reidnebs24 Loc: Sandy, Utah

I've heard a lot of controversy over UV Lens Filters and why/when you should or shouldn't use them. I just want a few pros and cons about them and when is the best situation to use them. Thanks!

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

A UV Filter is used to reduce haziness created by ultraviolet light, to which photographic film and sensors are sensitive, but not the human eye. A UV filter passes all or most of the visual spectrum, and blocks ultraviolet radiation. UV filter quality is important.
Read more here: http://www.lenstip.com/113.4-article-UV_filters_test_Description_of_the_results_and_summary.html

LarryInSeattle Loc: Seattle, WA

Many photogs (me included) use a UV filter instead of a lens cap. You never forget it's on and you can't lose it. UV filters saved my lens on two occasions, one was due to a fall down concrete steps and the second was when my camera fell out of my bag going down a steep ladder in the engine room of a refurbished WWII ship. In both cases, the filter was destroyed but the lens was not damaged.

reidnebs24 Loc: Sandy, Utah

I've heard that one con is that it can reduce the image quality and to use a lens hoods for protection. Do you guys think that it really does reduce the image quality?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Yes, especially when shooting into the light, as it may cause flare or an increase in flare.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

Lens manufacturers spend hundreds of millions of dollars multicoating the air to glass interfaces.
If you consider yourself smarter than they are, go ahead and screw that piece of glass onto the end of your lens and shoot away.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

For me, I started out with a UV Filter on every lens, and was never quite happy with the quality of my images most of the time. When I removed the filters I noticed a marked improvement in the quality of my shots (It did not help composition though for some reason!)

Now I shoot with no UV filters - My keeper rate increased, and I have yet to ruin any lenses after several years.

The only filters that I might use are polarizers and ND filters as needed for the situation.

I do not buy into the protection theory myself. Of course a filter will break if the camera is dropped, but that does not necessarily mean the lens would have.

If you are talking protecting the lens filter screw threads, a step up ring may do the same without the glass.

A lens hood is good protection.

NOW, in a harsh environment, like blowing sand, mud or weather, a screw on filter would add a little protection.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I cannot understand why it did not help with your composition, Don?

I found that like you shooting with no filters improved the images, shooting commando helped my composition. :lol: :roll:

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Thanks Sonny, I had not tried that... will give it a go next outing!

:thumbup:

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

The obvious solution is to add one to your kit and then you will have the option. ;)

(Kinda like underware...) :lol:

MarkD Loc: NYC

There's no consensus on this. I used to use a UV or Skylight filter for protection. I no longer do except when around my soon to be 3 year old twin grandchildren. As careful as I am they do sometimes touch the front of the lens, and I don't always know where their little fingers have been. Do I see a difference with and without the filter? Maybe a very small one.

If you do choose to use a filter for protection, use a good multicoated one from a major manufacturer. Also remove the filter in high flare situations.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

UV filter saved my lens when I slipped on wet rocksand fell. Also whe the lens is dirty you're cleaning a filter not the lens.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I completely agree. Lens designers have already coated the lenses with coatings that will reduce the need for extra glass unless you are shooting for a specific effect.
The only additional glass I use on my lenses (unless I specifically need a UV, Neutral Density, or polarizing filter, is a good grade clear glass filter. And, I only use them in windy, dusty, or misty conditions or when on a boat, or other places where water, etc. might get on my lenses. I also carry a good grade lens cloth, blower, and lens cleaner. Camera lenses are coated to provide specific optics, and adding a UV filter or any other filter (in my opinion) should only be done to alter the optics for specific situations and not general photography. I carry snap on lens caps and I remove those when I start shooting and replace them when I am done. NOTE: I will leve the lens cap off during the entire shooting session so that I can grab that chance shot. But as soon as I am finished shooting, I clean the lens and replace the lens cap. If, I am shooting a sunset, bright sun, or something specific, I will go to poarizers, ND, UV and other filters as needed and I have adapter rings on all of my lenses converting them all to the same as my largest diameter lens so that I can use the same filters and lens caps on each lens..This keeps me from constantly having to dig to find that specific diameter filter for each lens.. It also cuts down on the cost of lens caps and filters. Right now, everything I have is 77mm which is the diameter of the 80-400mm and the 10-24mm lenses.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I keep UV filters, high quality ones, on my lenses 99.9% of the time. There are some rare occasion, for me, that a UV filter does get in the way.

There are some who will vehemently disagree. I let them. But, I also think of how many time they have to clean their lenses. I clean my filters about once a week, sometimes more often. My lenses I clean about twice a year. That saves a lot of wear on the coatings.
--Bob

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't use UV filters, but I do use Hoya clear filters for protection. I attach them with Xume magnetic adapters, so I can have them on and off in less than a second.

Some UV info -

http://www.lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test_Introduction.html
http://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/2262/are-digital-sensors-sensitive-to-uv