Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
It seems simple....
Page <prev 2 of 5 next> last>>
Mar 21, 2019 09:43:10   #
Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley
 
Only filters I use on my lenses are CP or ND filters, and only when the situation calls for it.
I have never broken or a scratched a lens in all the years I have been doing photography.

Will

Reply
Mar 21, 2019 09:44:20   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
I sometimes us a clear filter as protection from wind, rain, sand, etc. I use Xume magnetic adapter, so the filters go on and off fast. The lens hood offers quite a bit of bump protection.

Filters and protection -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0CLPTd6Bds&feature=youtu.be
https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/UV-and-Clear-Lens-Protection-Filters.aspx
https://www.dpreview.com/news/2266928733/confused-about-protective-filters-for-your-lens-roger-cicala-breaks-it-down
https://fstoppers.com/gear/do-uv-filters-really-protect-your-lens-shocker-not-really-83968

Reply
Mar 21, 2019 09:53:12   #
JennT Loc: South Central PA
 
While traveling in Portugal (2008) I was crowd pushed against a stone wall, the frame of the filter hit the rocks and cracked.
When we got to a camera shop at home--they had to break the filter to remove it--it was then that learned that only the filter was broken--- lens (and new filter) was ok and still in use--

Something to think about!

Reply
 
 
Mar 21, 2019 09:55:51   #
Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.
 
[quote=JennT]While traveling in Portugal (2008) I was crowd pushed against a stone wall,

Something to think about!

Stay away from crowds?

Reply
Mar 21, 2019 09:58:12   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
I rely on the lens cap for protection.

Reply
Mar 21, 2019 10:10:18   #
DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
 
This has been around for a while

https://petapixel.com/2015/08/31/photo-mythbusters-how-much-do-uv-filters-actually-protect-your-lenses/

Reply
Mar 21, 2019 10:16:42   #
larryepage Loc: North Texas area
 
Like every other aspect of photography, the choice of using or not using filters is a personal one. I too am very careful with my equipment. But that didn't stop a young child from knocking my camera off a bleacher seat and onto the floor recently. "But Mom...I just set it down for a second." Fortunately, all is ok.

I keep my equipment for a long time, and my worry is more around eroding the coating off the front element of the lens over tome, even with "very gentle" cleaning. That coating is only a few molecules thick, and all plant fibers, paper or fabric, are abrasive to at least some degree. I'd rather replace a clear filter of some sort than a front lens element any day of the week.

If you do decide to use a filter, cheap is not the way to go. Buy the best that you can afford.

By the way...wwhen you closely read posts here about choices people make and shortcuts they take, I think you'll find that using a filter or not is the least of most people's image problems.

Reply
 
 
Mar 21, 2019 10:24:25   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
I mostly use N/C (neutral clear) filters on my lenses. I do not expect them to protect the front element from being damaged if I drop the camera from a jetty. But it will protect it from wind blown sand, salt spray, and my clumsy fingers. One thing I had to learn for myself, many, many years ago, is that cheap filters can degrade an image. If you are not going top shelf, than don't bother. IMHO

--

Reply
Mar 21, 2019 10:44:27   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Eyeman wrote:
Hello gang... I am a long-time UH stalker that finally would like a group response. We were burned out in the northern California Camp fire, and I am slowly rebuilding my gear, hence the excuse for 'replacing' my camera :>). For years I used a UV filter to protect my lenses from mechanical damage until a pro whom I respect said 'oh no.. that degrades your images'. But now with two shiny new lenses, how much really do I need to worry about that ? Thanks for your responses in advance !!


Well, there is a choice to be made - either your images will degrade slightly because of more glass in the light path, or from the cleaning marks on the front element of the lens. I keep a clear or UV filter on most of my lenses.

