UV or Protection

hobodan · 20 Feb 2013

Hi all, I am after some free advice again!

I would like a filter to protect the front element of my Fuji 35mm for times when I dont want the hood attached and keep the package a little less pokey out.

With this in mind I have narrowed it down to 2 filters...

Hoya HD Protection or
Hoya HD UV

Both will offer the protection I would like but my question is, would I benefit from the UV filter or should I go for the plain Protective filter?

Both filters are priced just ovet £20

a1ex2001 · 20 Feb 2013

UV does nothing for digital so get the cheapest!

hollis_f · 20 Feb 2013

One will block UV and degrade your image quality. And so will the other.

philthejuggler · 20 Feb 2013

hollis_f said:
One will block UV and degrade your image quality. And so will the other.

...but to a negligible amount.

jmc41 · 20 Feb 2013

I believe UV filters have a very small / neglibible effect on DSLRs. I stick Hoya HD ones on all my lenses in 99% of cases and haven't any complaints. You need to use a filter on most L lenses to complete the weather sealing, not sure if that applies to Nikon ones too?

Given my 17-85 just went to MPB as Mint- after ~10k shots over 13 months including snow storms abroad and scottish weather last september - it did it's job.

hollis_f · 20 Feb 2013

philthejuggler said:
...but to a negligible amount.

Really? The one on the left is without a filter. The other two are with.

hollis_f · 20 Feb 2013

jmc41 said:
You need to use a filter on most L lenses to complete the weather sealing,

Nope. It's a mere handful of lenses.

Jayst84 · 20 Feb 2013

hobodan said:
Both filters are priced just ovet £20

a1ex2001 said:
UV does nothing for digital so get the cheapest!

As said, UV filtres will do nothing for you on digital. Any filtre stands a good chance of degrading image quality, especially using it without a hood, be prepared for a lot of different looking flare. The cheapest filtres stand a good chance of completely demolishing your image quality.

If the gear's expensive, get it insured if you like, and don't drop it.

jmc41 · 20 Feb 2013

Which filters I wonder on the pics? I'm sure lower ends filter do have an impact, but personally and in my very humble opinion, I've not had any issues. Of course I haven't done any specific testing on a tripod etc... like that

hobodan · 20 Feb 2013

I understand the issue of what a filter may or may not do to IQ, I wasn't really looking for a debate on that as it seems to be a 50 / 50 divide on opinions as to whether they are a good option or not.

I have made the decision to buy one, I was just hoping for some information as to whether a UV would bring me any benefits over the protective filter...

I went ahead and ordered the Hoya HD protector; it's the first filter I have used & if I notice unexceptable degradation in IQ i'll chuck it in the bin...