47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Unless six months ago, I never used UV filters. Instead, every lens I owned has a corresponding hood. Then, I read an article from a credible source that looked at the effect of cleaning modern lenses, which are more and more being coated. With time and enough cleaning, the lens could degrade. True or not, a real concern or not, I decide that quality UV or see thru plan glass was a reasonable precaution. As long as I don’t see a negative effect from the filter, I’m okay with using them. BTW, I still use hoods on every lens 99% of the time, even compacts and other point and Powershots.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

As far as I know sensors come with their own UV & IR blocking filter directly over the sensor's glass. In the past the hi & low pass filters were incorporated with an AA filter. These filters are what is removed when a Digital camera is converted from "normal" color to a UV, IR, or Full Spectrum camera. I own a IR converted DSLR so I know a bit about the "internal" filters of DSLR cameras.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Explain how a hood protects a wide angle lens from finger smudges? Why do so many people on the UHH assume everyone is shooting only long focal length lenses? I'm I going to get busted for using the term "bird brain"? The hoods for a 19mm to 35mm lenses are not deep and are only for avoiding sun or other bright light getting into the lens.

Canisdirus

Some folks simply love to clean their lenses...which is usually a mistake.
Unless the lens is really grubby...leave it alone.
And leave the UV filter off.
A speck of dirt will not show up if it is on the front of the lens...it will on the back end, however.

photoman43

I agree with Gene. I saw a $1000 lens destroyed by hot bird poop one cold morning when the poop hit the front of the lens and cracked it. The photographer was about five feet from me.

I live in hot humid Houston and removing condensation from a filter is so much easier and quicker than trying to remove all of it from the lens itself.

Most long telephoto lenses come with a filter near the camera's mount. That clear filter is needed for image quality purposes. Maybe there is a need for that filter on that particular lens.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I hope since you do not believe in protecting your lenses with a filter, you will always use a lens shade. A friend was photographing in a wooded area a few years ago and a branch scratched his new lens. It cost him about 160.00 to have that corrected. Also stay away from beaches and volcanos as blowing sand and volcanic ash can also damage lenses and not even a shade will help in those instances. There have been many discussions on this site about the use of filters to protect lenses and I have not seen any arguments that are convincing at all for not using a good quality filter. The assertion that putting a cheap piece of glass in front of an expensive lens just does not hold up when actual testing is done. Also who came up with the idea that a good quality filter is "cheap glass"? Take a modern lens that may have 14 glass elements in it and you will discover the price of a good filter is just as expensive as any one piece of the other 14 pieces of glass in that lens. The only argument I find valid is that it adds another reflective surface that can produce ghosting when a direct light is shown into the lens. If you are shooting into the sun or another predominant light source it might be good to remove a filter for a few shots and then replace it.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Take it off. I don't use them either. A lens hood is protection enough.

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

To use or not to use a UV filter is your choice. Personally, I don't use one. Just enjoy your new lens.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

My bad, I keep my fingers aware from the lens and carry a micro cloth. My concern has always been drops more than smudges.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Like many other things filters come in a variety of qualities. Might there be a list of filter brand names with quality ratings some place. Is the glass composition uniform, is the thickness uniform, are the surfaces flatness and parallelness uniform. Other quality factors?

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

I believe most camera manufacturers put UV filters as coating on their sensors. Read the following for more information:
https://petapixel.com/2020/06/04/why-uv-filters-are-basically-useless-on-modern-cameras/

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Ken Rockwell puts a filter on all his lenses. I can't believe the number of people who profess to be 0.3% more knowledgeable of photography than Ken Rockwell.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I use the filter to keep dust and pollen off the front element of the lens, I would sooner scratch a $60 filter than the front element of a $3,000 lens.

SteveHmeyer Loc: Cincinnati OH USA

Why?

I always use a protective filter during transport - remove the filter when shooting and replace it when I have completed.

I only use filters during shooting when absolutely necessary.

Fewer air/glass interfaces means better light transmission.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

For a recent analysis of light transmission of the most popular brands and models, see the details and conclusion at:

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/06/the-comprehensive-ranking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/