S
sportmaster
Guest
Question: Do you use UV filters on your lens?
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Viseguy
Well-known member
No
Never. A waste of money, and potentially bad for your IQ. Check out Steve’s video on the subject (search YouTube)
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Saved my Z70-200 f/2.8S
IR and UV filters already built in front of the sensor.
I used to, but I recently stopped.
No.
petapixel.com
Why UV Filters are Basically Useless on Modern Cameras
We’re going to ask a controversial question: What do UV filters do, exactly? A UV blocking filter, (not to be confused with a UV Bandpass filter, which
petapixel.com
Yes, I will use them ( or a clear filter) if I’m photographing in conditions that might be damaging to the front element such as heavy salt water spray, sand being blown about by strong winds, or places with a lot of gritty dust in the air, being some examples.
Otherwise, never.
Otherwise, never.
I have one instead of a lens cap to keep the exterior lens safe. If clean, I never thought or noticed it might deteriorate IQ.
Have you checked this out:
All About UV Filters - Backcountry Gallery
UV filters – do you need them or not? It’s a question that comes up all the time in photography circles with usually about half the people thinking they need UV filters and the other half thinking the fist half is crazy! So, what’s the truth? To find out, I put everything to the test […]
![backcountrygallery.com](https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-uv-filters/\"/apple-touch-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
backcountrygallery.com
UV filters, no never...they're only relevant if shooting film. I do have and will occasionally use a high quality clear filter for protection, but only in very specific conditions.
Cheers!
Cheers!
No.
Odd man out here. I do not use UV but I do use B+W clear especially on my macro and tele lenses that get drug around in the field almost every day
Palouse
Well-known member
Last time I used one was 1975.
Strodav
Well-known member
I use Hoya Protectors.
I live near the ocean. I’d rather clean salt and sand off a filter than a lens element, so yes I use UV or clear high quality filters.
Perhaps being pedantic, UV filters ceased to be "UV prevention" relevant to colour film in the 1980's and to B&W film in the 1990's when the emulsions (las with digital sensors) became impervious to UV light degradation.
What anyone chooses to use is their personal choice.
I occasionally use a clear filter in extreme shooting conditions though never a UV filter.
agrumpyoldsod
Well-known member
Not as a general rule on any lens — except when at high altitude or together with an IR (cut) filter in hot dusty locations. I use protectors on most glass
Some do some don’t. It’s the same argument every time.
so if the filter affects IQ, just take it off!
I use an NC filter for those days I know there may be sea spray that may damage my lens.
so if the filter affects IQ, just take it off!
I use an NC filter for those days I know there may be sea spray that may damage my lens.
Robert Ardinger
Active member
Essentially always, most are NC clear, for protection, not for any UV or 1A effect and are of good quality. I don't like stacking filters so will exchange when using ND or polarizing filters. Modern lenses likely don't need them if care is take with cleaning. I don't notice any ill effect from using them in my images (and have done some comparisons). Caveat is my longest lens is 500mm and since it has a threaded filter ring, it has an NC filter. If I were to ever acquire a longer lens without filter threads I would not try to place a filter on it.
Not usually. However, I'll make an exception if I'm in an environment with blowing sand or sea spray (and I'm using a lens that supports a filter).
dorthzyx
Active member
no
Never a UV filter - I don't own one.
I almost always use a lens hood - and a lens cap when traveling between areas.
Very rarely a protective clear filter - only when it has a clear purpose such as blowing moisture, salt spray, sand, pollen, etc. Even then it is situation specific.
The highest risk to image quality is using a filter and shooting toward the sun or similar bright light.
I'm much more likely to use a CP.
I almost always use a lens hood - and a lens cap when traveling between areas.
Very rarely a protective clear filter - only when it has a clear purpose such as blowing moisture, salt spray, sand, pollen, etc. Even then it is situation specific.
The highest risk to image quality is using a filter and shooting toward the sun or similar bright light.
I'm much more likely to use a CP.
I have Nikon NC (neutral clear) filters for most all of my lenses. They are on my lenses some of the time while shooting like today when I was sitting at the end of a high school long jump pit where they didn't provide much distance between the pit and fencing and the sand was bouncing off the front lens element every jump or when there is the potential for harmful spray like walking around the geyser basins in Yellowstone. The coating on the front lens elements today is much better than it was 50 years ago when some of us started shooting but some habits die hard.
Robert Ardinger
Active member
Visions of cleaning marks swirl around my mind!
When working in a camera store (a while ago, The Nikon F2 was just introduced) one of my jobs was checking in and out the rental lenses and I doubt there was one without those "circular improvements" to the front element.