par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

Yes, here we go again.
This is the best opinion on the subject I have heard to date.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8hAKgwWj9A

Quixdraw Loc: x

A pointless exercise - we each believe as we do, particularly in my case, after better than half a century in photography. I trust my own experiences. The tube is on a par with wiki in regard to credibility.

srt101fan

Just curious, what's wrong with wiki?😐

Quixdraw Loc: x

Wikipedia is a wiki, meaning anyone can edit any unprotected page and improve articles immediately. You do not need to register to do this, and anyone who has edited is known as a Wikipedian or editor. ... Some pages are protected from editing and marked by a lock icon at top right.

srt101fan

Thanks!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I listened in for about 15 sec. of this, this guy is only talking about protecting lenses. That's not what filters are for, all filters do have a purpose! I have never in my life used a filter to protect the front element of any of my lenses, for that I have sunshades! And to make it clear, UV filters are not clear filters or other way around, UV filters have a purpose (like all other filters)! They come in all sorts of strength to correct all sorts of color casts and that still is true for digital! That a filter adds another layer of protection is just an added bonus, but not its purpose!

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

You listened for 15 sec. so you did not hear ALL he had to say! Please try again!

Collhar Loc: New York City.

You forgot who your audience is.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I do not use filters for "protection" and I do not use UV filters with digital. If I have a lens with a filter and it drops the lens and the filter will suffer damage, no matter how you put it.

Multicoated filters are filters of very good quality but I have never been very happy cleaning them. I still use regular, not circular polarizers with my lenses and I have no issues. Some of my filters are expensive, others are not. I agree we should use the best with our expensive lenses.
I use a filter only when I have the need for it. The video is excellent and Mr. Steele is a very knowledgeable photographer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup, yup, yup.

It is an individual volition.

What I dislike is people vehemently telling me my decision is wrong (in their mind).

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Use them if you want to, don't use them if you don't want to......that should cover most of us!

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Excellent! I consider this the last word, although I already came to these conclusions. I use the expensive Sigma ceramic clear filters.

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

You summarized Mr. Steele's viewpoint in this video very well. He removes his filters if he wants the best his camera/lens can produce (unless there is dust or salt spray in the air) and has them on his lens the rest of the time.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

The protection against rubbing damage/salt air/blowing sand/dust/finger oils/dirt and such to lens coatings makes total sense (or for lenses that seal via a filter up front) - protection against impacts/impact damage, doubtful it helps - protection against lens front glancing off rough surfaces, yes a filter would/could help the lens front & (Watch Steve Perry's video "hammer blow" tests to lenses and filters - it too is very informative - on his website, I think a couple years old now).

I have bought used lenses and had to pick glass shards out of the front of lenses, and even removed front element from several to clean out the tiny broken glass from impacts. Scratches from the broken glass, well you just hope they don't cause flares and such. For impact protection - The blunt force impact would transfer directly through the filter ring to the body of the lens - so, may or may not allow harm to the lens itself...case by case. A lens hood is great protection from impact, but is not perfect either.

I will say this (as a buyer of many used lenses, and they always seem to have filters on them, or the leftovers) - I have a large collection of crappy filters!!!!!! You could use them for protection, but I wouldn't want to shoot through about 75% of them!

Bottom line - Different strokes for different folks, a personal choice. When going into harms way, protection is a good thing, otherwise situational, I take them off for the best shots.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I've heard all the opinions on this subject many times. I'll bet if you think his is the best opinion, it agrees with the opinion you already had.