dfran Loc: Dallas, Pa

I have a Canon T3i camera. This is my first digital camera that wasn't a point and shoot. My question, since I'm a total novice, is; what is the purpose of the UV filters that came with the camera. I received one for each lens, and don't know if I should use them or not. I'm leaving for Alaska in 10 days and bought the camera to use for my 3 week adventure. Should I put the UV filters on or are they not needed. Thank you in advance for any advice, it is greatly appreciated.

Don

Selkii Loc: Oakland, CA & Vancouver Island

For me, the primary use is to protect the lens. It is cheaper to replace a scratched filter. The first time you accidentally bump your lens, you'll be glad you had the filter upon. Whenever I order a new lens, I automatically order a good, UV filter.

RegisG Loc: Mid-Tennessee

One of the best reasons is to protect your lens from scratch or dirt. Be sure to clean both your lens and filter before installing. Then leave it on.

RegisG

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

UV filters as such aren't necessary for digital photography.
The camera has one built in.
But many people use the UV as a protective glass cover for their front lens element.
I use either them or a clear glass protective one.
Smears of moisture or dust get on the front, I do not have to worry about damaging my lens, I can just get any old rag and give it a wipe, and again, and again.

I don't know why they didn't supply plain glass instead of UV but its often the case.
A good quality UV filter will not harm your image at all.
BUT, it has been shown that poor quality filters can degrade the quality of the image captured.
If these were free filters supplied with the lens, I would suspect them of being cheap grade items out of the Asian pop out factory. You will have to run your own test with them on and off to see if they affect your images.

dfran Loc: Dallas, Pa

Thank you all for such speedy and informative replies. I will definitely use them as lens protectors. As far as the quality goes, they are Vivitar 58MM UV Filters, according to the boxes. Are the Good quality or Cheap ones.

Thanks again,
Don

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Digital camera's do not have UV filters built in to them. UV filters can be a good friend. UV is generally considered unwanted light and as humans we do not see UV light until shows up in our images. I recomend a good look at the Hoya Alpha UV filter. It is MC and is at a good price.

davidheald1942 Loc: Mars (the planet)

I've been in photography for over 50 years and
have never broke the front element in any of my
lenses. I never did like putting another piece of
glass on the end of my lenses. I ran some test of
one of my lenses (24mm on 35mm camera)
on some landscapes. UV filters are suppose to
cut out most of the haze in landscapes.
I could never tell any difference with or without
the UV filter.
Just my 2 cents.
ronny

preachy Loc: Dover Plains, NY

I leave the filter on when walking around with my camera, but I never shoot with it on.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

+ 1.

In my experience the best lens protector I have ever used has been a lens cap. UV filters are selling better than ever because of the tendency of many photographers to believe that it "protects" the surface of the lens.
I see no use for UV filters in my photography.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Don, contrary to what others say, there is absolutely ZERO reason to use a UV filter on your lens.

NONE.

The cheap glass that filters are made of is NOT as hard or thick as the front element of your lens. In other words, it will provide NO protection to your lens... NONE.

So why do people use them?

Two reasons mainly; because they were SOLD to them by people in retail stores, and because it SEEMS like a common sense thing to do.

But those filters are NOT actually built to protect your lens from anything, let alone a physical threat capable of actually causing damage to your front element.

IF the threat is capable of causing damage to your front element, then that cheap, thin, flimsy UV filter WILL NOT STOP IT.

So, it doesn't help... but what's the harm in using a "protective" filter?

There is one HUGE reason why you should avoid UV and "protective" filters; THEY DEGRADE IMAGE QUALITY!

Any (and EVERY) time light passes from one medium to another, there is both Diffraction and Refraction. That's physics. Diffraction and Refraction in optics causes flaring, ghosting, and a subsequent loss in contrast... and while it can be minor at times, IT IS ALWAYS THERE.

So what are you supposed to do to protect your lens?

The BEST way to protect your front element is to use 3 things: 1) use your lens cap, keeping it on at ALL times and only removing it when you are ready to shoot; 2) use your lens hood... ALWAYS. Even indoors and at night. It does a MUCH better job of keeping stuff OFF your front element than that cheap glass, and not only does it NOT introduce flare, in fact, IT REDUCES IT! That's what they are designed for. ;)

And last but not least... 3) use common sense and protect your camera like the serious investment it is. This means DELIBERATELY protecting your lens; keeping it out of potentially dangerous situations and avoiding as many accidents as possible.

Don't waste your money OR image quality on UV or protective filters; they literally do more harm than good.

GOOD LUCK!

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

I shoot the MAJORITY of the time in a marine environment. Either on the beach, or in the estuaries and marshes of NW Florida.

I agree 100% with the above; UV filters REDUCE image quality and DO NOT offer any REAL protection to the front element of your lenses.

Retailers make a LOT of money selling those useless items. Additionally, people who are serious about photography question their image quality and "upgrade" their cameras to get better images when all they had to do was REMOVE those stupid "protective" and UV filters.

A very good friend of mine owned an independent camera shop for 20 years before selling out to a chain, and HE said UV filters on digital cameras is like putting Breasts on a Bull; they may look good, but they don't do a DANG THANG! :lol:

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Contrary to CHOLLYs mad rantings

http://photographylife.com/filters-affect-resolution-lenses#more-59816

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-144098-1.html

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

EVERYONE is entitled to an opinion.

It should be noted however, that the LAWS OF PHYSICS (AND OPTICS) are the same, and continue to function... whether YOU believe in/understand them... or not. :roll:

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

BTW, Contrast and Resolution are two related, but different things.

And while it might SEEM like common sense to put something in front of your lens to protect it, remember this; people used to believe that a horse hair in a puddle of water would turn into a snake. THAT was common sense too until people learned the truth. ;)

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

CHOLLY, I totally agree with you regarding the laws of physics as they apply to optics - in this universe anyway. Not so sure about in the others.
But that link that I provided shows that even with all of your mad hysterical vehement rantings about the effect of surfaces and optics, that under real world testing, with all the rules of diffraction and refraction and surfaces applying - that it just doesn't matter ..... as long as you use a good quality filter.