Filters

[cspratt]

In the good old days when I used film all my lenses had a UV or
Skylight filter on the front. This was really to protect the lens
front element from getting damaged. Is it still adviseable to do the
same thing when using a digital camera? Should I still install a UV or
Skylight filter? Or will this degrade the digital image?

[Ferdinand]

When shooting into a bright scene, the UV filter tends to cause flare, this is repeatable, I have tested it a few times. And when you remove the UV filter, voila, flaring is gone.

Most pros would say they leave it off totally and don't baby your lens too much. But then again they are pros and they are making money using it as a tool, they have insurance on their equipments so no worries.

As for me :) a hobbyist, I tend to baby my lenses and other equipments more, so unless if I am shooting into the direction where there is a strong light source I won't remove my UV filter. Just my 2 cents!

Regards,
Ferdinand

[Whaler]

Go here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27109&highlight=filters

I personally use them. Just buy decent ones. . . . B&W, Canon

[CoolToolGuy]

Go here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27109&highlight=filters

I personally use them. Just buy decent ones. . . . B&W, Canon

I agree 100%

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[DaveG]

In the good old days when I used film all my lenses had a UV or
Skylight filter on the front. This was really to protect the lens
front element from getting damaged. Is it still adviseable to do the
same thing when using a digital camera? Should I still install a UV or
Skylight filter? Or will this degrade the digital image?

I use them on all of my lenses. I don't see any flare problems with my stuff - possibly because I use a bellows lens shade whenever I can.

In any case it would be much better to buy some good filters and then to plan on replacing them every few years as need be. And consider this: if you DO need to replace the filters becasue of some kind of damage or wear, then every nick and ding on that filter would have been on your front element instead.

[samdring]

and, of course, there are certain L lenses that Canon say are not sealed until filter in place.

Where does that leave the pros??

[cspratt]

Thanks for all the replies on this subject. Filter now in place!

[DaveG]

and, of course, there are certain L lenses that Canon say are not sealed until filter in place.

Where does that leave the pros??

Virtually every pro that I know - me included - have filters on all of their lenses. Perhaps some don't, but perhaps someone else is paying to replace their lens's front element. More likely they are snobs about how the filter impairs the image quality but then use a scratched lens for years.