p.2 #1 · Suggestions for Clear vs UV filter for Nikon 135mm Plena
Jockel wrote:
Each additional piece of glass will worsen the optical quality to a greater or lesser extent.
Jockel wrote:
Again: The best filter is NO filter.
This should be obvious to everyone...
You can repeat assertive statements as often as you like: this does not falsify objective data.
Of course, data I refer to were acquired (by using MTF bench test) with "high-quality" UV filters, i.e. filters made of quality glass, with multi-layer anti-reflective coatings on both sides ensuring ≥ 99.5% visible light transmission (i.e., no more than 0.5% reflection and adsorption), optically flat (i.e., the front and rear surfaces are ground super flat and they are parallel to each other with strict tolerances).
As to an optical effect, a filter could shorten the focal length by a minuscule amount. This change is so small it will be difficult to measure. If it is difficult to measure, it will NEVER be visible by your eyes.
Therefore, "high-quality" filters can be safely used with no visible image degradation. As I mentioned earlier, in certain circumstances (shooting into the sun, night photography), you can always remove the filter if you are concerned that it may cause additional ghosts & flare.
So, the point is: filters should not be used (exclusively) when you are at the beach or in the desert when the ghibli wind is blowing. Filters can always be used except when you fear that their use with strong light sources in the frame may add reflections to those of the lens itself.
Two pictures taken with Z 14-30/4 S (14 elements in 12 groups!) @ f/16 and B+W UV filter ... If I had removed the filter, would the bare zoom have produced fewer ghosts??
p.2 #2 · Suggestions for Clear vs UV filter for Nikon 135mm Plena
https://breakthrough.photography/products/x4-uv?variant=31478833169
Have these on my lenses and find they don't require cleaning as much as the B+W I was using before. Am in dusty conditions a lot - photographing sunflower, corn & soybean harvest the past few weeks I didn't have to clean the filters - a blower took care of what dust & airborne plant grit got on them.
p.2 #3 · Suggestions for Clear vs UV filter for Nikon 135mm Plena
My personal rule: 1. Flying debris or liquid spray, use filter. 2. Shallow lens hood--typical on wide angle lenses--use filter. Deep lens hood--typical on tele lenses--no filter, unless #1 above applies.
