Should you take off your u.v. Filter for night shoots

shaylou said:
I just read that I should take my filter off for night shots to prevent reflections. I have never done this and have not noticed any problems with my night shots. Do you do this?
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I would never use a UV filter for shots at any time of day, because of what it could do to your photos. The only time I'd consider putting one on is if I'm at the beach or something and there's lots of sand, sea spray, etc. kicking about.
 
shaylou said:
I just read that I should take my filter off for night shots to prevent reflections. I have never done this and have not noticed any problems with my night shots. Do you do this?
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Yes take it off and leave it off :thumbs:
 
shaylou said:
I just read that I should take my filter off for night shots to prevent reflections. I have never done this and have not noticed any problems with my night shots. Do you do this?
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There are lots of threads on this, including illustrations, showing the potential image quality issues with filters.

Street scenes at night are a particularly common problem, or sunsets, when bright light against dark backgrounds show a ghost image as the light bounces off the shiny sensor and then back again off the rear of the filter. Try it with something like car headlights and you'll see it immediately, though it's not visible through the viewfinder - only in live view or the final picture.

The other common problem is loss of sharpness with longer focal lengths and poor quality filters. Longer lenses greatly magnify any imperfections.

Use a lens hood for protection, and only fit a protection filter when there's a real danger of something nasty hitting the lens, eg salt sea spray or flying debris at a rally or motocross etc.

Edit: Don't be afraid to clean the lens , they're tougher than they look.
 
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shaylou said:
I just read that I should take my filter off for night shots to prevent reflections. I have never done this and have not noticed any problems with my night shots. Do you do this?
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If you are shooting a scene with a bright light sourse shining at the camera you could get reflections so take the filter off if it's going to be an issue. Having said that if you've not noticed any problems then maybe your gear and subject matter doesn't cause and issue.

For more normal shooting I've never ever looked at an image and thought "This image is ruined because I had a UV filter fitted." It just doesn't happen to me but I do sometimes take my cameras and lenses into potentially gear damaging environments and when I do I'll very probably have a filter fitted.

Just use common sense and exercise best judgement.
 
I was not talking about whether or not to use one at all as some of the responses suggested. Everyone has their opinion on that matter, I believe if you use a cheap filter you are asking for problems but my filter is far from cheap. This forum is generally more helpful than this. I will keep my filter on but I was just wondering if there was something about night shots that bring out the worst in even the best filter.
 
shaylou said:
...but I was just wondering if there was something about night shots that bring out the worst in even the best filter.
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Yup. At night you're possibly more likely to get issues caused by bright lights such as street lights, car headlights or whatever... these could lead to reflections and double images/ghosting etc.

I may have some examples somewhere on my pc but it'll take time to find them... Personally I've never had a problem with filters other than those caused by lights in low light shots and even then it's not something that'll happen every single time.

Personally I usually leave filters on unless I think they're going to be a problem and if so I take them off and put them back on later.
 
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woof woof said:
Yup. At night you're possibly more likely to get issues caused by bright lights such as street lights, car headlights or whatever... these could lead to reflections and double images/ghosting etc.

I may have some examples somewhere on my pc but it'll take time to find them... Personally I've never had a problem with filters other than those caused by lights in low light shots and even then it's not something that'll happen every single time.
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Thanks Alen I will keep this in mind and keep an eye out for any problems.
 
shaylou said:
I was not talking about whether or not to use one at all as some of the responses suggested. Everyone has their opinion on that matter, I believe if you use a cheap filter you are asking for problems but my filter is far from cheap. This forum is generally more helpful than this. I will keep my filter on but I was just wondering if there was something about night shots that bring out the worst in even the best filter.
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Richard and Alan directly answered your question with the problems a filtre can cause, the reason those problems occur and examples to best demonstrate the issue for yourself. What more help would you like?
 
