who uses neutral lens filter to protect lens?

Personally, I use hoods. Buying "protective" filters is a waste of money imo. However, I am extremely careful with my stuff; have never had a single scratched lens. I no longer give an outright recommendation one way or the other on this subject. There's too much drama. Use the method that works for you.
 
Considering that neutral filters don't protect lenses (that's what hoods and common sense are for) and offer varying degrees of image degradation, my answer is 'no'**.

** - on the beach, I'll use one. That's perhaps the one instance where there is enough particulate matter flying around that it might actually affect my lens. But otherwise, never. Anything that can break my filter can (and will) break my front element, too.
 
I have seen a lot of lenses that I would consider aged before their time..(filter plus hood)... I use filters for several reasons
- keep from accidental putting my finger prints on the lens
- protect from accumulative effects of winds (fine sand) - ever been in a sand storm?
- let the filter take the brunt of a drop (I am clumsy)
Of the three listed, the first and last are the normal use for me. I have been in two sand storms in my life.

Get good quality filters.. Bad ones will affect your overall iq.

Gary
 
edge100 said:
Considering that neutral filters don't protect lenses (that's what hoods and common sense are for) and offer varying degrees of image degradation, my answer is 'no'**.

** - on the beach, I'll use one. That's perhaps the one instance where there is enough particulate matter flying around that it might actually affect my lens. But otherwise, never. Anything that can break my filter can (and will) break my front element, too.
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Ever seen a lens w/ a dented filter screw area? A filter does help.. A lot depends on luck but u never know.

Gary
 
i live on the canadian prairie...quite often windy & dusty in the summer...lots of blowing snow in the winter...i use uv/protector filter religiously...
 
Never.

If a lens cant take some resistance for scratches, then its a bad lens.
Iäve even once managed to hit my OM Zuiko 18/3.5 (with its heavily bulging lens) against a steel davit onboard a ship, not a mark on the lens. my lux have been w/o a hood tumbling in a bag with metal objects, nothing visible. Rain, water, seawater, salt, sand, gear is for use. If the equipment cant hold upp, then its not up to the standards set for them.
 
GaryLH said:
Ever seen a lens w/ a dented filter screw area? A filter does help.. A lot depends on luck but u never know.

Gary
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Yes, I have.

Never had one myself, though I'm careful with my gear. Come to think of it, those two things might be related. ;)
 
edge100 said:
Yes, I have.

Never had one myself, though I'm careful with my gear. Come to think of it, those two things might be related. ;)
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Only had one drop in all the years. The roll film back of a baby linhof. Some one bumped my elbow just at the wrong time while I was taking the back off :(. Those things are built like tanks. Anyway, there are always the unforeseen accidents.

Gary
 
I have young children Easier to clean finger prints and spittle off of a filter than a 50 year old leica lens with soft coatings. UV filters on every lens with a filter thread for me
I have never noticed any image degradtion. I only use b and w mc filters
Nik
 
I always use hoods and almost always use UV filters (B+W MRC). I don't notice a dilution in quality but I don't look out for it, either...
 
I forgot to mention.

One of the first things I look for when I buy a used lens from someone I don't know.. Does it have a filter? What's the filter look like and what the glass on the lens look like.

I have seen enough filters that show improper technique for lens cleaning. Most of the time but not aways, the glass on other side of the filter still looks good.

I saw one where I could swear the guy must have always cleaned it w/ anything that was handy.

Gary
 
As far as UV filters go, every lens, every day, no exceptions. I still shoot 2-6 rolls of Tri-X or HP5+ a week and have been documenting our local volunteer fire company since the late 70s. I don't want to deal with the crud that flies around a fire scene or vehicle accident without filter, especially when the weather's nasty. And I don't have the coordination to put them on while barely awake at 2 a.m. If I could be careful when and what I shot, probably not. As it is, every lens, every day.
 
Once I take off my lens cap, it stays off until I pack my camera up. It's quite annoying to take it off and put it back on, especially with my particular lens hoods. Also, I usually find myself outside rain, shine, wind, propellants, and once in a while I manage to smudge my filter.

Pick your filter wisely. I recommend a quality filter among the likes of a B+W UV Haze. I never experienced a degrade in quality, but equally important, is that brass ring doesn't distort and it's so easy to clean!

I used to use Hoya Pro 1 Neutral, but it was a PAIN TO CLEAN, and was not smooth getting off and on.
 
presspass said:
As far as UV filters go, every lens, every day, no exceptions.
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^^^ This.

I live and shoot close to the ocean and have expensive lenses. So protective filters is a must.

Use Hoya, Heliopan or B+W multi-coated filters and the optical effect is Zero.

When shooting 400 ASA in daylight, I quite often use ND0.6 or ND0.9, pol or yellow filters, depending on camera and film.

Roland.
 
I always keep my lens cap off so I'm all ready for a shot, should one come along. Under these circumstances its a must to keep a Skylight filter on.
 
Actually that is one of the other reasons I always have a filter on as well.. I may have a lens cap on when the lens is stored, but once it is attached to the body, lens cap stays off the duration, even when its in the camera bag. Just one less thing to do to get ready to take the shot.

Gary
 
I use UVs simply because Hong Kong is too moist...Go out of a building and your front element will be covered with fine droplets. Without a UV I'd have too wait ~15 minutes for the lens barrel to warm up, with one I can shirt-wipe the filter and shoot :D
 
Carl Zeiss filters on every lens. It is a myth good filters cause image degradation. In certain lighting conditions, you'll get the same image degradation with or without the filter. I replace the filter every 2-3 years, something I can't do with the lens front element.
 
I do. There are few instances where even a good multicoated filter can cause some ghosting. If I'm doing long exposure shots at night (not often), if I think of it, I might pop off the filter. The rest of the time they stay on. It's peace of mind for me in terms of protection. Not necessarily from the front element getting hammered, but sea spray, other liquids, finger prints, etc.
 
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