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deapee
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p.1 #1 · Do you use a UV filter?

Personally, I could go either way. I have 2 UV's, one for my 18-70 and one for my 80-200 (it came with one)...I only use one some of the time, if conditions exist.

I just can't decide if buying one for everything is worth it.

To be honest though, I've noticed that with a UV filter on, I get more flare, which I don't necessarilly want. Then there's the whole question of image quality and just how much one would degrade that.

Obviously, at the beach or something, you're going to want one on the lens as the salt spray gets all over everything...so maybe sometimes would be the answer.

--

Anyway, who uses one for everything, who doesn't, and why or why not.

Thanks.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 01:13 PM

nikt
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p.1 #2 · Do you use a UV filter?

You're going to get a mixed bag with this one. I for one though, use either a UV or skylight just about all the time. There are times that I take them off. When I'm using a different filter for starters (polariser etc).

If you are getting more flair then try a higher grade filter. On some of my shots, I was getting a little flair on one lens so upgraded the filter. Don't see it nearly as much.

Nik

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 01:26 PM

praveenk25
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p.1 #3 · Do you use a UV filter?

I've Hoya SHMC Pro-1 on all of my lenses. Never saw any degradation in picture quality.
One more input here, couple of years ago I had a promaster cheapo skylight on one of my lens and lens kept giving me out of focus or wierd results. Once I replaced that filter with Pro-1 never saw problem again. IMO filters are good only if they are high end ones.

Edited by praveenk25 on Feb 02, 2006 at 11:35 AM GMT

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 02:40 PM

jmcfadden
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p.1 #4 · Do you use a UV filter?

no . i never use any

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 02:51 PM

cooner
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p.1 #5 · Do you use a UV filter?

I use them in a odd way. I've found that the newer lens caps don't do a great job of keeping dust off the front of the lens so I buy the cheapest filter I can find and screw off the filter with lens cap when taking a shot and screw it back on when I'm finished

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 03:08 PM

skyview
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p.1 #6 · Do you use a UV filter?

Prior to digital I did, primarily as lens protection. However, uses the UV filters with digital created a number of reflection issues, as one of my prime subjects are trains, and the strong light on the locomotive reflected badly with UV filters, removing the filters solved the issue, so I no longer use them.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 03:20 PM

Kevin D
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p.1 #7 · Do you use a UV filter?

Never

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 04:08 PM

kris2823
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p.1 #8 · Do you use a UV filter?

I feel that I just HAVE to protect my 18-70 against scratches and dirt. Don't have any hood for it either........

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 04:17 PM

ytwong
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p.1 #9 · Do you use a UV filter?

i use filters to keep my lens' front element away from dirt, dust, sand and fingerprints... removing those filters from my lens won't give me better photos.

talking about flare.... i found that when i encounter that , flare is still there most of the time evern i remove the photo. i think the lens design is more important than using filter or not.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 04:24 PM

shatterkiss
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p.1 #10 · Do you use a UV filter?

I really never use them. It's rare that I'm shooting exposed to any kind of aggressive elements, and I'm careful enough with my gear that a lens hood provides enough protection for my tastes. Were I to be shooting out in the wilds, on a beach, in the desert, etc., I'd mount one. I've always used them when shooting outdoor music festivals, where the crowds trample the dirt and kick up giant dust clouds...but those are also the events where you come home with a white t-shirt turned uniformly brown. 95% of the time I keep my lens faces bare with hoods.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 04:33 PM

ICQ

KABeach
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p.1 #11 · Do you use a UV filter?

I shoot mostly sports.. roudy fans, rain, snow, hail... I buy good UV filters and there have been a number of occasions that the filter saved the lens...

Cheers,
Ken

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 05:16 PM

gugs
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p.1 #12 · Do you use a UV filter?

I have a UV filter on all my lenses...

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 07:32 PM

JunSawa
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p.1 #13 · Do you use a UV filter?

I've never had u.v filters on any lenses, i have them but they sit in a box with all my other camera junk, although i use the polarising filter every now n then to eliminate reflections!!!! ...and of course my lee filter kit with ND grads.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 07:55 PM

Peter F
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p.1 #14 · Do you use a UV filter?

uv on all as protection, except the 18-70 (don't know why i don't have on the 18-70)

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 09:16 PM

sl1200mk4
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p.1 #15 · Do you use a UV filter?