shaylou said:
I just read that I should take my filter off for night shots to prevent reflections. I have never done this and have not noticed any problems with my night shots. Do you do this?
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Here you ask whether folks take off filters at night.

shaylou said:
I was not talking about whether or not to use one at all as some of the responses suggested. Everyone has their opinion on that matter, I believe if you use a cheap filter you are asking for problems but my filter is far from cheap. This forum is generally more helpful than this. I will keep my filter on but I was just wondering if there was something about night shots that bring out the worst in even the best filter.
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A few of us, myself included, say that we wouldn't use a filter—regardless of how much you spend on it—as it can affect images at all times (this would include night shots). I fail to see how this is 'unhelpful' as your post implies.

If you are concerned that filters might cause problems at night, why would they not also cause these problems (e.g., ghosting, reflections) during the day?

I don't really mind if you want to use filters all day long—it doesn't make a difference to me—but I don't really understand how you can ask for the opinions of others and then call them unhelpful after they take the time to respond.
 
Shayne, do some experimentation and see what results you get from your kit. Personally, I don't use a filter apart from when there's lots of airborne debris but that's just my choice. If only there was a filter to increase flair!
 
skysh4rk said:
Here you ask whether folks take off filters at night.

A few of us, myself included, say that we wouldn't use a filter—regardless of how much you spend on it—as it can affect images at all times (this would include night shots). I fail to see how this is 'unhelpful' as your post implies.

If you are concerned that filters might cause problems at night, why would they not also cause these problems (e.g., ghosting, reflections) during the day?

I don't really mind if you want to use filters all day long—it doesn't make a difference to me—but I don't really understand how you can ask for the opinions of others and then call them unhelpful after they take the time to respond.
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Well I am surely at ease knowing that you don't mind if I choose to use a filter.

If you would think about it you would see how clear it is. I ask if anyone took off their filter for night shots. You don't even use a filter so how can you answer the question. You don't take one off or put one on so therefore all you are doing is injecting your opinion on whether a filter should be used at all (NOT THE QUESTION) and therefore not helpful. I really don't know how I can explain it any simpler.
 
Nod said:
Shayne, do some experimentation and see what results you get from your kit. Personally, I don't use a filter apart from when there's lots of airborne debris but that's just my choice. If only there was a filter to increase flair!
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I have and didn't see any difference in day or night shots. I was just wondering why the info I read only took it off at night so I thought I would throw it out there.
 
HoppyUK said:
There are lots of threads on this, including illustrations, showing the potential image quality issues with filters.

Street scenes at night are a particularly common problem, or sunsets, when bright light against dark backgrounds show a ghost image as the light bounces off the shiny sensor and then back again off the rear of the filter. Try it with something like car headlights and you'll see it immediately, though it's not visible through the viewfinder - only in live view or the final picture.

The other common problem is loss of sharpness with longer focal lengths and poor quality filters. Longer lenses greatly magnify any imperfections.

Use a lens hood for protection, and only fit a protection filter when there's a real danger of something nasty hitting the lens, eg salt sea spray or flying debris at a rally or motocross etc.

Edit: Don't be afraid to clean the lens , they're tougher than they look.
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Thanks hoppy I see how it could bounce light in bright sunlight but I'm not sure how the night street scenes would be effected.
 
woof woof said:
Yup. At night you're possibly more likely to get issues caused by bright lights such as street lights, car headlights or whatever... these could lead to reflections and double images/ghosting etc.

I may have some examples somewhere on my pc but it'll take time to find them... Personally I've never had a problem with filters other than those caused by lights in low light shots and even then it's not something that'll happen every single time.

Personally I usually leave filters on unless I think they're going to be a problem and if so I take them off and put them back on later.
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Thanks I leave mine on but it looks like I may need to take it off on occasion.
 
shaylou said:
Thanks hoppy I see how it could bounce light in bright sunlight but I'm not sure how the night street scenes would be effected.
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In the way Richard says they may be. You have areas of very high contrast at night. For example, a dark sky with streetlights. Flare and ghosting may be more apparent in these situations because the light source may be reflected into a dark area of the image. In the day it can be less obvious because, even though the sun may be reflected, you have a similar level of exposure across the sky (for example).
 
shaylou said:
Well I am surely at ease knowing that you don't mind if I choose to use a filter.

