Do you guys use UV filters during events/shoots outdoors?

I wasn't as paranoid until I purchased the 85L.. the thing costs a fortune and last thing I want is the front element scratched while shooting an event.

Do UV filters make a difference in image quality?

If no, whats the best UV filter out there for 72mm lenses?

Use the hood. It stops people banging into it.

5W0L3 wrote in post #14702509
I wasn't as paranoid until I purchased the 85L.. the thing costs a fortune and last thing I want is the front element scratched while shooting an event.

Do UV filters make a difference in image quality?

If no, whats the best UV filter out there for 72mm lenses?

I have one on all my lenses........Hoya Pro 1 and doesn't affect the quality imo, as you say it's good protection against damaging expensive lenses.

UV filters mess up the focusing and cause internal reflection.

No point in having an expensive lens if your going to hobble it with some extra bits of glass.

I was frustrated that I could never get images as sharp people on this website so I plucked up the courage to take the protective filters of and yes everything is usually pinsharp and the AF works great most of the time now.

Always use the lens hood to stop things getting to the front element.

The protective caotings on the lens elements are very tough and you have to rub grit into it to mark it.

I do not use them. I do think they affect IQ. And yes, I did use them for a short period of time and that is how I came to my conclusion. I agree with smc. I always use the hood.

Cheers, Steve

yeah i've been using my hood until now, but was just curious.

I guess il stick to using the hood to protect the glass then!

The only filter I use with any regularity outdoors is a CPL or a variable density filter to allow faster aperatures for DOF control.

Lens hood! Why degrade the IQ of such a beautiful lens with a UV filter??

Used one for a while and could never figure out why some pictures had this funky look to them...turns out it was the UV filter. It was not a cheap filter either...
Like the others said, use the hood except in rare cases.
Some lenses (17-40L) needs a filter to make it weather resistant.

I have hoya super hmc UV filters but I hate how difficult they are to clean.B+W's the only ones I buy now.

I use both filter and hoods.

When a friend gets a little too happy and is using a UV filter too much, I try to take the filter away from them before they go home.
Friends don't let friends use UV filters.
Photograph safely, use a hood.
...Terry

my 16-35L pictures appeared to improve in quality after dropping it & smashing the UV filter. I haven't used one since.

This is an age-old debate, and there's no right or wrong answer i'm afraid... if you're happy with how the images look with a UV filter attached, then great it's another layer of protection for you; however, if you do think they impact on the IQ/focus/flare/etc., then you're going to have to stick with just the hood!

• No UV/'protective' filter can improve image quality on a dSLR.
  
• All UV/'protective' filters will cause some degradation in image quality.
  
• The seriousness of this degradation tends to decrease as filter cost increases.
  
• Good filters will cause degradation that is not noticeable under most conditions.
  
• All filters, even the best, will cause noticeable degradation in some conditions.
  

The thing about filters is that you can take one off in a few seconds if you need to. I'm pro filter, if only for a bit of additional weather proofing - pretty essential in these parts - but I buy the best I can afford (B&W these days) and remove them for the most critical shots. I would never leave one on for indoor portraits for example.