses. Some may take better care with their lenses but my circumstances and style preclude babying my lenses at all times. I do take great care with them, and part of that care is using a top quality filter. I remove the filter when I am doing portraits or scenics that I plan on enlarging to extremes but I honestly can't say there is any need to do so. Over the years I've come to believe that my ability to clean the filters regularly is as important as the scratch protection. I don't hesitate to brush and wipe a filter but am loathe to do so with any of my L glass.

 

[riokid]

use no filter for optimum image quality, but use a good lens shade/hood.

I shoot a lot under adverse conditions like salt water spray, dangerous oil refinery gases, hazardous industrial conditions. I therefore use the most expensive UV/Skylight filters I can find: Heliopan, B+W, Hoya Super HMC in that order.

dan

I am wondering what the consensus is on using a UV filter with an L
lens. Is it better to protect such an expensive investment or is
it silly to put any glass in front of that great lens?

Lisa

What kind of protection do you use? hard lense hood? uv filter on
all the time? How do you store it? In the original box? In your
carring case in a felt bag?
Thanks
Debbi

--
http://www.pbase.com/debbi
pBase Supporter

--
LisaFX
http://www.pbase.com/lisafx