Not making any claims here......

[BrianV]

This debate is even more stupid than the film versus digital debate.

Use filters or don't. Use digital or film, or don't. If you continuously argue over it, less time taking pictures.

I took three lenses apart yesterday to make one really good one with clean glass. I wish they had used filters on all three. One good lens, one with light marks on the glass, one in the parts bin. If someone's solution is to use a lens with scratches on it, overall results are affected more than using a good filter. If the solution is to just buy another lens as soon as the old one is scratched- more expensive than using a filter, but will transmit more light.