Reply
Mar 21, 2019 12:09:36   #
speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho
 
Eyeman wrote:
Hello gang... I am a long-time UH stalker that finally would like a group response. We were burned out in the northern California Camp fire, and I am slowly rebuilding my gear, hence the excuse for 'replacing' my camera :>). For years I used a UV filter to protect my lenses from mechanical damage until a pro whom I respect said 'oh no.. that degrades your images'. But now with two shiny new lenses, how much really do I need to worry about that ? Thanks for your responses in advance !!


UV filter were never for protection, but for removing certain color casts! And no, if you use a quality filter, it will not degrade your images. If you want to use a filter just for protection, a clear filter will do just fine!

Reply
Mar 22, 2019 05:28:57   #
Alex A
 
Eyeman wrote:
Hello gang... I am a long-time UH stalker that finally would like a group response. We were burned out in the northern California Camp fire, and I am slowly rebuilding my gear, hence the excuse for 'replacing' my camera :>). For years I used a UV filter to protect my lenses from mechanical damage until a pro whom I respect said 'oh no.. that degrades your images'. But now with two shiny new lenses, how much really do I need to worry about that ? Thanks for your responses in advance !!


Some UV filters can change the colour balance a little, but if you're just after protection you could consider a skylight filter instead.

Reply
 
 
Mar 22, 2019 05:39:47   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
Eyeman wrote:
Hello gang... I am a long-time UH stalker that finally would like a group response. We were burned out in the northern California Camp fire, and I am slowly rebuilding my gear, hence the excuse for 'replacing' my camera :>). For years I used a UV filter to protect my lenses from mechanical damage until a pro whom I respect said 'oh no.. that degrades your images'. But now with two shiny new lenses, how much really do I need to worry about that ? Thanks for your responses in advance !!


If the filter was not a part of the original lens design, and more than likely it wasn't, it will change the optical properties of the lens. Will it change it much? Not likely. The most change that one will see will be in the cormers of the frame. There are some lenses where the filter, usually a drop-in filter, is a part of the lens design. There should be no optical effect from the filter in the case of the drop-in filter.

Reply
Mar 22, 2019 05:41:14   #
Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC
 
I use Nikon NC filters on my lenses not for damage protection, but to keep things like dust, pollen and other contaminants off the front lens. It is far easier to replace a $50 filter if I scratch it during cleaning that to replace a $2,000 lens.

Reply
Mar 22, 2019 06:03:33   #
kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy
 
Eyeman wrote:
Hello gang... I am a long-time UH stalker that finally would like a group response. We were burned out in the northern California Camp fire, and I am slowly rebuilding my gear, hence the excuse for 'replacing' my camera :>). For years I used a UV filter to protect my lenses from mechanical damage until a pro whom I respect said 'oh no.. that degrades your images'. But now with two shiny new lenses, how much really do I need to worry about that ? Thanks for your responses in advance !!


I've done extensive testing with and without protective filters (not expensive, but decent, ones) and on close inspection have yet to see the slightest degradation even at high magnification. However you might get a very slight extra flare around very bright light sources, and in rare cases shooting bright point sources at night you might get an extra point of flare. In sum, only in rare cases will there be any effect, and in those cases it is easy to remove the filter for a bit. I am also professional and use protective filters all the time, so that I don't have to worry about water, dust, accidental fingerprints, etc. Highly recommended.

Reply
Mar 22, 2019 06:17:10   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Eyeman wrote:
Hello gang... I am a long-time UH stalker that finally would like a group response. We were burned out in the northern California Camp fire, and I am slowly rebuilding my gear, hence the excuse for 'replacing' my camera :>). For years I used a UV filter to protect my lenses from mechanical damage until a pro whom I respect said 'oh no.. that degrades your images'. But now with two shiny new lenses, how much really do I need to worry about that ? Thanks for your responses in advance !!


1. Many believe the same as the pro, a filter, no matter what filter, adds another layer for light to pass through and does effect the final image. Personally I use the lens hood to protect the front element. Has worked for me for over 50 years.
2. I have a rider on my insurance that covers my equipment no matter what. It is pennies on the dollar coverage, and, it brings me piece of mind.

Reply
Page <prev 2 of 5 next> last>>
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.