A very dumb view

[drjlo]

IMO, if you want protection, ditch those awkward Canon lens caps for the double-center-pinch lens caps from eBay, which are far easier to cap/recap. Keep them on the lens when not in use, or keep the hood on.

Good quality UV filters are fine for IQ in daytime, but point at high-contrast scene/light especially at night, and the reflections are very easy to see on photos.

 

[Random Orbits]

My FILTER saved my lens from a nasty knock, so yeah USE THEM and the HOOD its its not too much bulk (say 70-200 hood and below)

+1. Although wide angle lens hoods are almost pointless for protection.

How many people use hoods indoors?

 

[BL]

+1. Although wide angle lens hoods are almost pointless for protection.

+1. especially for WA zooms since they take up way too much real estate in the bag

How many people use hoods indoors?

all the time. i take family portraits and without fail, every lens is grabbed at one point in time by a well meaning toddler or child wanting to look through the business end of my 85L or 70-200L

 

[comsense]

without worrying about scratching the front glass!

Who is cleaning his L lens in such an akward way that there might be scratches? Sandpaper cleaning?

You will be surprised to know that invisible crystals in dust could be very effective sandpapers without your knowledge. Best not to get into situation where you have to clean good optics. At the very least it takes too much effort and time to do it right, which is not always at hand.