filters

[soapy]

Does everyone generally use a filter for their lens? Is it really necessary or is it being on the cautious side? I have a 50mm 1.4 and a 10-22mm and since I like my lenses, I'm considering filters only because I don't want to unknowingly hurt my lenses in the long run. Besides dust that gets in, I usually take cap off, shoot, cap back on again. I keep my stuff in a bag, so it's not like I take out and roll around in bushes with my camera.

Any recommendations on filters I should use? I'm not really looking to do any special effects, just a precaution if that's needed. Otherwise I've heard bad things about cheap filters, so I don't want to buy a crappy one.

I honestly don't know too much about the technical stuff when it comes to the camera, especially when it comes to maintenance. All I have is a little brush squishy thing for me to get rid of visible dust particles. I'm usually really anal with my stuff, in this case I don't know enough to know what part I should be anal about :)

edit: Ok, I got the B+W 77mm UV multicoated filter....is there anything else?

[dxbgal]

Hmmmm
If your planning on using filters .. either get good quality or non.. U dont want something cheap infront of an expensive lens!!!
I hear good things about the B+W filters..

My advice is use non unless you are in hard situations like sandy deserts or rainy and windy days ...

[SkipD]

Obtain and USE properly designed lens hoods for each of your lenses, and you can totally forget using filters for "protection" unless you want to shoot in a blowing sand environment or some other similarly nasty situation.

Lens hoods will provide two functions for you. One is blocking stray light from beyond your subject area. Properly designed (rigid hoods, not the cheap folding rubber hoods) will also provide a tremendous amount of physical protection for the lenses. They will keep your fingers off the glass during normal use, and will act as a "bumper" to ward off problems from the inevitable impact with things as you carry/use the camera.