If you would think about it you would see how clear it is. I ask if anyone took off their filter for night shots. You don't even use a filter so how can you answer the question. You don't take one off or put one on so therefore all you are doing is injecting your opinion on whether a filter should be used at all (NOT THE QUESTION) and therefore not helpful. I really don't know how I can explain it any simpler.
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What? Seriously? I don't really understand why you feel the need to be combative and condescending about it all.

I do own UV filters. I even occasionally use them; however, I prefer not to because of the possibility of ghosting, reflections, etc., especially at night.

I can see why you would discount my advice though; it's far more logical to look for advice about not using filters from people who always use filters.
 
I remember a shot being spoiled by reflections of the moon caused by a clear filter.
It wasn't that great a shot anyway but that incident made me aware of the risks and since then I don't have it on routinely at all.
There really is no need, even if you did clumsily scratch the end element it would be unlikely to have any ill effect.
I keep the hoods on though as they give as good protection anyway.

I suspect fragments from a thin filter breaking are potentially a more real risk than anything that can happen to a thick end element with the hood on.

It all stems from dealers trying to maximise the take by persuading you that *everyone* protects their new lens with a clear filter.
 
shaylou said:
I was not talking about whether or not to use one at all as some of the responses suggested. Everyone has their opinion on that matter, I believe if you use a cheap filter you are asking for problems but my filter is far from cheap. This forum is generally more helpful than this. I will keep my filter on but I was just wondering if there was something about night shots that bring out the worst in even the best filter.
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Right so you want an answer just based on night time photography?

Okay, take it off....

Any light source will flare like make...they can cause odd refractions....finally they can cause light that reflects from the front element back at the sensor causing for a second time causing odd anomalies in the picture be that reversed reflections of the light sources or other oddities
 
4wd said:
I remember a shot being spoiled by reflections of the moon caused by a clear filter.
It wasn't that great a shot anyway but that incident made me aware of the risks and since then I don't have it on routinely at all.
There really is no need, even if you did clumsily scratch the end element it would be unlikely to have any ill effect.
I keep the hoods on though as they give as good protection anyway.

I suspect fragments from a thin filter breaking are potentially a more real risk than anything that can happen to a thick end element with the hood on.

It all stems from dealers trying to maximise the take by persuading you that *everyone* protects their new lens with a clear filter.
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Thanks I always use a hood as well and the filter is for protection so I will definitely consider taking it off for my night shots from now on. I have not noticed any problems but I would hate to loose that one shot I really liked. I am also getting ready to shot for the first time some street night shots with a model. The timing if this info is awesome. Thanks everyone for your help.
 
shaylou said:
Thanks hoppy I see how it could bounce light in bright sunlight but I'm not sure how the night street scenes would be effected.
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It's not quite so much the brightness of the light that causes problems, but the relative brightness. In a night street scene or similar, the actual street lights are extremely bright compared to the dark/black background.

You can usually tell if it's a filter problem as the ghost image appears on the opposite side of the frame, though in some circumstances you can even get this without a filter when the light bounces off the rear lens element. Much less common though, and usually not so visible.

Ghosting can often be reduced by shooting at a higher f/number, as the diaphragm blocks the path of the reflection. And sometimes you can fix it by just altering the camera angle slightly and that makes the reflection bounce off outside the image area.

Edit: just did a quick google and loads of examples came up, here's a good one including street lights with/without filter http://www.jk-digital.com/main/2009/01/11/lens-filter-comparisons/ It also shows the benefit of multi-coated filters.
 
