UV vs. Clear Filters

[alex]

Just curious: I understand the importance of keeping a filter on your lens all the time to protect is from dings, scrapes, dust, water, fingers, etc. I understand that people

[neuroanatomist]

You

[tkerr]

I don't know why there is a problem replying today, this is my third attempt.


Anyways, There is a question that often surfaces whenever this topic comes up. If you buy a nice lens with good glass why put anything in front of it.

A DSLR already has UV and IR Filtering built into it, so using a UV filter on your lens is kinda redundant. People do use them to protect from dust and scratches, however some will claim there is a trade off in doing that. Some people experience degraded IQ, and some even experience flares and reflections. The best option is a good quality clear or skylight filter if you use a filter at all just for protection.



I do use one myself when I go to the beach where there might be blowing sand and see spray. Otherwise I don't worry about a little dust or tree pollen that might get on my lens; That is easily blown off.


What it boils down to is how you use your camera. Outdoors in a harsh uncontrolled environment, or indoors in a clean controlled environment?

[Chris White]

Tim,

People do use them to protect from dust and scratches, however some will claim there is a trade off in doing that.

The "trade off" is really only apparent if you use cheep filters. If you use B&W or Hoya you should see no effect in image quality.

while a UV filter has an advantage over
clear for a film camera, for digital there is no optical
difference

Like John said, you do not need the UV type on DSLRs, but they do no harm. Personally every new lens I get gets a B&W Pro UV filter as part of taking it out of the box for use.I get the UV out of habit from film days, really no other reason.


The other main reason to use a filter is that for many <span style="color: #ff0000;"]L lenses the filter is required to complete the weather sealing.


Chris

[alex]

Thanks everyone for the good information and opinion. I can appreciate the availability argument John, and that

[neuroanatomist]

Personally, I have B+W MRC UV filters on all my lenses (F-Pro mounts on most, XS-Pro mounts on the wide lenses). One reason is what Chris mentioned - for 'weather-sealed' L-series lenses except the supertelephoto lenses, a filter is required to complete the weather seal. I also find that the B+W MRC coating gets less dirty and is easier to clean than the optical coating on the front element of most lenses (which is why Canon is promoting the fluorine coating on their newest lenses as being smudge-resistant and easy to clean). Also, if get a fingerprint or spray of water in the middle of shooting, you can simpy unscrew the UV filter and keep shooting, and that's a lot quicker than cleaning the front element and missing shots.

[alex]

if you get a fingerprint or spray of water in the middle of shooting, you can simpy unscrew the UV filter and keep shooting, and that's a lot quicker than cleaning the front element and missing shots.

Good point, John. Now if only I could get my fingers to turn the filter the right way to achieve the desired effect of either loosening or tightening. I get my right-tighty, lefty-loosy backwards all the time when I'm behind the camera!