Are protective front filters necessary?

[sh1209]

I certainly respect your opinion.. I'm referring to cleaning the front surface, lens hood notwithstanding...

I would love to see some definitive tests showing a degradation of a high end clear or UV filter. I would reconsider my stance if I saw that kind of proof...just sayin'...

To be honest I go out 5-6 days a week in dusty conditions in all kinds of weather and typically only clean my front elements a few times a year and use a rocket blower between cleanings. It’s really just a matter of choice but with at least with a few lenses I’ve tried them on, they are just not worth it.

 

[JAJohnson]

I certainly respect your opinion.. I'm referring to cleaning the front surface, lens hood notwithstanding...

I would love to see some definitive tests showing a degradation of a high end clear or UV filter. I would reconsider my stance if I saw that kind of proof...just sayin'...

Steve doesn't recommend the use of UV filters, but notes that in his testing, any loss of sharpness and clarity in minimal. He also notes that there can be unwanted flare and ghosting under certain lighting conditions.

 

[PCRATE]

I think the hood provides more protection than a filter. But I do use a neutral filter so the actual front element never requires cleaning. Poor cleaning techniques and obsessive cleaning is a slow destroyer of an optical surface. I've carefully done comparison photos with and without a front filter and am unable to see and reduction in image quality using a filter.

 

[maxxus46]

I think they're totally unnecessary and have never seen one no matter the brand that didn't rob image quality. I always use hoods and that has kept my lenses safe.

I have an Olympus Zuko protective 95mm filter for my Nikon 600pf, and have tested with and without the filter and it's impossible to see any differences in IQ. I think that a high quality filter has zero degradation (but they're expensive, usually $200+). That's been my experience ...

 

[maxxus46]

I live within a few miles of the ocean, so I have a high quality filter on every lens that has filter threads - to protect against salt spray and blowing sand. However, I use my lens hoods always, to protect against branches, bumps, etc.

Same...I only use the filter when shooting near coastlines here, or when shooting sports like motocross where dirt will get flung straight at the lens worth having a protective filter? I think so ...

 

[Roy]

Front element glass is probably incredibly scratch resistant unless your wiping sand across it or something. Looking at the lenses on my iPhone and none of them are scratched with no protection, same with the wife's which bangs around with car keys in her purse. So I'd think to actually damage a front element you would need to be pretty careless cleaning it off or actually hit something with it. I use clear or UV filters for sandy/dust/mud type places so I can wipe the lens on the spot and who cares if the filter gets damages. I've bought stacks of them for any lens size on eBay for next to nothing of the Hoya UV or midrange type and they work fine.

If a camera falls on a rock then the lens filter probably won't do anything to save it as they're pretty thin flimsy things. It might be enough to absorb the energy of a peice of gravel from a dirt bike roost though and would be worthwhile in those situations.

That said I do use screen protectors on the LCD on the back as my hands are dirty and those do get scratched.

front elements of lenses have anti glare coatings.
Just using a lens wipe is enough to remove the coating.
In the studio I dont use protective filters but in the field I do.
Its so much cheaper to throw away a filter every few months compared to replacing a font element ...

 

[Lee R]

front elements of lenses have anti glare coatings.
Just using a lens wipe is enough to remove the coating.
In the studio I dont use protective filters but in the field I do.
Its so much cheaper to throw away a filter every few months compared to replacing a font element ...

I'd be shocked if just using a lens wipe took a coating off the glass. That's a pretty sad coating quality if that's the case. I've used Zeiss lens wipes for years on anything that's a lens with no ill effects. These things are not that fragile.

I've never seen even a hint of wear on any lens element, expensive glasses or anything else optical using Zeiss lens wipes.

I do use filters for sand/mud/dusty environments because that's little pieces of stone that will wear off coatings if you smear them all over the front of a lens.

I use a blower mostly unless a fingerprint or something is on the element, then it gets a lens wipe when all the dirt is clear.

 

[Len Shepherd]

It should be noted that filters ,accessories for cars et cetera carry a high markup and retailers have an interest in making more money whether these products are of practical benefit or not.
Years ago when I run an insurance claims unit, damage to a front element caused by a broken filter far outnumbered any other claims for damage to camera equipment.

In 60 years of photography, I have only once had a damaged front element - from the arrow from a bow which went straight through the UV filter as well!

