UV Filters

P

Philx1979

Messages
987
Name
Phil
Edit My Images
No
For the last few years i haven`t bothered with UV filters on my lenses as i got fed up of taking them on and off to fit my lee filter kit or etc etc, i`ve always said its better to have good lens insurance rather than UV filters that degrade quality, but recently i purchased a Nikon 70-200 2.8 and being a expensive piece of kit i thought it might pay to put one on it to protect the front element.

I had a cheap UV filter off ebay that i had a few years back tried that on there and the image quality isn`t as sharp as without it. (done tests on a tripod taking pics of a coke can lol)

Question i`m asking is, how much do i have to spend on a UV filter in order to still be able to get perfect quality and what do you recommend?

Has anyone else done this and can they vouch for a brand etc. I dont want to buy one then have to send it back if it degrades optical sharpness.
 
Last edited:
Philx1979 said:
For the last few years i haven`t bothered with UV filters on my lenses as i got fed up of taking them on and off to fit my lee filter kit or etc etc, i`ve always said its better to have good lens insurance rather than UV filters that degrade quality, but recently i purchased a Nikon 70-200 2.8 and being a expensive piece of kit i thought it might pay to put one on it to protect the front element.

I had a cheap UV filter off ebay that i had a few years back tried that on there and the image quality isn`t as sharp as without it. (done tests on a tripod taking pics of a coke can lol)

Question i`m asking is, how much do i have to spend on a UV filter in order to still be able to get perfect quality and what do you recommend?

Has anyone else done this and can they vouch for a brand etc. I dont want to buy one then have to send it back if it degrades optical sharpness.
Click to expand...

For the one or two occasions a year when I deem it prudent to use it, I use a Hoya HD filter. As good as it gets I think so £50-60 in answer to your question:)
 
Philx1979 said:
Question i`m asking is, how much do i have to spend on a UV filter in order to still be able to get perfect quality
Click to expand...

You can't.

All UV filters will cause image degradation. The seriousness of this degradation tends to decrease as filter cost increases. With expensive filters the degradation may, in most cases, be unoticable. In some situations all filters, even the most expensive, will cause noticeable degradation.
 
+1 for Frank. I had hoya and other good makes of UV filters on all my lenses and was disappointed by the lack of sharpness of my 7D. I did a shoot one day without one on and the difference was amazing. I took all my filters off and the sharpness is there with all my lenses now. I only use them now if I'm shooting in a wet or very dusty environment. Stick a lens hood on and forget the filters! My opinion only of course!
 
You can get away with as little as £20 one fleabay for a hoya pro1d - just need to give it plenty of time and be very careful. No complaints yet.

Ironically, 70-200mm is the least likely to get damaged due to it's long protective lens hood, and long working distance. Something wide probably needs a filter a lot more for the opposite reasons.
 
I wouldn't bother.

You may as well Sellotape cling film to the end of your lens.
 
i think i need to do some test tonight, i always feel my nikon 28-70 f2.8 is not as sharp as i think. I try AF fine tune but make no different, so i don't think my camera and lens is out on the AF.
 
petersmart said:
Does that really improve the IQ of your pics? :lol:

.
Click to expand...

Er.... I think you may have misinterpreted my post!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top