To filter or not to filter?

You really need to use some common sense though when discussing any of these issues. you use a CPL or ND filter only when there is a need for them. You would not leave them on all the time. Likewise if you use a protective filter you should use it when there is a need to protect your lens from something, ie blowing debris. I think some also need it for the weather sealing so perhaps also in the rain, but then your lens really should have some kind of additional protection, such as a storm jacket.

The only filters I use are my Lee system, graduated ND's, CPL, Big Stopper, etc.

AmitShinde0511 wrote in post #14322516
Lens will NOT have cap all time while shooting. Shoot without cap for hours and then you will see small dust particle getting accumulate on lens. Then you have to clean lens every time this happens with micro fiber cloth. Wiping lens with cloth several times may produce some minimal scratches. Instead why not put UV filter all time when shooting and wipe filters hundreds of times if needed without affecting lens a bit. Protecting lens with filter can also add value to resale.

This is exactly how I feel. Some people here say that one cannot protect a lens with a thin piece of glass. True, from impact. But the impact is not the only issue. Sometime I can walk for hours in a touristy town or a countryside with the camera hanging off my neck. No matter where I shoot, from time to time I have to clean the glass from dust, or sometimes from the residue from the drizzle (I do not shoot in rain). I prefer this glass to be a filter, rather than a lens.

SkipD wrote in post #14325275
However... If you have strong light sources in front of the camera (back-lit scene in the day or strong lights in a night scene, for example), that's when you may see flare due to the filter. Thus, if you are going to do a test of the filter that's the sort of lighting situation you want to use for the test. The degradation to images can be very real.

Where were you a year ago?

I learned that the hard way. Shooting the most beautiful sunset on Santorini I was getting flare and reflections of the sun, and could not understand why. Finally it dawned on me that the reflections were from the filter. I took it off, and got nice shots. Since then I always try to see where the sun (or another source of light) is to decide whether or not I have to take off the filter.

Guess I'm in the minority, but, I always use UV filters, mostly because I buy and sell lenses all the time and I want to keep the elements perfect. The one time I didn't use a UV was on the last Sigma 70-200 I owned, I just didn't have an extra 77mm laying around and I didn't think i'd need it. But over the year or so I had it, somehow I nicked the front element (must have bumped it into something) and I had to sell it for a good $150-$200 cheaper than had it been pristine.
I do, however, take them off, like a cap, when I'm shooting at night to avoid flare. I use good filters too, because crap filters can degrade IQ...So....

There, I said it...My name is Matt and I use UV filters

thatkatmat wrote in post #14333940
The one time I didn't use a UV was on the last Sigma 70-200 I owned, I just didn't have an extra 77mm laying around and I didn't think i'd need it. But over the year or so I had it, somehow I nicked the front element (must have bumped it into something) and I had to sell it for a good $150-$200 cheaper than had it been pristine.
I do, however, take them off, like a cap, when I'm shooting at night to avoid flare. I use good filters too, because crap filters can degrade IQ...So....

i take it you weren't using the lens hood?

I always use a hood, but I turn the hood around in my bag....perhaps the cap came off in my bag....Not sure...

thatkatmat wrote in post #14333966
I always use a hood, but I turn the hood around in my bag....perhaps the cap came off in my bag....Not sure...

That reminds me... Another annoying thing I noticed with my Sigma 50, I have an oddly difficult time putting the lens cap on properly lol. Always slips a bit and I get paranoid that I'm going to accidentally scratch the front element with the cap, sigh lol.

I'm gonna have to side with no filter (uv/protective), but my hoods stay on religiously. I get all paranoid and super sketchy when my front element is just hanging around for the world to screw up. Something I don't understand too well (some may or may not agree) is the concept of keeping the glass clean for re sale. It's like buying an exotic sports car, but then you baby it, leave it in the garage, and never really enjoy it to its fullest potential. I mean I understand if it's for collecting purposes but how many of us are collecting lenses to sit on a shelf and stare at? Maybe it's just me, but I'm not all crazy about making my money back. It gives me the impression that I'm putting all this effort into keeping the lens nice for the next person I sell it to instead of enjoying it myself. I buy a lens, get the insurance, and then go use the hell out of it the way it was designed to. If it gets nicked, scratched, then whatever so be it, it's my lens

BeerWolf wrote in post #14332017
I just bought a used lens and the UV filter on it was a mess...lots of dust and a nick. Took it off and the lens itself was pristine. So I'm really glad the previous owner used a UV filter!

What a great deal! Where can we all find sellers discarding their "underperforming" lens?