Keeping CPL on lens?

Quick question...

Does it make sense to keep a CPL on a lens all the time especially since it's an "outdoor" only lens? Other than losing 1 stop of light (negative) and adding a protective barrier (positive), is there any other downsides? Normally, it'd be a UV or some other type of clear glass but....

Thanks!

That one stop loss through the lens means a one stop loss in the viewfinder...

Also if the CPL isn't good since you add a piece of glass over your lens you could obtain worst result.

Moonshiner wrote in post #16928734
Quick question...

Does it make sense to keep a CPL on a lens all the time especially since it's an "outdoor" only lens? Other than losing 1 stop of light (negative) and adding a protective barrier (positive), is there any other downsides? Normally, it'd be a UV or some other type of clear glass but....

Thanks!

Keeping ANY type of filter on the lens at all times is not a good idea in my opinion. There are situations when even the best filter would induce flare, for example, and you might not realize when it could occur.

In nearly fifty years behind my cameras, I've never used any filters for "protection" of my lenses. I still own the Nikon F cameras that I bought in the mid 1960s and used very heavily for all sorts of work such as motorcycle motocross racing where I was almost at the track edge. All my glass is nearly pristine. I attribute that to proper cleaning technique and a little good luck that a rock didn't come flying directly at the lens (which would have smashed a filter and probably done the same damage to the lens as it would have without a filter).

Also, leaving a filter in place for an extended period could bind it to the threads on the lens.

Thanks all for the info... Very helpful...

You'll never get consensus on the merit for/against using a protective filter...but I do. However, like you, I generally almost always have a CPL on my lenses when used outdoors when doing landscape or nature photography EXCEPT when its critical to get the fastest shutter speeds, ie most light, as in BIF (birds in flight). I think many folks underestimate the image quality of using a polarizer on any/everything containing moisture, ie vegetation etc. Here in the Pacific Northwest I find it immensely useful. That said, there are times where you need to watch the amount of polarization your using....more isn't always better.

Thanks...