Why I will use filters for protection

[aussieskier]

First a bit of background: Last night was my high school graduation ceremony. My mum and dad wanted to use my camera and the 70-200f4L to take picture of my friends and I as we got our diploma's etc. I said ok (how can you say no to your parents and they knew what they were dealing with as well). Well my mom had it all packed up in a smaller bag (as my camera bag was too big to be allowed in).

Now the horror story: She had it over here shoulder with her purse, she kinda forgot it was there, leaned over and it bumped into the corner of one of the walls. My heart sank as I pulled out my "baby" to find the lens cap had been pushed into the filter. Luckily I pulled off the filter to find that the front element hadn't been harmed. now I am replacing a 30ish dollar Hoya HMC uv filter, instead of a $580ish 70-200mm.

This is the reason why I will continue to use filters (and hoods) for protection. Of course because of the way I store my lens with my hood on backwards, the hood didn't help much.
(sorry if the pictures aren't great only had the point and shoot and had to have it at an angle to limit the flash reflection.)
Riley

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/Aussieskier/IMG_0096.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/Aussieskier/IMG_0097.jpg

[SkipD]

I make it a policy to have the hood on any lens out of the case mounted in its "normal" position. That would probably have taken the hit with absolutely no glass having been broken. A good hood is also usually far less expensive than a filter that is good enough to go on my camera's lens.

[Hank2122]

ouch! it's painful to look at the first picture. thanks for the advice.

[SuzyView]

Even though I do go without most times, I purchased clear Hoya or B+W filters just recently due to members' discussions. I put the filters on when I know someone else is going to be handling my gear. As always, the hoods are on and I don't let anyone carry the gear unless everything is sealed tightly in my bag. But that crack must have set your heart racing. I would have been so upset. As it is, my 24-70L almost fell out of the box when I first opened it. Thank heavens someone posted a thread about just that not too long before I got mine. I caught is as it was tumbling. No hood, no filter. How do I explain this to the store? You are lucky you didn't have too much damage. Tell your mom she's off the hook but owes you a filter. :)

[aussieskier]

I make it a policy to have the hood on any lens out of the case mounted in its "normal" position.
Yes, I am going to have to relook at how I fill by backpack so that I can fit the 70-200 with the hood on it. The bottom line for me the more protection you can have the better
Riley

[Sean-Mcr]

Really i think that's a tale of why you should not lend your gear to other people as they are never likely to be as careful as you are, and the hood used correctly would have saved the lens.

There is actually no need to use a filter for the environment you were in, just common sense, which went out the window to be honest when you gave it to your mum, no reflection on you mum, it was your fault for giving it to a novice . There's also not much sense in spending $100s on optics and basically shooting through an inferior piece of glass

Where was your $3 lens cap that was designed to protect your lens?

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-feb-05.shtml

[condyk]

More likely to scratch the lens glass IMO with all that crummy filter glass splintering everywhere. I have never scratched a lens or even remembered cleaning one. Take care of your stuff. If you won't or can't then expect the consiquences and then take precautions. This is like giving your car keys to a learner driver and asking them to take it for a spin around the block LOL!

[DocFrankenstein]

I respect your choice, since it's your photography and your shooting style... etc.

But usually the hood is more than enough. If you bang your lenses like that, they will get damaged - filter or not.

I've had a lens become soft after a bump like that. One of the elements shifted and it wasn't sharp anymore. I'd check that 70-200 for sharpness.

You might want to consider screw in lens caps too. I didn't bother getting one for the rebel's kit lens, but I usually just throw my FD system in the bag. To prevent the caps from detaching, I got this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=102292&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Takes some time to remove though, but they stay in place.

And if you decide to leave the hoods on all the time, you can get the Tamron caps. You can put them back and remove them without getting the hood off.

[RedWingNut]

I use a filter on mine too, but not to protect against a good whack on the wall, that busts the lens cap and the filter like that.

But, when they are on there, you might want to blow the dust off every now and then :-)

[aussieskier]

I've had a lens become soft after a bump like that. One of the elements shifted and it wasn't sharp anymore. I'd check that 70-200 for sharpness. [/qoute]

Just a question about how you suggest going about that.

[quote=DocFrankenstein]
You might want to consider screw in lens caps too. I didn't bother getting one for the rebel's kit lens, but I usually just throw my FD system in the bag. To prevent the caps from detaching, I got this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=102292&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Takes some time to remove though, but they stay in place.

And if you decide to leave the hoods on all the time, you can get the Tamron caps. You can put them back and remove them without getting the hood off.

Thanks for all that info I will check those option, I have been thinking about the tamron caps, I have a hard time with the canon ones when the hood is on.

As for the comments about giving it to a novice, they are duly noted. I often think I am too novice for the lens myself. I am thinking of selling it after my girlfriend softball season is over, after all the only reason I got it was for the fast AF speed. L fever is a bit to rich for my (now) college student budget.


But, when they are on there, you might want to blow the dust off every now and then :-)
I live on a farm where dust is more prevalent than oxygen sometimes I swear, I just get used to blowing off the dust everytime I use it. Dust seems to get everywhere so it builds up quick.

Thanks for all the opinions and suggestions, it has made me rethink how I store things and my reasoning for doing what I do. I guess sometimes I have to learn the hard way (as usual :( )
Riley

[DocFrankenstein]

Just a question about how you suggest going about that.
Take a picture. Check if it's sharp. :D

[aussieskier]

Well I kinda figured that, I was more just wondering if certain things like text leaned themselves better to the job.

[SkipD]

Riley - one more thing to think about when choosing "protection" methods. The lens hood on that lens (and most "L" lenses, I think) does not attach to the lens element like a filter would. It attaches to the non-moving outer body shell of the lens.

When taking impact like your lens experienced, I would much rather have the forces absorbed by the outer body of the lens rather than the much more fragile inner workings. This is another reason that I always use my Canon lens hoods rather than going to a third-party hood that screws into the filter threads.

There are many folks who refuse to use hoods and use a filter for "protection", assuming it is all that they need. You can see the fallacy in their decision when they have the option of using a bayonet-mounted hood like on your lens. Even using a hood on lenses with only filter threads for mounting is better than using a bare filter, as the hood will crush much more slowly - significantly reducing the peak impact forces imparted into the lens.