How do you protect your front lens elment?

[craygc]

Just to through some other views into this thread. For the third time, I've just come back from photographing the Thai New Year festivities (called Song Kran). For those who aren't aware of what this is, it is best described as a 3~4 day non stop water fight. Example...

Song Kran 2008

Every time I've photographed this event I've used a Nikonos V (well, almost a rangefinder - guessfinder is probably a more apt term 😀). In previous years I have found trying to keep water off and/or from beading on the front element the hardest task; frequently resulting in shots that are obviously affected from the water beads. My point in terms of lens protection is that prior to this year's event, I purchased an after-market screw in metal lens hood for the 35mm lens. The result was the best lens protection ever. Keeping the lens pointed towards the ground, the front element kept dry even after the camera received multiple direct hits from buckets of water. In 3 days I only had to wipe water off about 6 times - mainly due to being caught off guard as I was resetting the focal distance - and never had one shot ruined due to water on the front element.

Lens hoods rock...

 

[Pherdinand]

i only use a protective filter if it's a new lens (new for me) and i am not sure if i will like/use it enough so i try to protect it for a future resale.

 

[Didier]

Never used filters for protection but for their effect on the picture, mostly Y, O or R for B&W work. Don't use these anymore since I shoot digital. Hoods take too much place in my jacket pockets, so they stay at home mostly (except for the flare prone Canon 50/1.2).

But not using hoods and filters it's not really "living dangerously" like suggested in the poll. Can't understand that paranoia. Damn, it's glass, not your balls. Or do you carry a cup in your slip everyday? 🙂

Most lenses can be cleaned easily, just take care with older Leitz and other old glass with soft coatings.

 

[myoptic3]

I do not enjoy cleaning camera glass, so once I get my lens all spiffy a MC UV filter goes right on. Shouldn't ever need to clean it again. I also use a yellow filter if it's bright out w/ B&W film. Having lived by the ocean, a filter of some kind is a good idea. Salt spray is not something you want on a lens. I also nearly always use a hood, AND I have a lens cap that fits the hood. Cleaning filters is not my idea of fun either. Accidents will happen, and I would rather scratch a filter than a lens any day.

 

[Pherdinand]

I take the front element out and leave it at home.
Much safer!

 

[raid]

I do not use filters on RF lenses but I used to use them on SLR lenses in the past. I always have a lens hood on the lenses and I avoid taking the expensive lenses when I am close to sea water. One of my favorite "close to ocean lens" is the one attached to my Konica S2. I always thought that's why there exists a Konica S2. It is a perfect ocean camera.

 

[Windscale]

I use lens hoods and UV (or skylight) filters on all my lenses manly for protection. I do many blow-ups (to 24x36 in). I have also done many tests regarding the use of filters. I did not find them contributory or detrimental to a good picture, even the cheaper ones. But I do normally use better ones. However, a good lens hood does make a lot of difference, especially with older (non-multi-coated) lenses.

 

[Soeren]

I use a lens cap.

How does it affect image quality shooting through a lenscap ? 😀

I use hoods for my 50 and 85mm's and nothing for the rest of the lenses though my 20mm would be better of with some kind of hood I think.
Kind regards

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Put the lens in a presentation box and take it out only on your birthday.

For three minutes.

 

[presspass]

I use my Leicas in rain and snow as well as on sunny dry days. For the past 30+ years I've also been documenting our volunteer fire company. Since I don't have time at a fire or rescue call to put filters and hoods on, I keep them on all lenses. I don't use caps on the lenses that are either on the cameras or in the bag. I've lost a couple of Leica caps at fire scenes and they're just too expensive to replace. I have made comparisons between shots through UV filters and ones without and printed the tests up to 11x14 (black and white) and haven't seen a difference.

 

[Morca007]

All of my Nikon SLR lenses have UV filters on them. My J-8 receives no such luxury, when I'm out the lens cap stays in the pocket and the front element lives dangerously.

 

[rogerchristian]

I use a filter on every lens if for no other reason than to make sure I can put on another filter in the future.

 

[MikeL]

I'm just careful about where I put my front element. If I put it in the wrong place I can get scratches and fungus on it. I can also get spots on it that won't go away. People close to you might not like spots on your front element.
If you decide to put it someplace risky, then having something covering your front element is a safe idea. Good luck.

 

[kipkeston]

neither ! what's a little dust on the front element?

 

[Shadowplay]

I'm just careful about where I put my front element. If I put it in the wrong place I can get scratches and fungus on it. I can also get spots on it that won't go away. People close to you might not like spots on your front element.
If you decide to put it someplace risky, then having something covering your front element is a safe idea. Good luck.

I had to have a fungus removed from the inside of mine once. It was a very unpleasant experience that first involved inserting a q-tip into the lens barrel to detect what type of fungus it was.

 

[MikeL]

I had to have a fungus removed from the inside of mine once. It was a very unpleasant experience that first involved inserting a q-tip into the lens barrel to detect what type of fungus it was.

I've heard that test can be unpleasant, and my sympathies. The cost/benefit analysis of this happening is not always done when one is thinking...er... clearly. You see something in the moment, and the next thing you know you have an obstruction in the lens barrel. Protect when you can.....

 

[FallisPhoto]

How does it affect image quality shooting through a lenscap ? 😀

I use hoods for my 50 and 85mm's and nothing for the rest of the lenses though my 20mm would be better of with some kind of hood I think.
Kind regards

Not at all, because I take it off. I don't do much impulse shooting.

 

[John Lawrence]

With my old LTM lenses I use either UV or Skylight filters to protect the front element. I always try to use a lens hood with any lens I have - more to keep stray light out than for protection though.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Oh WOW! Now I'm thinking that maybe I should take all my Leica bodies and lenses, wrap them in Saran Wrap with silica gell packets, then in foam before sticking them, along with more silica gell, into two layers of zip-lock bags, finishing off with a padded cmera bag. Store the whole thing in the deep freeze of course. I can buy the store brand disposeable cameras at Walgreens for little more than the price of film. A lot of you guys would look at my photos and wonder how I managed to get such unreal yet intense colors with just that little hint of softness...

 

[ElectroWNED]

I use a lens cap.

I agree with this post.