Ioannis

I just received my new lens Canon EF-S 18-135 mm and I need advice for a lens filter for everyday photography.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Clear, Skylight, or UV, just to protect the front element.
(But not a dollar-two-ninety-eight filter.)
Best to remove it when using (adding/using) another filter for that field of view lens so you don't get vignetting from filter stacking.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I concur with Longshadow. Depending on diameter expect to pay > $50 for a new filter that is highest quality. I buy B+W (Schneider) brand filters.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

My suggestion is DON'T!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Get a good Hoya NXT Plus UV and go have lots of fun and NO stress.
Show us your photos as well.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

B+W MRC XS-PRO Clear - not the most expensive, but simply the best.

Ioannis

I want to thank all of you for lens filter recommendations. I’m mostly interested for the “I don’t know “ filter and where to place it.

therwol Loc: USA

I can see where this might go. The debate will never end. I personally use filters on my lenses for protection. Others say they're unnecessary and degrade your images. I think that there are circumstances where both opinions can be right.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Correct! I do use polarizer filters sometimes, but only when called for!

gwilliams6

Yes you want good optical quality filters with proper anti-flare coatings ,and B+W are some of the best quality ones.

And to add to the endless debate, I am a professional photojournalist of over 50 years in the business, who has shot all subjects around the world. All of my top quality lenses have good optical quality filters over them. These filters offer more direct intrusion protection than just lens hoods alone (yes I use my lens hoods) , and many times over my career these filters have saved my front elements from scratches, debris and grit damage, and even being shattered, as the filters and their meta rings absorbed some of the intrusion impact.

And when I go to sell or trade these lenses, I remove the filter and I have a pristine front element, giving my lenses more sale value.

Furthermore, the best top optical quality filters will not degrade your image quality in spite of what some think. The only objective and independent test of this, using top quality B+W filters found only an imperceptible 0.03% difference in image quality. I have never lost a client, never lost a publication, never lost a worldwide photo contest due to my use of top optical quality filters over my lenses, EVER. But these filters have saved my lenses and proved their value.

Just two examples of the millions of professional images I have made over the decades, with B+W filters over my lenses. You decide if there is an image quality loss, even with UHH compression. Click on download to see best IQ.

1) The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA. 61MP Sony A7RIV, Sigma Art 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN lens, 24mm, ISO 200, f8, 1/80 sec, handheld. B+W UV filter

2) A Snowy Egret takes off from its watery perch on caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin. 50mp Sony A1, Sony 200-600mm lens, 319mm, ISO 1600, f6.3, 1/4000 sec., handheld. B+W UV filter

Cheers and best to you.

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Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Every time filters come up it leads to pages and pages of debate on whether filters are useful or not. There are passionate arguments on both sides. It's a personal choice. You may need to cut through the sometimes useless banter you will see flying around.

Digital sensors do not need UV protection like film cameras did so I use Hoya Protectors, which are not UV filters. They keep the dust, dirt and slime off your front lens, are much easier and less scary to clean and may even protect your front lens from damage is certain, very limited, situations. On the other hand, it's another piece of glass in your optical path, which some will swear completely destroys your image quality to the point of where your image will be mostly useless.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Moreover, if the naysayers can really "see" a 0.03% difference in their images, those super humans don't belong down here in the mud with the rest of us UHH bugs.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Everyone deserves to be down here in the mud!!! That's where the fun is!! But, being one of those super humans, I would just as soon not have to rub elbows with the bugs, UHH or otherwise!
So make some room, Paul!

gwilliams6

I agree here with you CHG_CANON.

Three more examples for pixel peepers:

1-2) First the full frame , then a tight crop from the same exact image. A Great White Egret bends his neck to clean it's feathers on the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin. 50mp Sony A1, Sony 200-600mm lens, 591mm, ISO 1600, f6.3, 1/2000 sec. handheld, with a B+W filter over the 200-600mm lens. Click on download to see the best IQ.

Folks will debate this forever. LOL I have decades of experience to show you that using top optical quality filters (which have anti-glare coatings) will NOT degrade your image. To say it will degrade your image, is just fake news nowadays with the best optical quality filters.

3) And yes I shoot straight into the light sources, sun or artificial light, with a top optical quality filter on my lens, and the filter's anti-glare coating does its job. Here actress/model Cabrina Collesides on a shoot with an old farm truck in Southern New Jersey, USA. Canon 5D, Canon 24-70mm f2.8 lens, 45mm, ISO 100, f5.6, 1/250 sec. handheld with two 650WS PCB Einstein strobes in beauty dish and softbox. B+W filter over the lens.

I make my living in photography and I would never do anything to degrade the top image quality I expect out of my cameras and my lenses that I have a huge investment in. My clients and my publications expect the best from me, and that is what I give them always.

Cheers and best to you all.

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CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It's not easy to filter out the bad ideas in photography, especially for those who suspect their equipment is the cause.