Here are my five cardinal rules regarding filters:

Rule #1: Do not use a filter or place any extra glass in your lens's light path unless there is an artistic reason to do so. Protecting your lens does not fall into that category and protecting your lens with a filter is a waste of money and the lens performance you paid for.

Rule #2: The lens hood performs multiple functions. Although it's main function is to prevent glare and flare from stray light and thereby preserve image contrast, it also does an excellent job of protecting the front of your lens from damage. Always use a lens hood if possible.

Rule #3: The only filter a new digital photographer should consider is a circular polarizer. Learning to use a polarizing filter will allow you to enhance landscapes by adding contrast and cutting through haze (haze filters are a gimmick and do not noticeably cut haze). Polarizers also reduce and even eliminate reflections on shiny surfaces such as windows and water. They are a must for marine photography. When used properly, they can be used to darken the sky to add dramatic effects.

Rule #4: Use a lens and body caps, front and rear, when your equipment is not in use.

Rule #5: If you have homeowner's or renter's insurance, you can add an all risk camera rider to your policy for under $20 a year. I pay less than $40 for $10,000 coverage. This should remove any apprehension you may have about lens damage or any other camera damage for that matter.

Hi all,

Have a new lens on order. The salesman has recommended a UV filter to protect the lens (at a not insignificant price...). I returned home and did some research, and have found that opinions vary. On the one hand, yes, filters protect the lenses. On the other, the filters themselves can become scratched or dirty and degrade image quality. (I could add more, but the opinions seem to fall largely into these two camps.

So, my question to the UHH community is, do you recommend using a filter or not? If so, what (apparently modern digital cameras have UV sensors in front of the screen, so a UV filter is largely redundant on these...)? If I'm going to buy one, I wouldn't want to put an inferior filter in front of good glass.

Thanks for your opinions.

You gave yourself the answer. If you get a front lens very dirty, scratched or chipped, would you rather it be the front element of your lens or a filter you can remove and replace for a fraction of the cost. Even if nothing ever happens, over the years and the many times you cleaned the front of the lens to keep it clean; would you rather it was a removable filter or the front element that in time you may have removed from the surface cleaning it? Every one of my lenses has a Tiffen Haze2 filter on it at all times. Only times it comes off is to use another filter or remove it because of flaring concerns from a light source in the frame. Don't worry about the claims of a filter degrading the image; that only happens with cheap filters, not good ones. And multiple labs have run tests over the years to prove that statement to be true; yet there are still those out there that believe differently. Some day they will find out the hard way. Don't be among them, get a filter. Tiffen and B & H are the good ones on my list; many praise Hoya too.

I have taken moon shots with a filter attached and had no problems at all. With respect are you sure it was the filter that caused the reflection?

You can say there is no need for a protective filter but right here in this thread are reports of cases where a filter did protect an expensive lens. I use a filter on my lenses and have yet to see a difference in the quality of my photos. I don't believe anyone has offered comparisons of photos with and without a QUALITY filter showing the photo with filter is degraded. This is an ongoing subject with photographers and likely will remain so. We each have a choice. You don't think filters protect the lens and I do. No problem as we can do what each of us thinks is best.

Have a great day,

Dennis

To use or not to use, that is the question!
Lens caps won't save your lens from a solid hit, even if it's a screw-on; your lens threads will get damaged. I learned a long time ago (from experience) to keep a sacrificial filter on the camera. (I've had to have TAMRON remove a bent filter one time, but the lens was undamaged.) I don't buy a camera unless it takes filters; even my weather resistant Pentax Optio does. I've never found a lens cap that keeps out ALL of the dust, but filters do. If you want to be a purist, then just treat a cheap filter like a lens cap & take it off before shooting. If you don't mind using filters but don't see the benefit of UV or skylight, then use a polarizer.
Whichever way you go, enjoy!