Do i need this filter?

Hi,
I have always bought a Skylight filter for my lenses. Mainly just to save the front element from damage.
I am going to buy a 70-200F4L lense shortly and want to know if it is a necessity, or perhaps there is no need for one if I keep the lense hood on all the time?
So the question is, do you use Skylight filters on your lenses or not? And if not, why not?
Thanks in advance

That's a question of religion, and you already pointed the two approaches out. One is to do without and to always use the lenshood, the other is to always wear a UV.

I belong to the first category but I have UV's for my lenses in those rare situations when I'm shooting on windy beaches with sand in the air etc.

Thanks Olz for your reply

This is a common debate around here.. I personally use a hood all the time and a UV filter when it's particularly necessary - mostly when I'm around salt spray or similar. My front elements very rarely get anything on them thanks to the hood... I find that fingerprints find their way onto it quickly without one

Thanks Jim G

Ben, I have never used a filter for "protection". I still have my Nikon and Mamiya cameras and lenses that I bought in the late 1960's, and all were well used until just a few years ago. None of the lenses have any perceptable damage to the glass, even though the external finish is well worn.

All of my lenses always have a properly designed rigid lens hood (specific hoods for each lens from the lens manufacturer) mounted whenever the lens is on a camera.

I usually do not find myself trying to photograph things in an environment with blowing sand, etc., which would have a strong tendency to eat up glass surfaces. If I planned to do a shoot in that sort of situation, I would probably buy a disposable (inexpensive) filter for the task. I have shot many automobile races (Formula 1 and drag racing mostly) with all the stuff in the air around them - and I worked very close to the action when I did those shoots, and again my lenses are just fine today.

Another reason to use lens hoods - they provide mechanical protection against the daily bumps and bangs. Rigid lens hoods also provide significant protection against outright crashes. In 1968 I dropped a Nikon with a 28mm lens onto a sidewalk from four feet up. The metal Nikon lens hood took the primary impact, and the action of its folding up absorbed the impact over a much longer time than if the lens itself (or a filter screwed to the lens) had hit the concrete. That reduced the peak forces to the point that the camera and lens never needed repairs and are fine to this day. I did replace the lens hood due to aesthetic choices.

Jim G wrote in post #2410797
This is a common debate around here.. I personally use a hood all the time and a UV filter when it's particularly necessary - mostly when I'm around salt spray or similar. My front elements very rarely get anything on them thanks to the hood... I find that fingerprints find their way onto it quickly without one

I am actually int he same situation as Jim...I don't use a filter unless necessary, the hood however is always on.

Hi,

I use hoods and UV filters and have always done so...been shooting since 1967.

I have made an amazing discovery regarding UV filters last week. On my 77MM lenses I was using Canon UVs purchased at $20.00 each...I upgraded to B+W Multi-coated UVs at $80.00 each and the difference was amazing! Much better colors now especially with my external flash. So the lesson learned here is to buy quality filters to go with quality lenses and you can't go wrong. My 2 cents worth.

Jim G wrote in post #2410797
This is a common debate around here.. I personally use a hood all the time and a UV filter when it's particularly necessary - mostly when I'm around salt spray or similar. My front elements very rarely get anything on them thanks to the hood... I find that fingerprints find their way onto it quickly without one

I would absolutely agree. Originally UV filters were designed just for that, to cut down on UV radiation on the lens. With the coatings of modern day glass that is really not an issue. The only time you really need a filter is under adverse conditions as indicated in Jim's post. Another thing if you are going to get a UV filter stick with the better ones. I would only recomend the multicoated filters by B+W and Heliopan. I know lots on here swear by the Hoya, but personally I would avoid them as there seems to be something strange about their coatings. They are rediculously difficult to clean for some odd reason.

JimAskew wrote in post #2410930
Hi,

I use hoods and UV filters and have always done so...been shooting since 1967.

I have made an amazing discovery regarding UV filters last week. On my 77MM lenses I was using Canon UVs purchased at $20.00 each...I upgraded to B+W Multi-coated UVs at $80.00 each and the difference was amazing! Much better colors now especially with my external flash. So the lesson learned here is to buy quality filters to go with quality lenses and you can't go wrong. My 2 cents worth.

Yes, it is really a strange thing, but probably the worse filters made are Canon.

Excellent information.
Thanks to all, and Happy Christmas

rklepper wrote in post #2410965
Yes, it is really a strange thing, but probably the worse filters made are Canon.

Doc,

Well that is disturbing news! I would have thought Canon would be interested in quality filter products?

Anyhow, I have had my eyelids ripped off...I am on a plan to replace all the UVs on all my lenses...it will take a couple of months as B+W are not cheap...but from my observation well worth the investment The three 77MM B+H filters were $240..I have six more to go...about $480 dollars worth

JimAskew wrote in post #2411811
Anyhow, I have had my eyelids ripped off...I am on a plan to replace all the UVs on all my lenses...it will take a couple of months as B+W are not cheap...but from my observation well worth the investment The three 77MM B+H filters were $240..I have six more to go...about $480 dollars worth

Consider tucking that money away as a self-insurance policy. If anything happens to a lens (unlikely), you would have the money to pay for a repair. If you don't have anything bad happen, you still have your cash - accruing interest.

Well, I always use a filter. Among other things, the "only if I need it" school need to keep the filters around somewhere anyhow, or risk the lens in what they admit are hazardous conditions. Plus you can't always predict what situations will come up that will warrant needing one. And in my case, I'm commonly in situations where there will be blowing debris or other things that can get past a lens hood.