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Question...To UV or not to UV...that IS the question!

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Richard8971:
I have always used UV filters on all of my lenses. For me, it is cheap insurance against accidental damage to the lens glass. However, this past weekend shooting with a friend is making me reconsider this...

I met a gentleman who was told to me had been shooting for decades. He had some pretty impressive equipment (Canon) with him to boot! He looked at my gear and asked if I always shot with UV filters and I said yes. He then said, "Why? Why would you spend $$$ on a top quality lens and then shoot through a UV filter that can distort the image?" Needless to say, I had nothing to say. He then said that keeping the damage off of your outer lens glass was the hood's job and to not worry about it.

I looked at my friend and he said he agreeded with him and that he never used filters. He told me that you truly can get a better quality image without using UV filters...

Guys? Opinions?

D

bdunbar79:
Well, it is another piece of glass between the sensor and the photographed scene.  However, if you get a good one it will not distort the image.  B+W UV filters I guarantee you will not affect your image whatsoever.  A thin piece of glass is transparent, so why would it noticeably affect your image if it were truly clear and even, like B+W filters are.  So my answer is "No" if you have a high quality filter.

That aside, why would UV light hurt your lens?  The glass is already protected, at least in L series lenses.  The coating actually will prevent UV light from entering your lens.  The lens hood does block some light out, so yeah, the hood helps.  I think it isn't an issue.  The only reason I use filters is to protect my lens from other things that can break it. 

In the summer I shoot with high quality UV filters on and I don't notice a negative impact at all.  There's more glass in an IS stabilized lens afterall with no degradation of IQ.

Richard8971:

--- Quote from: bdunbar79 on July 18, 2012, 11:44:07 PM ---The only reason I use filters is to protect my lens from other things that can break it. 

In the summer I shoot with high quality UV filters on and I don't notice a negative impact at all.  There's more glass in an IS stabilized lens afterall with no degradation of IQ.

--- End quote ---

I get great results from all of my lenses that I have UV filters on. Like I said, it isn't because I want protection from UV so to speak, but mainly to protect the glass.

I was just curious what you guys thought.

D

bdunbar79:
My opinion is go ahead and leave them on.  If you wanted you could take it off before you shot, then put it back on.  I've never had a problem with it. 

RLPhoto:
B&w filters don't degrade IQ. It protects the front element from dirt, dust, moisture, or anything that gets past the hood. A stray rock once destroyed a UV filter for me but saved the front element. No hood would have helped as it was a direct hit.

It's obsurd to spend $$$$ and not protect it with a good filter. As soon as the lens is out of the box, a filter will screw on for the life of the lens. When re-sale time comes around, perfect front element. Done.

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