Skylight 1A filters

[martin.benson]

In the olden days I always used a Skylight 1A filter on my 35mm Olympus OM lenses - a bit of cheap, basic lens protection.
Is this solution considered ok for digital lenses (specifically Olympus E-series) or is there a more up to date recommendation please?
Martin

 

[Paddysnapper]

UV or Skylight 1a do just the same as basic lens protection, I have them on all of my lenses, but you will get the other side of the argument....Just "Old School" I guess!

 

[Arkady]

As long as it's from a reliable manufacturer, it'll be fine.
In bench-tests in a lab or when shooting at night with point light-sources visible in the frame then a filter should be removed temporarily, but for general use, keep it on. Saves wear and tear.

Put it this way:
I'm currently selling a lens that's 10 years old and which has had a Nikon UV filter on since it was new.
That filter has come off that lens twice to my certain knowledge.
So I reckon that front element has been touched maybe three times in its entire life.

 

[eccles]

There are (apparently) visible differences from cheap filters as opposed to expensive ones but not all the expensive ones are the best. I found a pretty rigorous test a while ago in which Hoya Pro 1 filters came at or near the top. I have since bought several clear protectors of that brand and have no complaints so far, although the multicoating can be difficult to keep totally smear-free. Be aware that Kenko also do Pro 1 filters - they are not the same.