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MWHCVT said:
Any light source will flare like make...they can cause odd refractions....finally they can cause light that reflects from the front element back at the sensor causing for a second time causing odd anomalies in the picture be that reversed reflections of the light sources or other oddities
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I think the key word is can.

I've just been looking through night shots including lights and I can actually find only very few that show any flare problems. I assume that flare can be made worse and more visible by the angle of light and also possibly by the construction of the kit too...?

I have loads of night shots taken with filters on the lens that show no significant flare issue, this is a 100% slice cut from one that includes a traffic light and street lighting...

IMG_9422-c_zps6806fb86.jpg


That's ok for a 100% crop IMVHO. And I have... a lot of shots that show no significant issues. The only ones I can find that have issues seem to be of ghosting when there's a very bright light like a halogen floodlight/security light, but more normal street lighting etc doesn't seem to have been a problem for me.
 
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woof woof said:
I think the key word is can.

I've just been looking through night shots including lights and I can actually find only very few that show any flare problems. I assume that flare can be made worse and more visible by the angle of light and also possibly by the construction of the kit too...?

I have loads of night shots taken with filters on the lens that show no significant flare issue, this is a 100% slice cut from one that includes a traffic light and street lighting...

IMG_9422-c_zps6806fb86.jpg


That's ok for a 100% crop IMVHO. And I have... a lot of shots that show no significant issues. The only ones I can find that have issues seem to be of ghosting when there's a very bright light like a halogen floodlight/security light, but more normal street lighting etc doesn't seem to have been a problem for me.
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It all depends on what your doing in the OP there was not a lot of detail on what type of photo he was going to take, of course when your not dealing in long exposures your significantly less likely to get flare issues because your not having the light source visible for so long and also your likely to be using a reasonable wide aperture there is no panacea for this as there are so many variable, but I see no reason why you would increase risk of an issue when you can simply unscrew the damned thing....I have never used a UV the only time I would ever consider one is when there is a significant risk of damage to my front element from the type of photography that I'm doing...I've got a stack of UV on my desk that have come on used lens that I've brought they are simply of no use to me :shrug:
 
I mostly agree... I personally have a filter on most of my DSLR lenses for protection in sandy / dirty environments and so I don't have to worry about wiping away dirt / rain / snow but then I do use my cameras in situations that others wouldn't dream of.

Not everything (like flare/ghosting) is visible or easy to spot whilst your looking through the VF and if conditions are ok and not too potentially camera damaging it does make sense to take the filter off if there's a chance of light sources causing any flare or other issue.

Personally though, I find that the instances of significant flare etc affecting my images are few and very far between.
 
woof woof said:
Yup. At night you're possibly more likely to get issues caused by bright lights such as street lights, car headlights or whatever... these could lead to reflections and double images/ghosting etc.

I may have some examples somewhere on my pc but it'll take time to find them... Personally I've never had a problem with filters other than those caused by lights in low light shots and even then it's not something that'll happen every single time.

Personally I usually leave filters on unless I think they're going to be a problem and if so I take them off and put them back on later.
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I too leave them on, unless I use different ones. At night there might be some issues with some combinations of lenses and filters - it is usually easy enough to test with and without and make up your mind.
As far as sunsets/sunrises are concerned most of us put 'rubbish' uncoated graduated resin in front of the glass. How is that 'better' to a multicoated UV filter I have no clue, but we need grads and use them.
 
daugirdas said:
I would worry about sharpness and focus here
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I wouldn't. It's handheld at f5.6, ISO 800 and 1/8 second with a non IS lens and viewed at 100% from a slice cut from towards the edge of the frame. In other words... that's about as good as any human could have done with that camera and lens without a tripod :lol: Plus it's via photobucket which will mangle the sharpest of images :D
 
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I shoot concerts almost exclusively, which is close to night shooting, and I got a filter to help protect against flying sweat and beer. It ruined so many shots with lens flare that I took it off it hasn't been back on since. Just my experience.
 
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