Filter choice

[bcs89]

Hi All,
I have a question about UV filters, when being used as a "clear lens cap" for protection, how important is the make? There is a huge spectrum of prices and I assume quality, how much do you need to spend? And are certain brands better - optics/construction - than others? I am not talking about filters in general, just UV filters. I guess what I am asking is do you need to drop big bucks on a UV filter, or will one of the lesser priced brands work just as well? Also, I am not including the really cheap plastic ones. Any info or suggestions would be great - Thanks!

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Scott,
IHMO, the quality of your picture is going to be no better than the lowest quality of the glass it passes through. If you put a cheap filter on an expensive lens, you have a cheap lens! It's not so much whether they do the job of getting rid of the UV but whether they introduce distortion, flare etc. I prefer such makes as B+W, heliopan etc that make their filters from high quality schott glass and have good coatings. At the least I will use a good quality maker such as Tiffen, Hoya etc.

Kim

 

[bcs89]

Thanks Kim, you answered the question I was trying (and not doing a very good job of) of asking. It all comes down to the glass, and common sense I guess. I was just wondering if since with the UV filters there was nothing else going on (color/effects so on) if they were all starting on the same level. Now that I actually put that in print it - and read your reply 😉 - it seems pretty obvious that you would need quality glass to start with, which means paying the price. But how much?

 

[bcs89]

Hey🙂

What is it exactly that you're protecting it against?

ManGo

Chipmunks of course! Yeah they look cute and all, but you cant trust 'em as far as you can roll 'em. 😀

Just the usual stuff actually, dings, dust, dirt so on.

 

[richard_l]

Get a cheap UV filter, but remove it when you take a picture.

 

[Kim Coxon]

If you are going to take the filter off everytime you use the camera, why not use a lens cap 😕

Kim

 

[peter_n]

B+W and Hoya.

 

[swoop]

Wow. I'm also a fan of B+W & Hoya HMC filters. I suppose great minds think alike. 🙂

I don't use lens caps. They're irritating and get in the way. So I keep a UV filter on all of my lenses at all times. From the day I buy them I blow them with some air and then screw the filter on and they stay perfect. The filter gets dirty often. But the filters are easily replacable and cheap compared to the price of the lens. I also like knowing that the filters I use are quality. Even if I intend on them being disposable.