UV vs CLEAR filters.

http://maxsaver.net …Digital-CLEAR-Filter.aspx

http://maxsaver.net …on-Digital-UV-Filter.aspx

I'm trying to buy 3 filters for my lenses, Not sure if i should get the UV one, which would cost me around $30 more. or I should just get a clear one since I only shoot digital.


edit : also for those that used both B+W and hoya is there a difference? which one is better?

Personally, I wouldn't buy either, however if you are shooting digital then UV is a bigger waste of money as digital cameras deal with that themselves, so save some money and get clear ones. If shooting film, then UV filters actually have a purpose.

I have been using the Hoya Pro1 Clear Protectors for a couple of years now. I just got a Hoya HD Protector (not the UV) and it is much easier to clean that the older Pro1's. I think it has some new type of coating. In fact, it's hard to get the Pro1's clean after being in the rain while the new HD just wipes perfectly clean with only a microfiber cloth.

MGW172 wrote in post #12014584
I have been using the Hoya Pro1 Clear Protectors for a couple of years now. I just got a Hoya HD Protector (not the UV) and it is much easier to clean that the older Pro1's. I think it has some new type of coating. In fact, it's hard to get the Pro1's clean after being in the rain while the new HD just wipes perfectly clean with only a microfiber cloth.

After spending a weekend shooting in rain and mist, I like the sound of the easy clean filters. My current UV filters were not fun to get dried off without leaving streaks. Guess it's time to go filter searching, good thing my birthday is coming up!

I'm with Sandpiper. UV had a purpose in the old film days. For a DSLR all you need outside is a good CPL and maybe a ND to smooth out flowing water. Personally I like a VND.

I just bought a Hoya clear Pro1 Digital Filter. I had a low cost Zeikos glass UV filter that I had been using for protection but thought it was effecting the White Balance on the SX40HS point and shoot digital camera that I use.

I had read that UV filters have no effect on digital cameras because the CCD was coated at the factory. I had taken shots out side with the UV filter and with no filter and I did not see much difference on a sunny day between the shots. This all changed on the day that was cloudy. I tested the two filters by taking the same shots at the beach on a cloudy day and the UV filter greatly enhanced the pictures that I took with it. The White Balance though set on Auto was completely different. The blue with the clear filter was oppressive in the pictures taken with the clear filter while the UV filter presented a nice gray that was far more real. I could have set my "White Balance" to cloudy and improved the photos but I sometimes forget to do this and in this situation I wanted to see the difference. I still think that on a sunny day I might be better off with my much more expensive multi coated clear Hoya filter but I will have to work with the filters for a while. It is clear to me that I will have to use both of them, it is also clear to me that I needed both of them.

I always use a protection filter for cleaning if nothing else. You can not always see spots on the camera lens because of it's curvatures and constant cleaning is always a risk to a lens. Some times spots are not so easy to get off so you use cleaning fluids which is also problematic for the lens on the camera. If one shots out side one has to clean the lens a lot especially if one takes macro shots for you are always close to the flower or insect that you might wish to photograph.

I hope this helps

I seem to get crisper edges if I don't use any filter. I just use the hood to protect the lens.

tvphotog wrote in post #14017446
I seem to get crisper edges if I don't use any filter. I just use the hood to protect the lens.

Makes sense considering a filter adds another barrier for light to pass through but at the end of the day a high end protective filter has a negligible effect on image quality overall.

old habits die hard....for my mental well being I use a Hoya ProDigital UV on all my lenses...I'm old and stuck in my ways and like the protection aspect

tvphotog wrote in post #14017446
I seem to get crisper edges if I don't use any filter. I just use the hood to protect the lens.

Ditto. I used clear or UV filters for several years, but have since gone without UV or clear filters on my lenses instead preferring the hood for protection of the front element. The only time I will use a clear filter is when I am in a dusty or wet environment

Shoot with animal, flower, in rain and dust, mistake, all of them will loss you iq, lens value and make you disappointed. Hood only helps a little, most of petal hoods seem no protection, IMO.