No UV Filters on DSLR?

MikeSakamoto · Feb 22, 2006

Is it ture that you don't need an UV filter on digital because the sensors filter UV automatically? How about general protection of the lens? What do you guys normally do? Thanks.

slickhare · Feb 22, 2006

i put one on my Olyumpus E500. even if you don't need the UV filtering, it's good to have one on your lens to protect it. just spend $2.00 to protect your lens so you don't have to spend $200 if it gets damaged.

Unimaxium · Feb 22, 2006

I'm not sure whether the sensors actually filter out UV or not (it probably depends on the particular brand / model), but it's always a good idea to keep something in front of your lens like a UV filter simply for protection, and UVs are the best for that because they're clear and they're cheap. It's a heck of a lot better to get a scratch on a $30 UV filter than on the front element of a $500 lens.

I almost always keep a filter on my main lens (my other 2 lenses I could care less about). If I'm not using a polarizer, then most likely I'm keeping my UV filter on there.

The main reason to use a UV filter is mostly just for the protection, IMO.

Unimaxium · Feb 22, 2006

Ah, slickhare beat me to the 'submit' button ;-)

slickhare · Feb 22, 2006

Unimaxium said:
Ah, slickhare beat me to the 'submit' button ;-)

but you gave a more thorough explanation :mrgreen: touche!

Unimaxium · Feb 22, 2006

Ok then, I'll admit defeat. I win.

slickhare · Feb 22, 2006

Unimaxium said:
Ok then, I'll admit defeat. I win.

:scratch:....................:cheer:

markc · Feb 23, 2006

I didn't use them on either my film or digital lenses once I started shooting mostly non-landscapes. I handle my lenses carefully and it's another piece of glass that can cause flare and other issues.

A lot of people won't see the difference, so a lot depends on how clutzy you are.

MikeSakamoto · Feb 23, 2006

Thanks for your input, guys! I know some pros say it causes flare or other things to degrade the quality of the pics, but I'll probably put them on to protect it.

crawdaddio · Feb 23, 2006

I hate the flare and (sometimes) ghosting they cause. For everyday shooting I don't use them because I am careful with my equipment. If I were to go on a serious outing (mountain hiking, sandy, wet environments, really active stuff, etc....) I would probably use them for protection.

Dweller · Feb 23, 2006

I put one on my lens before it even made it to the camera. The one I got was labelled as being for digital but I just wanted something protecting the lens. I tend to take my camera on hikes and bike rides and I have a 3 year old that thinks Daddies camera is the coolest thing ever so in my case a uv/protection filter is a must.

The filter I got also has a very thin frame to help avoid vignetting.

I just found the case and its a "Quantary Professional Filter Series" Protector/UV

Peanuts · Feb 23, 2006

I also tend to use a UV filter just to protect the lens. If, say, I am taking pictures where the camera will not be moving (for instance landscapes on tripod or 'portraiture') if I remember I will take it off. But, I find them rather handy, for instance, when I do experiments involving liquids, especially something such as milk such as earlier this week. I had cleaned the lens off after, but apparently missed a splash of milk on the UV filter When I pulled it out yesterday, I had to scrub pretty hard to get it off, and still, I can't be certain if it is all gone, so I am thankful it was my filter as opposed to the lens itself.