Peter F wrote:
uv on all as protection, except the 18-70 (don't know why i don't have on the 18-70)

Interesting... I put 77mm B+W UV on my Sigma 10-20 and 70-200 VR, but for my 18-70 I got a cheap POS UV filter. I think the 18-70 deserve a better filter though... Maybe I will get a B+W for it.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 09:29 PM

DAllshouse
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p.1 #16 · Do you use a UV filter?

Took the promaster off when I realized it was degrading image quality

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 02, 2006 at 09:46 PM

johnnymg
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p.1 #17 · Do you use a UV filter?

nop.......... nada............ zip............... never!!!

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 03, 2006 at 03:06 AM

bigblue
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p.1 #18 · Do you use a UV filter?

Frankly I think that UV filters were invented so that camera shops could sell you a little dinky lensy thingy @ $70+ dollars just to make an extra $50 bucks profit everytime they sell a lens !!!

There ain't no way, no how that that little piece of glass in a piece of metal is worth no $70 !!!!

I view it this way, if you are going to abuse and weather your gear, then protect it, If you are shooting in a "clean" environment, then for-go it, be free, go commando!!

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 04, 2006 at 04:52 AM

cburwell
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p.1 #19 · Do you use a UV filter?

I have them on my 50MM and 24-70 for protection. I find the front element on those two lenses stay cleaner longer the then front element on my 70-200 which I do not have a filter for. I plan on buying a UV for my 70-200 the next time I make a purcahse from adorama.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 04, 2006 at 05:02 AM

Woodrow
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p.1 #20 · Do you use a UV filter?

I used one for a while on my 70-200 BW. It kept the front element clean. I still have it 77 mm. For sell. Where did all of my front caps go. Guess they are in a coat pocket or I dropped them on the trail. Damn ! Filters are a gimmic in the digital age as they were in the film age. But I still hold on to my split density ones and my Poler..

Woody

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 04, 2006 at 05:19 AM

sl1200mk4
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p.1 #21 · Do you use a UV filter?

Despite having 2 77mm B+W filters for my 10-20 and 70-200 VR. I do have a crappy filter as I mentioned earlier.

I tried to take two test shots earlier. Honestly I can't notice the differece in image quality with the filter on or off. For those of you who noticed the differece, can you try to tell me what to look for? Is it sharpness (shouldn't be the case...), or less color contrast (didn't notice that...)?

It does give me a bit more flare in some cases.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 04, 2006 at 05:44 AM

turnert
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p.1 #22 · Do you use a UV filter?

I used to use a filter to protect my lenses when I was using my own gear for my day job as a timber industry geologist. But then I got wise and stopped carrying SLR gear altogether, particularly my own gear, because a damaged front element is the least of my worries. My field work usually involves wading up and down high gradient streams and slopes where a large camera is a hassle and prone to getting busted up. So I now just carry a little Canon G3 in my field vest -- it seems to always have a film of mud and fir needles stuck to the lens!

For non work-related photography with my Nikon gear, I never use a UV filter unless I'm on a small boat and the lens is exposed to salt water.

Edited on Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM

Feb 04, 2006 at 06:23 AM

tarheel
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p.1 #23 · Do you use a UV filter?

Years ago (film Nikon days) I used either a skylight or UV filter on all my lens as a form of protection. I read many professional and advanced amateurs (including many on FM) never use filters. I still use them but I am questioning my on decision to do so. What's interesting is that one consideration is that no matter how good the filter is, it's still another piece of glass for light to travel through and potentially degrade the image. I have taken a number of photographs of birds outside my kitchen window using a D70 and now a D200 on a Gitzo 1325/Markins M20, with the 70-200 AFS VR lens, both JPG and RAW. Many of these were shot through an insulated or "double pane" kitchen window that's about 22 years old and the resultls are spectacular - even in enlargements they don't look any different from those shot with the window open. I would think that double piece of window glass would cause noticeable image quality loss. I do keep that one window very clean! The filters I have are Nikon or Heliopan. Since I have them I will continue to use them, but knowing what I do now I would not purchase them if I had none. YMMV.

Feb 04, 2006 at 04:30 PM


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