mrjcall Loc: Woodfin, NC

Probably the most insightful and important statement on this forum in quite a while. Good for you Jerry!

Bipod

A filter can prevent moisture from condensing on the front element of the lens
(e.g., in foggy conditions).

Believe me, you want to keep moisture out of your lens. Or don't believe me,
and wait until you get fungus in your lens

fantom Loc: Colorado

Hey genius, you might want to ask mommy or the baby sitter to get you a spell checker--- or can't you figure that out either. Looking at the clock I see it's time for you to get your feet into your jammies, have some warm milk and get to bed dreaming of lens protectors and what you want to be when you grow up.

leftj Loc: Texas

Thought you were through. i see you’re getting desparate.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Read again, genius, I said I was through answering your dumb questions. Still can't spell can you?

Opsafari Loc: Roodepoort South Africa

I think fantom said it well! Glass filter either clear or UV will no protect your lens it you drop the combined body and lens neither will a lens hood! It all depends where you are and what you are shooting! You don't need a UV/clear glass filter attached to your lens in a studio maybe a hood not for protection but to keep reflecting light off your lens also pending your angle of shooting.

But when you are on a safari in Southern Africa or Central Africa on the back of a open game drive vehicle you will need a clear glass filter as it so much easier to dust off the filter with a cloth and it can also create tiny scratches but then its on the filter not on the lens element! But it will not protect the lens entirely from dust either! When shooting at Victoria Falls a hood will not keep the water off your front lens element but a clear glass filter will and again you will try and rub off the water with a cloth which might create tiny scratches but you will not scratch the front lens element and again it will not protect the whole lens or attached body! Yes, there is a use for filters like the clear glass, ND and Polaroid but in my view its not for protection of the lens, basically there is nothing available to protect your lens and body from breaking if the two happens to fall out of your hands! In the days of b&w film I've used various colour filters but with digital and computer editing you no longer really need them.

I do know a few photographers here in South Africa that does use colour filters when they shoot for B&W photos, they believe it does have an effect on the final product but only one filter that is extremely useful is the Polaroid. Computer software can not created the same effect as a Polaroid.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Good points, thanks for reminding me of the benefit of a filter around water falls. They are life savers there.