Use of UV Filters

[SandyW]

Stupid question but does the more expensive Nikon UV filters provide more benefit to the cheaper ones.

I have no idea. I've never used a Nikon brand filter. In general though I do believe that you get what you pay for with filters. It just doesn't make sense to me to invest in a high end lens then put a $40 UV filter in front of it. In general I do believe higher end filters use better glass.

As for lens protection, I do believe filters help. The one time I did real damage my system due to a drop, the camera and filter were heavily damaged. The lens came through fine. The same may have happened without the filter, but I hate lens hoods, and wasn't using one at the time. I do use a protection filter much of the time.

 

[Roaring 40s]

Stupid question but does the more expensive Nikon UV filters provide more benefit to the cheaper ones.

See post 17 on what you can check yourself.

 

[AlexY]

Digital cameras are sensitive to a very small part of the UV spectrum. Not enough to worry about unless you are shooting landscapes at high altitude, and even then I doubt your eyes would see the difference.

Using a filter for lens protection is a personal choice. Some say never, some say only if you are in a particular situation where your lens needs protecting, like around the steaming mudpots at Yellowstone. For protection you can use a clear filter or a UV it doesn't matter. Just make sure to get an expensive one. The cheap ones transmit a lot less light. This is an aging analysis of the amount of light each brand transmits, but you get the idea of which brands are quality. https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/20...anking-of-the-major-uv-filters-on-the-market/

Stupid question but does the more expensive Nikon UV filters provide more benefit to the cheaper ones.

The article cited in the first quoted message has some good pointers as to filter quality. You'll see that high price does not always equate to higher value...

 

[Roaring 40s]

There are other lab tests.

UV filters test - Introduction

Originally posted 2007-09-21 on Optyczne.pl When we buy a brand new camera we usually get very excited. We take pictures of everything: objects in motion, contemplative still shots, the tiniest of objects and the largest of objects, from far away and close-up ...

www.lenstip.com

UV filters test - supplement - Introduction

While preparing our polarizing filters test supplement we decided to update also our ...

www.lenstip.com

 

[Dummy]

I Wish all Members on Forum and Steve a Very Merry Christmas and very very Save happy New Year 2021 Take Care

 

[Ken Miracle]

@Dummy As someone said it is personal choice ... I am a paranoid and value conscious wildlife photographer (primarily birds but I have leopards etc. on the wall). I charge around in brushy, rocky, dusty, snowy and muddy country stalking my subjects. I have tried a variety of protective lenses (UV or clear). I used B+W to begin with until I discovered Breakthrough Photography a US based company producing filters with high quality brass frames, amazing glass, and engineering they are not cheap. I use their high end X4 filters. My field tests and some static tests see no degradation at all even on 15-600 mm or 500 mm lenses and they stand behind their filters with an amzai. They also make an amazing color neutral CPL . A tech rep and an engineer for a lens manufacturer that I have met with many times over the last 5 years do not mince words they just say thank you for using great glass on our great glass and recommend no other filters. I do not even see Breakthrough mentioned in any of the "test" reviews posted and the ones mentioned or quite limited in number. They are like me a bit of a new kid on the block and got started in San Francisco in 2015 making good filters and not they make amazing filters ... but only if your personal choice is to use a filter. Breakthrough offers a 300 day return period no restocking and 100% refund if you are not happy for any reason .. no it does not include you breaking the filter when you fall on a rock. They have a 25 year No I am not sponsored by anyone and I am not a pro so these are just my observations.

 

[Ado Wolf]

I previously used a UV filter with every lens I own (so quite a few). I then realised they do affect IQ of photos.
So now I use hoods instead, and only resort to UV filters in sandy or salty environments
I recently bought a circular polarising filter (Hoya Fusion Antistatic CPL) for reducing reflections when photographing landscape.
I am considering a neutral density to take smooth waterfalls or smooth river shots..