Gunzorro
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 p.5 #12 · Time to ask the pros for advice ... | |
Dave -- First off, that Hoya is a very good filter -- very high quality and the equal of the B+W line (both of which are my favored filter brands).
On the issue of multi-coated UV filter use, put me down as comfortably in the middle.
"Protecting" is a very wide umbrella! Yes, I would use a filter for ocean spray (generally, I wouldn't want my camera or lens in salt spray!), but there are other reasons filters make sense as protection.
Some "L" lenses need a front filter to complete the weather sealing of the lens. Otherwise, they are only sealed at the breach.
I tend to use filters as the default, but always remove them if possible -- meaning I'm certain of calm conditions with no debris or liquids. As such, some lenses of mine (usually the more expensive, harder to replace type) like the 24-70L, keep a filter on all the time because (like your examples) it is an "event lens" -- with potenial fingerprints, other photographer's gear banging into mine, some liquids of the partiers, etc.
If you keep a filter on a lens you don't use very often, after six months or a year carefully examine it and you'll see a haze or film from airbourne pollutants (very easy to see on PL filters) -- that would be on your front element instead of the front of the filter. Personally, I prefer to clean or replace a filter compared to dealing with lens element cleaning.
Having said that, I prefer to use a lenshood with cap without filter whenever possible -- especially for less expensive lenses like the 50/1.4. I really like aftermarket screw-in metal hoods with an external lens cap at the end of the hood (only for longer lenses, 35mm and longer). I've bought several timeson eBay from this company: heavystar -- US and fast shipping -- here's a hood that will fit the 50/1.4 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Metal-Standard-58mm-Screw-in-Lens-Hood-Cap-/360412004287?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ea3abfbf
Any time I do twilight or night shots, or pretty well any time the camera is on tripod, I remove any filter. But if I'm banging around, especially in dark places, I like a filter on the lens. Hoods are a bit awkward though, as I tend to keep them on the lenses, making them much longer and wider.
I've never had a front (or rear) element damaged in 30+ years of photography. But I have bought or seen plenty that have had front nicks, gouges and cleaning scratches on the front and rear elements! I've never broken a filter on the lens (dropped and broken a couple filters though!), and I've never dinged the filter threads with a filter in place.
Like you, I've never seen daylight images degraded by high quality filters. Depending on the filter, there could be more apparent flare/halo/ghosting of specular highlights or light sources in night scenes. But for day use, I don't see a problem.
All my lenses have multi-coated UV filters, whether they are used often or not.
Regarding lens quality comparison between EF 50/1.4 and 24-70L, I am sure you'll find the 50 to have better IQ. But the 24-70 is no slouch and is pretty close, although 2 stops slower. At 5.6 to 8.0, they will be pretty similar IQ. At 2.8 to 4.0, the 50 will beat the 24-70.
And about your concern for DOF, I find using the 24-70 at f/5.0 to 5.6 at events and posed groups gives me about all the DOF I need get the shot. My "go-to" setting on Manual is 1/50, f/5, ISO 800-1600 with flash for indoor shooting. The 50 would behave similarly and you should be safe at 5.6. I don't think you'll need f/8. Try f/4.5 to f/5.6.
Hope this helps -- and thanks for the thread and your sample pictures.
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