CPF - do you remove UV filter when using CPF?

Yeah, I've seen people claim to use Haze, Skylight and UV filters for lens protection. Maybe its just semantics but the use of the word "filter" says something is being extracted from the image going into the lens.

PS - I'm no filter expert or electrical engineer. But I hope to play one on POTN someday

^ Well, in that sense yes, a UV filter *does* filter light in the ultraviolet spectrum. But it's pretty harmless and arguably not even necessary on digital cameras (other than for "protection" purposes). Short of actual, clear glass (those so-called "digital filters") it's as close as you get. Skylight definitely has a warm tint, I don't recall specifics on haze filters, but believe it's another name for UV.

UV filter doesn't make you lose one stop. It degrades quality though, but with decent one, it's not noticeable. I don't remove it simply because I don't feel like putting it up and down everytime I put polarizer on.

Unless you are shooting with full frame camera, vignetting is at the moment not really all that important But even on full frame, stacking two slim filters doesn't cause vignetting yet.

stuman16 wrote in post #5705943
...The UV is just there all the time for protection and I don't see the need to remove it and risk allowing dust onto it and the front of my lens when I use a CP filter...

I'm not taking sides here on the filter/no filter debate, but worrying about dust getting on your lens is no reason to not remove the UV filter when using a CPL (shooting through three layers of extra glass is another matter). This sounds a little like, well, OCD or paranoia. A little bit of dust will not hurt your lens, nor will it affect your image quality. And cleaning a lens, in the proper fashion, will not cause any damage either. For the life of me, I just don't understand the angst about cleaning lenses...

it's not angst, I'm just lazy and like I said I don't feel the UV filter degrades the image enough to worry about taking it off when I use a CP that's all. I'm not afraid to clean my lens, I do it all the time.

I pretty much feel the same as Primoz posted above.

WaltA wrote in post #5708460
There are posts ad nauseum here in POTN about the pro- and anti- lens protector question. Its a Ford/Chevy question and usually ends up in everyone agreeing to disagree. Its a good thing we have personal choice and can do whatever we like.

My question to the OP is - since your main purpose in using the UV filter is for lens protection why don't you just use a clear glass one instead. Then you would avoid any possible chance that your image quality is being affected by the filter - cheap or expensive?

Clear glass and a lens hood seems to me to be a logical solution to cover all angles.

OK OK OK ... sorry to start this "all over again" ..

My point to this - maybe not very clear mind you - was about the "extra layer". Like mopst of you, I need to clean my lens(es) from time to time. you know, outside, shooting at the beach, specks or smears on the lens. My point is/was, given the extra UV (or CLEAR lens) that is screwed in front of my main/expensive lens just all seems like 1 additonal LAYER of glass that must be dealt with --- and by that I mean that I need to check/clean for any grit or smears on each layer of glass. I shot at the Kite Boarding competition this week in SF - and decided to remove the extra layer - replacing it with just my CPF. .....

Point taken. I understand your comment about the extra layer. Makes sense.

I think anyone who shoots in the desert or on the beach has far different concerns than ones who aren't subject to salt/sand/water.

primoz wrote in post #5709026
UV filter doesn't make you lose one stop. It degrades quality though, but with decent one, it's not noticeable. I don't remove it simply because I don't feel like putting it up and down everytime I put polarizer on.

Ditto to that. I only have one UV filter though, as I always used to look at my 10-22 and its big, scratchable front element bulging out and think "I am going to scratch that."

Cody21 wrote in post #5705020
You're obviously not afraid to get crap on your lens or worst yet - damage it... Given that, what do you use to clean it???? I usually use a rocket blower, and then steam/breath with my microfibre towel to clean my UV (or CPF) filter.

I use a cleaning kit I bought from Copperhill. It has a brush, lens tissue, cleaning fluid and a microfiber cloth. In a pinch, I use the tail of my T-shirt...

iamaelephant wrote in post #5705272
Keep in mind that depending on the lens, stacking filters can also cause vignetting.

That's why I quit using them...

Double Negative wrote in post #5705317
So I take it you have no weathersealed lenses which Canon recommends fitting a UV filter to, to complete sealing? Or shoot in harsh environments?

I have one weather sealed lens, but as I don't have a weather sealed camera it's kind of a moot point...

WaltA wrote in post #5716476
I think anyone who shoots in the desert or on the beach has far different concerns than ones who aren't subject to salt/sand/water.

I've shot in the desert in blowing sand and I've shot from small boats on the open ocean. I take a bit more care in adverse conditions, but I don't go to extremes and I don't use filters in those conditions. Besides, camera gear is high priced as it is. UV filters are just one more unnecessary expense.

But we're getting off topic here. In answer to the OP's original question, if I were using a UV filter, I would remove it before installing the polarizer. This eliminates the possibility of any vignetting problems or additional flare caused by the additional layer of glass added to the front of the lens.

JWright wrote in post #5718341
I have one weather sealed lens, but as I don't have a weather sealed camera it's kind of a moot point...

Okay, that works...