Filters on lenses for sports?

[WyzMan]

How many of you guys shoot through a filter? (UV, protection, skylight?). Since my very first camera - a few decades ago now - I have been buying and using filters as a means of protection for the front element of my expensive, and other, lenses. Saying that, to date, (cross fingers), I have never had to replace any filter as I have managed to keep things clean and scratch free.

I am looking to get the best out of what I have - and will do some experimenting over the next few weeks - but sat here inside a nice warm house - wondered whether there was any strong opinion out there. I guess that in theory it makes sense to shoot without a filter for best results but I wonder whether this is true in practice. FWIW, nowadays I purchase what I consider to be top quality - HOYA Pro 1.

Many of the images posted here have real "POP" - just wondered what the secrets are! (and YES, I have read and read and read through a lot of the posts in this forum). At the moment I am shooting manual, trying to shoot to the right (which ain't always easy on gloomy Sunday afternoons on the English soccer pitches).

Thanks in advance,
Alan

[fatphotographer]

Hi Alan,

I have always shoot through filters for protection as well. I used to use skylights, but realised that there was a slight purple cast from them. This can be seen when you place them on a white piece of paper. I use UV now. Whether it makes any difference I don't know.

Gary

[tracknut]

No filters on my lenses. I shoot dog racing, agility, hunting, etc. There's a chance I'll get run into by a dog (it's happened), but I'd rather not degrade the 100K's of photos I take, even by a smidge. I'll take the risk (but use hoods of course).

Dave

[leitch]

I shoot a lot of BMX and MTB riding and racing, and always have a Skylight or UV filter on my lenses to protect from rocks and dirt and dust that gets thrown up by riders. Also, if I'm shooting in bright sunlight (as I often am), I will use a Circular Polarizer.

[AdamLewis]

It depends on what Im doing. My lenses almost always have filters on them, but if the weather is fine and the environment is not super dusty, I may take it off.

Even the best UV filter is still another piece of glass that the light has to go through before it gets to your sensor. The front element is very durable also and wont get hurt by a little bit of everyday dust and dirt.

[primoz]

On short lenses (17-40/4, 28-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8) I always have filter (Hoya Pro1 skylight) on. It might sound impossible, but I did crash quite few of them until now. With 2 cameras hanging on your shoulder, running around etc. it can happen quite easy. On top of that, you get all sort of crap on lens, from champaign on winner ceremony to mud, water and snow on some mtb or skiing race. And wiping lens with anything what you have available at the moment, doesn't really do good either. For me, few euros for filter is still better, then paying few 100eur for changing lens front element.
For longer lenses (300/2.8 and 400/2.8 ) there's no filters anyway, so they are without, and I'm hoping for best :)
I agree image quality is degraded with anything you put infront of lens, but with good filters, it's really not all that much of degradation, that it would be worth risking. Especially when considering in what kinda environment we are working.

[dave kadolph]

Teles with deep hoods--No

Wides with hoods that offer minimal protection--Always.

[Mike]

I always have a uv filter on all my lenses (except 18-55 lens). I have been hit on the lens with a rugby ball before and I feel that, even with a hood, the filter adds that little bit extra peace of mind.

[oomus]

I also use filters on all my lenses as well as hoods for those that have them.

Love the Hoya's

[oomus]

I shoot a lot of BMX and MTB riding and racing, and always have a Skylight or UV filter on my lenses to protect from rocks and dirt and dust that gets thrown up by riders. Also, if I'm shooting in bright sunlight (as I often am), I will use a Circular Polarizer.


I find that the polarizer tends to make the shots a little soft even on the 1D for fast moving objects like it has a hard time finding some contrast to lock onto.

but other than that I agree completely on the use of filters for what I primarily do.

[Doctor Sodways]

I run UV filters on all my lenses, bar my 17-40 (Couldnt get any at time of purchase). I use a Polarizer at the track sometimes when shooting motorsport if light allows, and occasionally when shooting cars

[Mike R]

Shooting sports I always use a hood. I think that if a filter takes a hit, there may be a chance that if it breaks, the glass could still damage the front element. However, the people that use filters have many good reasons for doing so.
This topic is on the list of great endless debates such as Raw vs Jpeg & Canon vs Nikon to mention a couple.

[pfjbaldwin]

UV always, CP never for action. I shoot HS and D1 college soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball.