Lens protection

T

Tdes

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Tony
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I am investing in lenses and would like to make them last as long as possible.

Does anyone use the clear filter type of screw in to cover the front of the lens? If so is there anything i should know or avoid?

Many thanks in advance.

T
 
Tdes said:
I am investing in lenses and would like to make them last as long as possible.

Does anyone use the clear filter type of screw in to cover the front of the lens? If so is there anything i should know or avoid?

Many thanks in advance.

T
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Hi Tony, as I take a lot of images down on the beach I have and use Hoya UV filters. I`d rather clean a filter than the lens it self, some very cheap UV filters might degrade the image and some folk won`t use them at all. Hope this helps you.
PS: I always use a lens hood too.
 
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Always use a lens hood. Fit a high quality UV or plain glass filter if you think it's absolutely necessary (blowing sand, dust, spume etc), but there's no reason to leave it on all the time.

This has worked for me since the SLR days, from the 70s onwards.
 
I do not use one because it can deteriorate the image Quality. I do carry one in my bag in case I photograph in exceptional circumstances but this has not happened yet. If you do choose to use one, it is important to remove it before using any other filter. While one filter can cause IQ problems, two filters is much worse. The best protection is to always use a lens hood both for protection from stray light and physical protection.

Dave
 
This subject tends to be marginally more controversial than Brexit. Some people use them all the time, some only rarely, others never. If you use one, choose a high quality filter that is both multicoated and has an additional layer that makes it easy to clean. Examples include the MRC and MRC Nano ranges from B+W, and the HD and Fusion/EVO ranges from Hoya. Hoya Pro-1 and HMC filters are multicoated, but lack the easy-clean layer. Both companies also make uncoated or single-coated filters that you probably don't want - multicoating has a big impact on reducing flare when shooting into a bright light source. Use a hood for shading your lens from out of frame light sources and for impact protection in certain circumstances. A filter is more useful for protecting against wind-blown grit and rain, etc., and might save your lens from careless cleaning in the field. If you do choose to use one routinely, be aware of situations where it is more likely to have a negative impact and consider removing it (cityscapes at night with many bright light sources, shooting with the sun in the frame, etc.).
 
The only lens I don't have it on is the Macro, it is because where and when it is used, it is a controlled environment.

Vs say the 50mm where it is used all over in all time and day and situations.

Although my Sigma 105 has no filter on it, thinking getting one but might not as it will only be used for a photo and then back in the bag.
 
Thanks to all, my only experience with a filter was a uv filter on a pentax sf-x camera back in 1989, where I notices a bit of dust under it so tried to take it off to clean and pulled out the front of the lens! That was day 2 of a trip to Australia.

I have the 24-70 L ii and the 70-200 L ii and was using them at an evening event in the rain last week, I noticed all the rain marks and smudges on the front lens after. It is unavoidable but wondered if a filter would protect. I was shooting into the lights at certain times so may not be the best thing for me!

Will have to be careful with my cleaning regime!

T
 
Try to keep the hood on where possible, to be honest I rarely bother with the cap if the hood is on, never mind so called UV filters - they definitely have potential to slightly degrade your image but a few places where there is salty or dirt water spray or blowing sand well maybe.
I wouldn't be keen on using an expensive camera in those conditions anyway, other parts are more likely to get damaged than the lens element.
Anyone using a clear filter all the time should try a side by side of something with lots of detail e.g. foliage or a brick wall, result could be disturbing, there is also an increased risk of refraction from bright lights or sun not quite in frame.
 
That's why I put a filter on, out in the field I have often (shock!) use my shirt to clean the front element and in my case, the filter on many occasions.  Either raindrops or accidental smear from my fingers.

I know I am not touching the lens so no chance of damage.
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Also, one time in Stockholm out in the cold in December, like -15c, something happened on my tripod that the head came loose from the feet and the camera fell, lens first into the ground, the filter took the blunt of the shock and the lens was 100% fine. &nbsp;It did take pliers to get the filter off though but lens survived without a scratch. &nbsp;And no, I didn’t have a hood on, normally I don’t use a hood when travelling to keep the size down.
 
Tdes said:
Thanks to all, my only experience with a filter was a uv filter on a pentax sf-x camera back in 1989, where I notices a bit of dust under it so tried to take it off to clean and pulled out the front of the lens! That was day 2 of a trip to Australia.

I have the 24-70 L ii and the 70-200 L ii and was using them at an evening event in the rain last week, I noticed all the rain marks and smudges on the front lens after. It is unavoidable but wondered if a filter would protect. I was shooting into the lights at certain times so may not be the best thing for me!

Will have to be careful with my cleaning regime!

T
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One advantage B+W claims for their filters is that the brass rings are less likely to bind to the filter thread (as may have happened to your Pentax) than the aluminium rings used by other companies. Filters (together with other protection) can be useful in the rain but, as you suggest, you have to balance that against the possible negative effect when shooting into the light. Have a look at this review to get an idea of how various filters cope when shooting light sources:

https://www.lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test_Introduction.html

You probably aren't interested in the UV tests that are included in the overall ratings, but the pictures are informative. The test is a few years old, so not all modern filter ranges are included, but compare (e.g.) the multicoated B+W MRC with the uncoated Tiffen:

https://www.lenstip.com/113.5-article-UV_filters_test_B+W_72mm_010M_UV-Haze_MRC.html
https://www.lenstip.com/113.24-article-UV_filters_test_Tiffen_72mm_UV.html
 
TGphoto said:
I always use UV filters on my lenses. I do get decent ones but I hate cleaning the glass. My lenses seem to still take nice sharp images.
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Why do your lenses need cleaning? I almost never need to clean the front element of my lenses. I always keep a lens hood on and apart from when I am actually shooting, I keep the lens cap on as well. I do keep a proper lens cleaning cloth in my bag but only very occasionally has rain got on to the front element of a wide angle lens because the hood is not very deep. In most cases the front element of the lens is much more robust that a glass filter.

Dave
 
I ditched most of my filters when I moved to digital. A Cpl and grads are worth having though.
 
Hoya HD filters are very good. I have never noticed any degradation in image quality and they they are very tough.
 
I only use a U.V filter (protection filter) when shooting in dusty or sandy areas, like the beach for example.

I have seen others drop lenses with filters on and the filter caused more issues than it would have done without as the filter gets bent around the lens and can't be removed or the filters glass breaks and scratches the lens etc.

I also have a 10 stop and a CPL I use when needed.

I do mostly use a hood more as a method of protecting the lens rather than it's intended purpose. Occasionally though I will do away with the hood as well when I am looking for a bit of flare.

I am pretty careful with my gear but if the worst where to happen it is all well insured.
 
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MartynK said:
Always use a lens hood. Fit a high quality UV or plain glass filter if you think it's absolutely necessary (blowing sand, dust, spume etc), but there's no reason to leave it on all the time.

This has worked for me since the SLR days, from the 70s onwards.
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:agree: This is what I do and did ... ---
 
I've used primarily skylight 1B filters on almost all of my lenses for near 20 years, which is a throwback to shooting film. (Dad did the same since the 70's) I tend to use clear UV filters now as I don't need the tint. The only issues I've ever had with keeping them fitted 100% of the time is at night with bright lights causing extra flare due to reflections off the filter. (modern HMC filters have significantly reduced this issue) I've never noticed any drop in image sharpness from having them fitted. I keep them fitted as they help protect the lens from rain, fingers, dust, dirt and other stray objects that somehow find their way in. I don't have them fitted to protect from dropping a lens. If I drop a lens, I don't expect it to survive. If it does "survive", I expect some optical degradation from de-centering.

Current filters of choice for me depending on the price are:
Hoya HMC / HD / Pro 1
Kenko Celeste / Realpro / Pro1D
B+W F-Pro MRC
 
Dave Canon said:
Why do your lenses need cleaning? I almost never need to clean the front element of my lenses. I always keep a lens hood on and apart from when I am actually shooting, I keep the lens cap on as well. I do keep a proper lens cleaning cloth in my bag but only very occasionally has rain got on to the front element of a wide angle lens because the hood is not very deep. In most cases the front element of the lens is much more robust that a glass filter.

Dave
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Because they get dirty, or wet.

I often shoot near water so either risk spray from the sea or waterfalls. I recently shot in sand dunes etc. I just like to protect the front elements.

If I was shooting with crap cheap glass I wouldn’t care but if I’m shooting with an £800 lens a 1% degradation in image quality is worth the piece of mind and protection that I don’t have to obsess over cleaning my lens perfectly to avoid cleaning marks (and I am slightly obsessive over it). The lowest quality uv filter I use is a Hoya pro 1 but I often use other filters anyway, so maybe most of my images are 5% less sharp than they could be but it’s part and parcel of shooting landscapes I think. One of my lenses I always use a filter on, I’m astounded sometimes at how sharp the images from it are. My wide angle, I do sometimes wonder if it increases flare from the sun.

I do use my 85mm for only wedding use so don’t have a filter on that, but the lens hood is long and the front element fairly recessed.
 
Like many others I'd only put one on if circumstances demand it (spray, flying grit etc). Generally UV filters do nothing to protect against impacts.

How much they degrade the image depends on the focal length of the lens you're using, it might be awkward to spot on a wide lens even with relatively cheap filters, but with a long telephoto any minor imperfection will show up.
 
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