PatzPhoto

I have been on safari in different parts of Africa for 55 years. Have yet to be in a dust storm. I use a UV filter I bought in Hong Kong. If you are going to Namibia or a desert might be a good idea, but for the rest of the continent, you will decide each day if you need a lens cover. Have a ball, and look carefully - there is a lot to see and a lot that is missed!

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

LensRentals.com did some pretty thorough testing of filters which may help answer your question, and which can be found here:

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/06/the-comprehensive-ranking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/

3 Tiffen filters were tested, and they ranked 14th, 18th and dead last of the 20 filters tested.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

deleted - duplicate

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

I used (past tense) Heliopan and B+W filters because they are superior to everything else. I took filters off of all of my lenses about 8 years ago and don’t protect my lenses unless I’m shooting waterfalls where there is mist. Including my trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. I did use a protective filter on that trip for the two times I shot Victoria Falls. If you’re going to he deserts of Namibia, maybe filters are recommended - otherwise don’t get too freaky.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I agree.

richandtd Loc: Virginia

I use B&W

DrJ

I use UV filters to protect my lenses. I tend to move quickly and I banged two cameras together while shooting a triathlon, which reinforced my use of UV filters. I don't want to put poor quality glass in front of a good lens, so I've read filter test comparisons and developed my own quick and dirty test:

Each filter is cleaned and laid on an oak table with chandelier lights impacting the filter at an approximately 20 degree angle from normal incidence. An excellent filter will appear like there is no glass in the filter ring and will clearly reveal the figure in the oak table, thereby qualitatively showing good transmission and low reflectivity. In addition, I move my head over the filter and see the reflections of the chandelier lights and my forehead on the glass. The lower the perceived reflection, the better is the filter. I recognize that I don't test for flatness and this test is inferior to published, quantitative scientific tests. Nevertheless, my observations generally compare well with published test results.

Multicoated filters typically outperform coated filters. Some of the best filters include Hoya HMC of various vintages, B+W Digital MRC nano XS ProUV-haze, and surprisingly Quantaray DMC and QMC filters. Several old Vivitar VMC are excellent. I only tested old coated Tiffen filters (not MC) and they performed poorly. An older B&W 67/E KR 1.5 1.1X; 58ES 010 1x was middle of the pack.

Beware of counterfeiting. I recently bought a 77-mm Hoya HMC UV(C) Filter and it was inferior to a dozen, excellent older HMC filters. I suspect it is counterfeit. I see many $25 B&W filters on ebay that claim to be "made in Germany", but they ship from China. Has anyone bought one and evaluated it? I suspect they may be counterfeit.

Good luck and let us know which filters you buy. DrJ

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Breakthrough for ND filters; Sigma Ceramic for clear. Expensive, but the best.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I use only B&W filters. Best of luck.

lamontcranston

In the 60's I used Tiffen filters on my Nikon equipment. Since the internet came along I have based my choices on the reviews and tests by people who have the scientific equipment necessary to provide valid evaluations and comparisons. Now I have B&W filters from B&H Photo on almost all of my lenses.

ClarkG Loc: Southern Indiana USA

I only use B+W. They are bit more expensive but made of superior glass! Very little light loss too!

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Tiffen is one of the good brands while being more economical.

Photoguy120

One incident in over 50 years. Rock kicked up by passing vehicle. Almost dead center of the filter. Much less expensive than a new lens.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I had a 52mm Tiffen 0.6 GND filter that I used a lot for landscape and travel photos. It came to an end one day. 😫

So I ordered a new one. It had a green color cast. I emailed Tiffen with photos and examples of the problem. They replied to return the filter they would replace it. I returned it as asked but I did not get a replacement. After repeated emails queries, and promises from them, almost a year later I FINALLY got the replacement.

By then I had purchased a B&W filter. No color cast. Much better build quality than the Tiffen.
I gave the Tiffen away. I did not even open the box.

I will not purchase any more Tiffen products.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I don't care for them. I prefer Hoya - SMC filters. They are as good as the costlier options, but they don't come mounted in brass - they use a hard plastic, which I prefer in any case, because I no longer own lenses that have metal filter threads.