UV Filter or No UV Filter- Which is Best?

celticbhoy

celticbhoy

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Graham Stewart
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Hi there, I've recently acquired a Nikkor 70-300 VR for my D200. I've read in another forum that the 70-300 performs better (in terms of IQ) without a UV filter, particulraily the Hoya Pro1 (which is the model I use). I'd be interested to hear others views on this issue, as I've always fitted my lenses with the obligitory UV filter. Looking forward to your responses. :)
 
Hi and :welcome: to TP :wave:

There seems to be divided opinion on this one. Personally I always have a UV filter on my lenses as I feel they are a good insurance against scratches or worse on the lens itself. Others say that the lens hood is enough protection :shrug: Personally I don't feel my shots loose any IQ through having a filter on the lens, although I do always use good quality ones as I see no point in putting a £10 filter on a £1000 lens :)
 
Grendel said:
Hi and :welcome: to TP :wave:

There seems to be divided opinion on this one. Personally I always have a UV filter on my lenses as I feel they are a good insurance against scratches or worse on the lens itself. Others say that the lens hood is enough protection :shrug: Personally I don't feel my shots loose any IQ through having a filter on the lens, although I do always use good quality ones as I see no point in putting a £10 filter on a £1000 lens :)
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I agree :thumbs:
 
as long as it's good quality it shouldn't be an issue, obviosly all filters reduce quality as it's something extra bettween you and the object but it shouldn't be noticeable. personally I go without as most of my glass is only worth a couple of hundred quid so it doesn't seem worth it plus I have accidental damage cover.
 
Don`t use UV filters at all.
 
Don't use them either as most modern coated lenses don't need additional UV filtering.

All filters block some light, otherwise you wouldn't be able to see them when they were fitted :)
 
I am in the "UV filters are made by satan" camp :D
 
Hmm not sure if Satan made UV filters, and anyway I think :thinking: he would need one to counteract the red glow down there :lol:

I use B&W KR 1.5 range of filters on all my camera gear, digi and film. It adds a slight warm up to the images which I like.

The others are right that modern days lens do not need UV filter, but it is still nice just to have alittle more protection on the front.

:welcome: to the forum
 
Hi I use them as an extra safegaurd but I will be investing in some more better end ones soon as i can see the difference with the cheap ones I have at the moment.


Michael
 
If most modern day lens have such decent coatings as to void the use of a UV filter, do any manufacturers make a filter that does nothing, and just lets light through as efficiently as possible? This would offer protection from scratches, whilst keeping image quality at a as high a level as possible.
 
I used to always use them, I changed my mind recently & now only use them in hazardous environments - I agree with the idea that its another piece of glass that doesn't need to be there so when possible avoid using it

simon
 
The biggest advantage I find in using a UV filter is that its easier to keep clean than a curved bit of glass.
 
I have religiously stuck to fitting a Hoya Pro-1 Digital UV filter to every lens I have purchased over the last several years, simply to protect the front element from damage.

This thread has made me think, as some people clearly don't bother with this practice anymore. I think I will try without for a while, and see if there is any noticeable quality improvement.
 
I don't use them, I used to but they increase flare when shooting into the light, which I do a lot. I just keep the hoods on all the time now.
 
ive only just bought my first dslr yesterday and was thinking about buying a cannon 58mm uv filter as i plan to use my camera abroad this summer. is this a sensible thing to buy or am i wasting my money?
 
Grendel said:
Hi and :welcome: to TP :wave:

There seems to be divided opinion on this one. Personally I always have a UV filter on my lenses as I feel they are a good insurance against scratches or worse on the lens itself. Others say that the lens hood is enough protection :shrug: Personally I don't feel my shots loose any IQ through having a filter on the lens, although I do always use good quality ones as I see no point in putting a £10 filter on a £1000 lens :)
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well said

i do the same, i used Hoya Pro1's aswell
 
urkado said:
ive only just bought my first dslr yesterday and was thinking about buying a cannon 58mm uv filter as i plan to use my camera abroad this summer. is this a sensible thing to buy or am i wasting my money?
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If you are going somewhere sunny and want photos of blue seas and blue skys, what you need is polarizer not a UV filter...

As others have said, most modern lenses eliminate UV anyway.
 
I use them as a safety device. I dont want to scratch my lens and have dust landing on the actual glass of my lens.

If I was to take them off, what is the best way to get rid of dust and dirt if they land on the glass?? I got one of those blower things but some of the dust sticks on well and wont come off.....
 
It is always going to b a personal choice - I don't use UV filters but use the Hoya protector filter on all my lenses - I prefer to have my front element protected in some way. A hood offers some protection but little on a windy day in a sandy area.

The protector filter don't effect IQ but give some insurance to protecting the front element.

Tom
 
erding said:
The protector filter don't effect IQ
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If that were the case, why don't lens manufacturers ship them with an extra layer of glass fitted onto the front element? They'll block some light and increase aberration and internal reflections, unless you've found a lens filter that defies the laws of physics of course ;)


Re: cleaning, I nick the cleaning cloths out of my wife's spectacle cases, they work a treat.
 
sprog said:
If that were the case, why don't lens manufacturers ship them with an extra layer of glass fitted onto the front element? They'll block some light and increase aberration and internal reflections, unless you've found a lens filter that defies the laws of physics of course ;)

That is actually what Canon do on the 600, 500, 400 f/2.8 & 300 f/2.8 where there is no aftermarket to support that size front element.

I refer to the following link regarding effect on IQ:

http://www.thkphoto.com/products/hoya/pro1d-02.html

Tom
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Cheers tom. Some nice manufacturer's product literature there. Hardly going to diss their own products though are they?
 
sprog said:
If that were the case, why don't lens manufacturers ship them with an extra layer of glass fitted onto the front element? They'll block some light and increase aberration and internal reflections, unless you've found a lens filter that defies the laws of physics of course ;)


'Some nice manufacturer's product literature there. Hardly going to diss their own products though are they?'

Would it not be more beneficial to the O/P to substantiate your claims and let them make their own choice.

This is a subjective topic which has been discussed repeatedly on all the photography forums and to date there is no definitive answer - only a personal choice.

Tom
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erding said:
This is a subjective topic
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No it isn't at all, that's point I've been trying to make, it's very much objective if you deal with the physics of light passing through glass. You're going to lose some light and it will be defracted and dispersed to a lesser or greater degree if you add a filter in front of your lens, that's a fact. If the person taking the picture is happy or unhappy with the results then we plunge into the realms of subjecture.

Unless on planet Tom you have a special light that obeys different physical laws of course.
 
Take a UV filter in your hand and look through it... the difference is obvious to the human eye too you know...
 
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