MisterC wrote:
I can attest to the use of uv filters for protection. A very dear photographer friend of mine dropped her 70-300 lens a couple weeks ago and, while the uv filter was trashed, everything else was fine.
Ditto. Something recently put a scratch on the UV filter on my lens which I'm sure saved it from possibly fatal damage. I would strongly recommend that you use one (or other type) as protection.