poll using filter hurt or helped a lens from scratch/breaking

there is a thread about using a filter and who does or doesnt based on if it provides
any protection to a lens. I had a 50mm mark I, that was packed on a camera in a van
in a bag and it fell about 5 feet, it landed probably at a 45 degree angle right on
the filter, it was a hoya, it shattered but didnt scratch the lens, the filter did
get wedged in the lens, but i was able to free it, and the lens was fine. anyway my
answer would be yes, it saved the lens

lens elements are a lot tougher than you think...i doubt the filter did anything, except for break...

watch this:
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=vzOLbMPe0u8

try recreating it with a filter...i bet the filter breaks...

i'd vote the hood maybe saved it, but i think it just wouldn't have broken anyways...

that video kinda made me sick

I was on my third filter on my FD 50 f1.4 when it got stolen. I discarded the previous two after they acquired enough scratches to be iffy. I don't care what people say about the toughness of the front element, sand with quartz grains will do it in.

I have filters on all my lenses except the Σ 8-16 with its huge bulbous front element... I always use the hood once the lens is out and I often remove the filter when shooting at a venue with many sources of light to avoid any accidental flares.

Heya,

I've dropped stuff, with and without filters. The lens was never damaged either way.

You're just going to hear a lot of subjective experiences.

If you're truly interested, look for someone who had plenty of quality filters and quality lenses available for a torture test with a control. Even then, unless it was performed like 100 times to get any kind of statistical relevance, it's going to be a fairly subject example of each.

Bottom line is, use a filter if you want to.
And don't, if you don't want to.

I use filters when I want the effect that the filter does. I don't use it for protection. The only screw on filter I use are ND filters & CPL's anyways. I don't bother with clear/uv/haze filters. They're essentially pointless. And I shoot in salt spray all the time filterless with a 95mm diameter lens, amongst other lenses, from a kayak on the ocean. Just clean your gear later. This is just my use though (or lack of use).

Very best,

I had a zoom lens with a filter decades ago. When I suddenly turned around while walking thru an ancient castle along the Rhine, the camera swung out, smacking the lens at an angle right into a wall, while on a shoulder strap. Filter was undamaged.

The lens' zoom mechanism was not undamaged...it would no longer operate at the widest angle settings of the zoom. It had to be sent to the manufacturer's repair center to make it work properly again.

The above story illustrates that a filter may TRANSMIT FORCE to the lens, and the accidental breaking of filter glass itself is not necessarily indicative of the 'protective' properties of the filter. Filters, besides modifying light, may serve to provide some protection from wind blown sand at the beach, it may afford some degree of moisture resistance completion in the Canon lens, and it may provide a more easily cleanable surface for removal of salt-laden spray/mist. Any other 'protection' afforded, such as from impact related damage, is purely coincidental.

I have posted links to several other past posts on POTN, in which the hood served as a lever arm to break the lens in HALF, even during a fairly innocuous fall from the front seat of a car to the car floor. Hoods protect from FLARE, they can BOTH cause physical damage or they can prevent physical damage -- just like a filter!

Canon/Nikon
APS-c/FF
filter/no filter
35mm/50mm

Use what works for you. There is no right answer.

Personally, I use the lens cap/hood unless I know I am in areas with alot of blowing sand/water etc.

Copidosoma wrote in post #17574608
...

Use what works for you. There is no right answer.

Personally, I use the lens cap/hood unless I know I am in areas with alot of blowing sand/water etc.

I agree with this.

I've never had a filter prevent damage, but I've never dropped a filtered lens. I have dropped hooded lenses and had the hood 'save' the lens.

Each lens is different. Each shooter is different. Each shooting environment is different. Each drop is different.

Many years ago I had my EOS 630 film camera and 28-70 in a small camera bag while on vacation.

The hotel shuttle driver managed to drop my bag about 4 feet and I guess it landed on the front of the lens. The lens cap and filter were in place but the lens was damaged and needed to be repaired. The filter just transferred the impact force right to the lens. After that I stopped using filters.

I often use a filter and/or hood, but I have little expectations of either saving the lens from any physical damage. It's primary benefit is keeping dust, water splashes, and such off of the lens glass.

msowsun wrote in post #17574683
Many years ago I had my EOS 630 film camera and 28-70 in a small camera bag while on vacation.

The hotel shuttle driver managed to drop my bag about 4 feet and I guess it landed on the front of the lens. The lens cap and filter were in place but the lens was damaged and needed to be repaired. The filter just transferred the impact force right to the lens. After that I stopped using filters.

Interesting. I've heard this kind of story before. I actually stopped using filters when I saw what they did to the IQ of my 100-400L. That lens is unique in its disdain for filters.

however the coatings do scratch easily. I've been using filters more and more recently due to microscratches on the element, I pretty much never use either lens caps for my lenses, too fiddly in the field. I have a few scuffed lenses, so said screw it and started using circular protection filters again. I'm just tired of minor knicks on elements, and having to disclose those problems when I sell it.

Depends on the situation, but I find I am using filters more often. I dont hang a camera from my neck. If I dont have my finger on the shutter it is in my padded bag, so is generally safe. My issue has always been finger prints and putting caps on. My trip next week will see a clear filter on my 135L, which now lives on my body. I will probably omit the cap so i am quick on the draw.

Charlie wrote in post #17575047
however the coatings do scratch easily. I've been using filters more and more recently due to microscratches on the element, I pretty much never use either lens caps for my lenses, too fiddly in the field. I have a few scuffed lenses, so said screw it and started using circular protection filters again. I'm just tired of minor knicks on elements, and having to disclose those problems when I sell it.

Charlie, if you use pinch caps and there is a hood in place, you can easily take the cap off/put it on with the hood acting as a funnel. I have replaced all my non-pinch Canon caps with 3d party pinch caps. YMMV.

Patrick H wrote in post #17575098
Depends on the situation, but I find I am using filters more often. I dont hang a camera from my neck. If I dont have my finger on the shutter it is in my padded bag, so is generally safe. My issue has always been finger prints and putting caps on. My trip next week will see a clear filter on my 135L, which now lives on my body. I will probably omit the cap so i am quick on the draw.

I had a horse lick my lens once! He came from the side, as I was shooting one further away and... slurp!

I took the filter off and put it under the faucet... I wouldn't do that with the EF 70-200...

Lesson learned, take the time to reverse the hood, even if it is fifteen minutes past the sunset...