UV…or not to UV?
- This topic has 8 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated Mar 12, 2010 at 7:19 pm by
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Just looking for input regarding the use of a UV filter, strictly as protection.
I’ve always been in the ‘no filter’ camp unless I’m shooting up close in a wet spray environment like a bottle plant and I need the protection, or shooting saltwater stuff through a polarizer to kill a reflection. We used to use cc, nd, and grad filters of all varieties on 2-1/4 & 4×5 film when needed. Still own a bunch of em’. But not so much with todays’ digital sensors & PS. The cons outweigh the pros for everyday use.
With apologies to Zach, here’s a link to a great article on the subject by Thom Hogan which lists some good points:
http://www.bythom.com/filters.htm
db
UV Filters are on all my lenses, mainly for protection (it’s paid off – over time I’ve smashed 4 UV filters with no ill effects to the lens).
To Kurt’s point, I also buy the filter to match the glass – ie, I don’t buy a $30 filter to put on a $1500 lens. If you spent the money on the lens, spend the money on the filter too.
UV Filters are on all my lenses, mainly for protection (it’s paid off – over time I’ve smashed 4 UV filters with no ill effects to the lens).
To Kurt’s point, I also buy the filter to match the glass – ie, I don’t buy a $30 filter to put on a $1500 lens. If you spent the money on the lens, spend the money on the filter too.
If just for protection, would it not be cheaper to buy high quality neutral contrast filters?
Roy
No, because I value a multicoated filter that decreases flare, adds contrast, etc. While I’m shooting with it on, I want to know that I have the best possible glass to compliment my lens.
I’ll add a bit more to what I wrote before – if I’m shooting in the studio, etc, I’ll still remove the filter to shoot. But the bulk of my work is done in far harsher environs, and although I’m careful with my equipment, I’m also using it without fear of hurting it. It’s those cases where a high quality filter makes a difference. I’ve replaced the filter twice on my 85L – once because the camera swung around me and banged lens first into an oar lock and cracked it. The second time was during an orchestrated shoot on a gravel road, and the truck happened to pick up a rock and fling it right into the lens. Took a ding out of the filter, but the lens was fine. For an $1800 chunk of glass, replacing a $100 BW filter (twice) was a far better option.
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