Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
To filter or not to filter
Page <prev 2 of 2
Jan 8, 2015 15:53:30   #
houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA
 
jerrypoller wrote:
Would a quality "clear" filter merely protect the lens glass, or would, even the good ones, tend to degrade IQ (the purpose for upgrading to these f2.8 zooms). Anyone else care to weigh in?

There are several optical bench studies on the internet which demonstrate quality filters cause NO perceptible degradation to image quality. As for clear or UV, all digital sensors are sensitive to UV to some degree, and all to a significant degree at higher elevations. In addition, vegetation can reflect UV to a higher degree than visible light resulting in muted coloration in certain light conditions. As there is no "penalty" for using a UV filter than a clear filter, the advantage however slight lies with the UV filter.

Reply
Jan 8, 2015 16:15:29   #
jr168
 
To me the optical quality difference of the image with a good filter is marginal. Are you going to print the image wall size? If not, it doesn't make enough of a difference to me. The one area where you would not want to use a filter, is if you are using back lighting. The extra bit of glass causes havoc with lens flair.

Reply
Jan 8, 2015 16:17:33   #
jerrypoller Loc: Huntington, NY
 
Dngallagher wrote:
Exactly, it is a personal choice, I could see the loss of IQ, and once the filters were off the IQ went up, so filters be gone.


I just took a couple of pictures indoors with just the light coming through the window using my Nikkor 50mm f1.8 D - one with the filter and one without it. Granted, it was only a Zeikos UV Japan made filter, but the colors without it were much richer. I think I'll stick with the lens caps and hoods, and leave the filters
off for now.

Reply
 
 
Jan 8, 2015 16:29:31   #
Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.
 
jerrypoller wrote:
I just took a couple of pictures indoors with just the light coming through the window using my Nikkor 50mm f1.8 D - one with the filter and one without it. Granted, it was only a Zeikos UV Japan made filter, but the colors without it were much richer. I think I'll stick with the lens caps and hoods, and leave the filters
off for now.


I got similar results between filter on and filter off... and when I got rid of my filters noticed sharper images too, so I made my choice and I am sticking with it ;)

Reply
Jan 8, 2015 17:48:12   #
jerrypoller Loc: Huntington, NY
 
Dngallagher wrote:
I got similar results between filter on and filter off... and when I got rid of my filters noticed sharper images too, so I made my choice and I am sticking with it ;)


I'm with you on this one

:thumbup:

Reply
Jan 8, 2015 19:33:09   #
gonate Loc: sacramento,calif
 
Well I don't use a filter, Quality is much better without one , lens cap only. thank you. I see other shooters agree , I need the best quality, and that's without a filter.

Reply
Jan 8, 2015 23:33:23   #
jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon
 
Use a lens hood for protection. In my experience Extra glass no matter how good will reduce image quality.
Jack

Reply
 
 
Jan 11, 2015 15:39:48   #
fishone0 Loc: Kingman AZ
 
I use filters because even with a lens hood on I am really bad with getting scratches on the lenses. I hike a lot and crawl over boulders and I have scratched my filters and they are a lot cheaper to replace than a new lens

Reply
Jan 11, 2015 15:42:45   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
Dngallagher wrote:
Don't you mean B+W filters?

I tend to believe that any additional glass causes loss so lens protection for me is a lens hood. Got rid of my "protective" filters a while back and saw a gain in IQ right away.

Granted I probably had cheaper filters.


Yes It should have been B+W Just another OOPS

Reply
Page <prev 2 of 2
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.