Professionally your questionable statistics mean nothing. (what is your independent source?)

In reality, in my 48 years as a professional photojournalist, the filters have sacrificed themselves and saved my lens' front elements from intrusion damage time and again, in all situations, all around the world. And yes, I also had lens hoods attached. Lens hoods dont stop intrusions directly into the lens, never have, never will.

And protective filters will keep nicks and scratches off your front element. The first thing I do when buying any lens is to put on a protective filter . And then if I ever sell or trade that lens, it has a pristine front element , and that translates into greater value I get for that lens.

I only use top optical quality filters like from B+W (Schneider Optical) and others, and I don't lose image quality.

Sorry, the 3 thumbs up smileys were meant for this.

Cheers

https://www.facebook.com/GSWilliamsPhotography

Of course, stuff happens, especially in your line of work. I hope you realize that my comments are kinda "ttoung in cheek" and did not mean to be nasty in any way.

I too will admit that most of my gears in no longer saleable at the end of its serviceable life In certain aspects of my work it is exposed to, shall we say, less the good environmental conditions. I use my stuff 'till it nearly disintegrates and then replaces it.

In my younger day, I served 2 tours in Vietnam- it was not a vacation or a recreational trip. I used a lot of specialized and ruggedized photographic equipment for aerial surveillance, etc., but my documentation kit was a Leica M-3 and 3 lenses. What did not happen to that camera was a shot list. I dragged it through the jungle, swamp, and its life ended with a ricochet bullet wound that would have wounded me- long story. Funny thing, I never scratched the lens. Well- it would have been a more exciting and enlightening experience if all those pesky unfriendly folks were not shooting at us or attempting to blow us up. Some fols are so inhospitable and have terrible manners!

When I came "back to the word" I took a job shootg for a newspaper up here in Canada. It's
usually peaceful here but I came just in time for some political upheaval and got to cover many riots, violent demonstrations, and deliberately set fires. As Mr. Williams here, can attest, that is kinda hard on the gear and those old "skylight" filters did save some of my glass. The only thing left unprotected was my head. I should have swiped my combat helmet and taken it home- seems the government takes a dim view of that!

The truly funny stores I sometimes hear are stuff like "the cat knocked my camera off the table" or I dropped my camera into a fish tank- at home"! Folks should be more careful, especially if they are not working in unfavourable or dangerous conditions.

Sorry for my language. I speak bad English, a bit of French, NY street Spanish, and fluent Yiddish, but my secret weapon is sarcasm- it's my coping mechanism in today's turbulent world.

Kindes regards!

“I'm curious- there are so many, horror stories, on this forum, about damaged gear. What are some of y'all doing with your stuff, engaging in some kid mortal combat using your camera as bludgeons? After all, it is precision optical, mechanical and electronic gear, not a firearm made of gunmetal! “

Over the last few decades I have taken my cameras & lenses: on open water kayak crossings from Minnesota’s N. Shore to Isle Royale and circumnavigated it, 5 times, camera and lens frequently pulled out of cockpit to photograph rough water; hiked the Tongoriro Crossing and numerous other wild areas in New Zealand, always with a camera & lens carried at the ready; frequently portaged canoes in wilderness areas with camera & lens strapped to my chest, with branches not infrequently hitting my chest and equipment; etc., etc. I continue to make my living doing this type of photography. I don’t mean this to be rude, but stuff happens, and many of us do things outside of normal experiences…inability to imagine it doesn’t stop it from happening.