PitchurMan Loc: Michigan

Does anyone have experience with UV/IR filters. Manufacturer propaganda indicates much sharper pictures with the filter. Is it true?

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

THese are two different filters.

UV was helpful with film with blocking large amounts of UV light. Digital cameras come with that feature.

IR filter is for blocking out light expect for Infrared waves and are used for creative images. This is the filter that creates the "woody effect" ( turning blue skies black and green leaves white in black and white images) and strange color shifts with color.

Some people feel it is a must to use a UV filter others feel they degrade the image and also effect the saturation and quality of the image.

THere is a lot of money involved in these items, so.....

Little mark up in hardware, but a huge amount in all the other little things we think we nee.

I do infrared photography from time to time, and have used the necessary filters to create that look and I also have a digital camera that has been converted to IR so there is no need to use a tripod . IR filters look black and block out a huge amount of light and the times will be very long if the camera has not been converted . So no hand holding for exposures.

Personally I would never use a UV filter as testing for my needs indicate it degrades the image. Why put a cheap piece of glass on an expensive lens! Others will disagree and swear it will protect the lens .

In over 64 years of carrying around cameras I have never damaged a lens , others milage may vary.

IvanF Loc: New York City

UV filters are great, for their manufacturers and camera stores.

Otherwise they are 2 more glass-to-air surfaces to degrade image quality and attract dust and fingerprints.

IR and other filters for specific use are useful in film photography.

For digital non-IR photography, the only useful filter is a circular polarizer, the only filter whose effect cannot be duplicated in post processing.

PitchurMan Loc: Michigan

Thanks for your response, but I am referring to the UV/IR filter (a single filter) manufactured by several producers including Singh-Ray, Rodenstock and many others. It is a filter strictly for digital cameras and filters stray light from both ends of the spectrum. They seem to be incredibly expensive for a single filter, that's why I asked about them.

Marketing propaganda purports them to be a panacea for critical sharpness in digital photos and I am wondering whether anyone has a first-hand report

To see one manufacturer's description here is a link:
http://www.rodenstock-photo.com/en/main/products/filters/uvir-blocking-filters/

IvanF Loc: New York City

Well, this is a special purpose filter. If you are doing photography that requires critical sharpness (astronomy) and use rock-steady camera support and otherwise perfect technique, I'd think this is overkill.

profpb Loc: Venice, Florida

Thank you for saying it. I am going to experiment for the next couple of months without filters to protect my Nikon lenses. I promise to use caution, but I'm after the sharpest shots and this seems to be a compromise.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

Oh wow.

Marketing is an amazaing thing.

I am not familar with these , but i would want to test it's effects.

I am a sharpness "freak", so i tend to use a tripod more lately with mirror lock up and a wireless remote. Which makes me happy.

WHat type of work are you doing? That might influence the decision?

I have considered the Sinrah Multi ND filter, but I don't know who often I would really use it, and for the expense I have hesitated. However, this is not the type of filter your asking about.

Finch585 Loc: Northern California

IvanF - what situations do you apply the circular polarizer?

IvanF Loc: New York City

To remove glare and reflections from non-metallic surfaces, deepen blue skies in certain directions. There is a nice article here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/polarizers.shtml

Cheers, Ivan

Finch585 Loc: Northern California

great article, thank you.

larrycumba

"Much" is a very long stretch in my book. The only reason I use a uv filter is to protect my L lens. If each lens was only $10.00 then I think the UV filter companies would not sell much stock. As for when to use circular polarizers, one guy explained it to me this way. When to use?, when you go outside and you need sunglasses.