Filter question for lens protection

I shoot horse events and they are dusty dirty and "lens dangerous" due to flying debris. A UV filter on an expensive lens just makes sense. In a pinch you can temporarily remove it to finish the shot sequence.
Pretty much goes hand-in-hand with lens hoods.

Yella Fella wrote in post #2565254
just quickly... im looking for some hi grade filters just to protect the lens element...

There's no chance of "quickly" on this subject!

It's been kicked about for ever it seems, and about the only thing we seem to agree on is the inalienable right to disagree... it's great fun though We seem to be split roughly 50/50 or so, but the salient points are...

Any filter will degrade the image
This is perfectly true. The argument comes in whether you can see the degradation in real life? I think that most times you can't see any difference at all, if you can, then take the filter off for that shot.

Does it really give you much protection?
It depends... filters works well against sticky fingers and so on but a lens hood will give you more protection against impact damage where it can absorb a lot of the energy first. But you should virtually always use a lens hood anyway.

A filter is easier to clean
Untrue. It's just as hard/easy to clean a filter properly as it is to clean the front element of the lens. What is true is that the consequences of screwing it up big style and scratching the glass is somewhat easier to deal with for a filter.

The good filters are really expensive
They're not cheap but as in all things you get what you pay for. You've less chance of visible image degradation with the top class filters. Heliopan, B+W and the top end Hoya ones are good (always choose the multi coated).

If that sounds like I'm sat on the fence on this one I'm not. I'm very much in favour of using filters. But I do respect the views of others who are totally opposed to the routine use of filters for protection.

of course it's only a matter of time before the next thread on this subject starts up... by the way do you think I'd be better off with the 85mm 1.2 or 1.8?


cheers
Bill

jr_senator wrote in post #2583897
Jon, you are just too much, air worse than filters? Do you understand how silly that sounds?

I'm just applying your(Iil)logic. Ever looked at jet exhausts? Seen the distortion you get looking through them? Seen mirages or examples of mirages? Heat shimmer off roads and the like? If you've got optically flat glass, it isn't going to distort the incoming light rays. I'll repeat - if you can show a legitimate, unflawed test of quality filters showing a consistent impact on IQ, I'll believe it. So far, the only tests I've seen have either had low quality filters and/or flawed methodology, sort of like testing a Yugo on a race track or a Rolls for off-roading.

Jon, I don't see how anyone can help but like you, I don't see how I can't help but like you, you crack me up.