Recommended UV filter

[slicendice]

I have a new Tamron 28-75 and I'm wanting to get a UV filter (67mm) for it. From looking at various websites, it seems there is quite a range to choose from, with prices ranging from below £20 right up to over £80. Does anyone have any recommendation as to what would be best? What is the advantage of "multi-coated" and is it worth the extra money?

Thanks

[Tomasz Dziechciarz]

HOYA .... is OK

[Digital Prophet]

I can't say that I have ever seen anyone be able to prove that there is a advantage to using a UV filter on a digital camera. The popular myth is that they are just another way to make a buck.

Personally the only time that I use one is when I am shooting on the airport apron or at a barn. And the reason for both is the same: debris. Any situation where there is a abnormal amount of flying coarse debris I bust out the piece of glass. At the airport it is just because helicopters and jets put out huge amounts of thrust that can cause small particles to scratch glass and at a barn there is just so much sand particulate in the air.

Now there are people who say "a UV filter that is always on the lens will protect it". Eh. I suppose that is true to some degree. But there is no UV filter that will ever protect your lens better than a lens cap or even a rigid lens hood.

So take that for what it is worth. Which is about one and one quarter cents on the open market.

The preceeding has been one photographer's opinion.

- Digital Prophet -

[BrianEE93]

I keep a UV filter on all my lens at all times. I guess I am a little anal about breakage. I originally had just cheap ones and then bought some Hoya Multicoat. I can hold them both up to a light and see that the HMC lets more light through. I have taken some detailed photos in the sun with and without the UV filter and my amatuer eye can't tell the difference. I just makes me feel better with it on.

[slicendice]

Thanks for the info....

Protecting the lens itself from scratches is one of the main reasons I want to get a UV filter, so I guess the fact that it isn't going to give any huge advantage photographically isn't too much of a prob.

I also want to get a polarizing filter. These seem to be a lot more expensive than UV filters, so I'm thinking maybe it would be a good idea to put the UV filter on top of the polarizing filter to act as protection. Is it recommended to use both at the same time? Will doing so degrade the quality of the final picture, or should I only use one at a time? I know that the more glass between the subject and the sensor, the more chance of degrading the quality, but would it really to be noticeable?

[deedas]

I got a B+W Multi-coated UV filter at B&H for my Tamron. It was 45 bucks. I kept hearing from people about making sure I got multi-coated so I did.

[crc_408]

I also want to get a polarizing filter. These seem to be a lot more expensive than UV filters, so I'm thinking maybe it would be a good idea to put the UV filter on top of the polarizing filter to act as protection. Is it recommended to use both at the same time? Will doing so degrade the quality of the final picture, or should I only use one at a time? I know that the more glass between the subject and the sensor, the more chance of degrading the quality, but would it really to be noticeable?

I'm curious of polarizing filters as well.
I pretty much buy a UV filter and hood (if not included) as part of buying a new lens. I bought a cir. polarixing filter for my 70-200, but haven't had a chance to use it. Does it matter if it's on top of or below the UV lens? Should the UV lens even be installed? etc.

[SkipD]

I'm curious of polarizing filters as well.
I pretty much buy a UV filter and hood (if not included) as part of buying a new lens. I bought a cir. polarixing filter for my 70-200, but haven't had a chance to use it. Does it matter if it's on top of or below the UV lens? Should the UV lens even be installed? etc.First, you're not talking about a UV "lens". It's a filter that you're referring to.

My suggestion is to never stack filters. You're just asking for further degradation of your images.

I'm in the group that shuns using filters unless there's a creative reason or you want to shoot, for example, in a sandstorm. I don't even own any clear filters. I do, however, use high quality lens hoods at all times, and have for over 40 years on all my lenses.

Most people that I see using filters on their lenses have no lens hoods attached, and I can see why they have been led to believe that they should install filters for "protection". If they had installed a good quality lens hood instead, most - if not all - the fingerprints, smears, and dings from minor contact that they see on their filters would have been prevented rather than messing up a perfectly good filter.