UV Filters. Do they do anything?

caerlas · Sep 10, 2003

I bought a uv filter for my camcorder primarily to protect the lens from getting scratched. I know that UV filters are supposed to take some of the haze out of your daylight shots but I haven't noticed a difference at all. It's nothing compared to the difference I see with a polarizing filter.

dlc · Sep 10, 2003

It could make a difference if it was hazy and also the blueish cast in open shade, at least with film.

Jeff Canes · Sep 10, 2003

caerlas said:
I bought a uv filter for my camcorder primarily to protect the lens from getting scratched. I know that UV filters are supposed to take some of the haze out of your daylight shots but I haven't noticed a difference at all. It's nothing compared to the difference I see with a polarizing filter.

Did the same for a still camera lens that I have, it's a 77mm so I when with the UV over the polarize filter because of the cost, it was a mistake for me

ksmattfish · Sep 11, 2003

Polarizers don't remove haze, they remove glare/reflections. This tends to saturate colors and darken blue skies perpendicular to the arc that the sun travels (if you are facing towards or directly away from the sun, polarizers don't do much, if the sun is directly to your left or right, you get max effect). Polarizers block at least 2 stops of light.

UV filters block UV which isn't even part of the visible spectrum (at least for humans). But scattering UV can cause a hazy look. In some situations this is unnoticable, but in others it can greatly affect your images. I have noticed more UV haze in the mountains and in bigger cities. I don't always shoot with the UV on, sometimes the haze is what I'm after.

Still, the main reason people use UV filters is to protect the lens. If you bash the end of the lens into something you are trashing a $10 filter, not your lens.

A sky filter has a hint of pink. This blocks UV, and slightly warms your image. This helps counter the bluish light in the shade, on overcast days, and from electronic flash. Many people use them as protection instead of a UV filter.

nikon90s · Sep 12, 2003

ksmattfish said:
Still, the main reason people use UV filters is to protect the lens. If you bash the end of the lens into something you are trashing a $10 filter, not your lens.

I could not put it better....

Jeff Canes · Sep 14, 2003

nikon90s said:
ksmattfish said:

Still, the main reason people use UV filters is to protect the lens. If you bash the end of the lens into something you are trashing a $10 filter, not your lens.

Click to expand...

I could not put it better....

For my experience and the comments in the above postings UV filters dont work well at removing UV haze, so that filter will

photobug · Sep 14, 2003

Actually they do work reasonably well at removing haze caused by UV light. The problem is, most of the haze that you can see is caused by environmental factors, not UV light.

Ain't no filter gonna get rid of that haze. But, without it, we woudln't have glorious sunrises or sunsets. Ever notice how they seem richer in summer than in the winter? More stuff in the air, more haze, better pics early & late in the day. Crappy pics during the day. It's a trade off. :wink:

Jim

Jeff Canes · Sep 15, 2003

Environmental factors? Smog in the mountains of our beautiful National Parks? I like blue skies in my mountains shots. How about a blue graduated filter? Back to polarizer filters

they tends to saturate colors and darken blue skies

will they do this to hazy skies?

ksmattfish · Sep 15, 2003

A polarizer will not make haze or clouds turn blue, they only darken the actual blue sky. On a slightly overcast day, you may get some polarizing affect. On a very overcast day it will be gray with or without the pol.

There are two main types of polarizer filters. Linear for cameras using manual focus, and circular for cameras using auto-focus. The circular pol costs two to three times as much, but AF doesn't work through a linear pol.

Back to UV filters. I would say that 99.9% of the time I am making the decision whether to use a UV filter or not I am considering potential lens damage issues. For portrait sittings I usually don't use one. When I'm shooting bands at the Replay Lounge I put one on. It protects from anyone or anything that hits or touches the front of the lens. I also feel better about repeatedly wiping rain or spilled beer off the UV filter than the actual lens surface.

Nikki · Sep 26, 2003

Over here in Australia, in the national parks we get a haze caused by the eucalyptus oil in the trees. From a distance the mountains can look distinctly blue on a really warm day and I believe that the Blue Mountains in New South Wales actually got their name because of this effect. Just wondering what effect, if any, a polariser or a UV filter might have on this?

drlynn · Sep 26, 2003

I can't imagine either a polarizer or UV filter affecting this type of haze much.

caerlas · Sep 27, 2003

Yeah if it's something in the air I don't know how you'd fix it. You might study the work of filmmakers down under. See how they deal with those things.

hotkev69 · Sep 28, 2003

You can also look into Haze filters by Tiffen. Her's the website.
http://www.tiffen.com/filters.htm

Haze 1 - Reduces excessive blue haze caused by UV light by absorbing 71% of UV. Great all-around UV control.

Haze 2A - Absorbs all UV light; reduces haze; maintains color and image clarity. Best for high altitude and marine scenes.

I use a Haze 1 and I see difference in my pictures, mostly in the mountains or near the water.

marlonroque · Sep 29, 2003

:salute: a very very interesting topic. I commend everybody who posted their individual opinion on the this and that of uv and pol filters. A newcomer like will really learn a lot from you guys. Thanks a lot.