In about the first 30 years I spent a lot of money on what was available then – a UV filter that can affect the colour gamut recorded.
These days I put my money towards new equipment or even the old new pair of shoes for my wife.

Everybody can make their personal decision.

 

[Doug Herr]

I'd be shocked if just using a lens wipe took a coating off the glass.

50 years ago it was common, but the stories of it happening live forever. Modern coatings are much more durable.

 

[PhilcTx]

50 years ago it was common, but the stories of it happening live forever. Modern coatings are much more durable.

Yes - if lens coatings in recent decades were fragile enough that use of proper lens wipes were damaging to the coatings the lens manufacturers would have been warning us long ago.

 

[PCRATE]

I'd be shocked if just using a lens wipe took a coating off the glass. That's a pretty sad coating quality if that's the case. I've used Zeiss lens wipes for years on anything that's a lens with no ill effects. These things are not that fragile.

I've never seen even a hint of wear on any lens element, expensive glasses or anything else optical using Zeiss lens wipes.

I do use filters for sand/mud/dusty environments because that's little pieces of stone that will wear off coatings if you smear them all over the front of a lens.

I use a blower mostly unless a fingerprint or something is on the element, then it gets a lens wipe when all the dirt is clear.

I agree, modern coatings are pretty durable. But repeated frequent poor cleaning can eventually produce a fine network of scratches so small you can't even see them. They will reduce contrast.

 

[Lee R]

I agree, modern coatings are pretty durable. But repeated frequent poor cleaning can eventually produce a fine network of scratches so small you can't even see them. They will reduce contrast.

I don't think anyones wiping dirt directly off the lens without using a brush and blower first. I mean abuse is one thing, responsible cleaning only when needed is another. By the time I wear the lens coating I think I'll have bigger concerns in life due to old age. Wet lens wipes are rarely needed unless you touch the lens or something. A blower removes any dust pretty quick if not a light sweep with a brush. Only then would I use a lens wipe if it's needed.

Nobody's saying don't use a lens filter if you want. I just don't see them as necessary much of the time if you're careful with your lenses.

 

[Len Shepherd]

I just don't see them as necessary much of the time if you're careful with your lenses.

I would modify your comment to "normal use of lenses" rather than careful.

Your comment perhaps also brings out part of the "hidden" background to the debate.

Advanced sales and management training teaches categorising individuals into personality types.
One category is usually "order and safety" type - an important characteristic for activities like dispensing medicines.
They tend to fit the category of wearing trouser belt and braces (suspenders in USA) - and are more likely to buy filters for so called "protection".
There is the "power" type who tend to act without first considering risk - who often would not stop to consider using a filter in a major sand storm - I would put my gear away or maybe use my smartphone !
There is the achiever type who tends to do whatever is needed to maximise output - and who tends to work out an occasional damage incident over maybe a decade if you own perhaps 7 or 8 lenses costs much less than buying "protection filters" for each lens that accepts a front filter.

Photographers - and shooting conditions - come in many types - and no single filter for perceived "protection" scenarios fits all photographers and all shooting conditions.

Digressing decent insurance can be a lot cheaper than buying filters - with the bonus of providing a lot more protection.

 

[MrFotoFool]

Now Nikon is giving people a new reason to buy their new protective filters: gold rings!

The new Nikon ARCREST II "Gold Edition" filters will add the classic "Gold Ring" look to your Nikkor Z lenses - Nikon Rumors

I already reported about the new Nikon ARCREST II protection filters a few weeks ago (prices vary from $49-$179): Nikon released new ARCREST II protection filters Nikon Japan has launched a new “Gold Edition” Arcrest II filters that will make your Nikkor lens look like it has a “Gold Ring”: For...

nikonrumors.com

 

[Charles Loy]

I have not read all of this so possible this has been mentioned.
I agree that the front lens has hard coating and not too sensitive as some mention. I use a blower to clean, then using a small flashlight I examine the front lens. Often the blower did not get all smudges as shown by the flashlight, so I carefully dry wipe.
Use the light, it shows the real deal.

 

[JAJohnson]

Whilte watching the B&H Event Space webcast "Photography Lessons Learned the Hard Way," wildlife photographer Autumn Shrock told a brief story about a recent trip in which she was told that the clear filter on her 100-400 lens was cracked. She didn't recall bumping anything with her lens, but stuff happens. Of course, using clear lens filters (or not!) is an individual choice and neither is right nor wrong.

She describes her lesson on this topic beginning at 15:50 in the video.