Lens filters or not?

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JPlendPhoto

Freelance Photographer
Jun 26, 2012
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#1
Lens filters

Sometime soon I am going to be buying the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8, with that I was going to by a UV Filter for it, just like I have on my 2 L lenses. Do UV filters have an impact on the sharpness of pictures; if so is it better to avoid filters?

Thanks
 
#2
Technically, all extra glass effects the image quality. However, most of the times the benefit of a filter for protection out ways the better IQ.

I usually carry a box for my filters to I can remove them in special situations like low light, high detail landscape, that sort of stuff. Around children the filter stays on, as I like to get close to children, and they always end up touching my precious glass.
 
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#3
procentje20 said:
Technically, all extra glass effects the image quality. However, most of the times the benefit of a filter for protection out ways the better IQ.

I usually carry a box for my filters to I can remove them in special situations like low light, high detail landscape, that sort of stuff. Around children the filter stays on, as I like to get close to children, and they always end up touching my precious glass.
Click to expand...

Thats what I have been thinking, protection is important when you spend a lot of money on a lens.
 
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#4
procentje20 said:
Technically, all extra glass effects the image quality. However, most of the times the benefit of a filter for protection out ways the better IQ.

I usually carry a box for my filters to I can remove them in special situations like low light, high detail landscape, that sort of stuff. Around children the filter stays on, as I like to get close to children, and they always end up touching my precious glass.
Click to expand...

+1. I have clear or UV filters for all my lenses and leave them on as a default. But, I often remove them before shooting when I want maximum IQ and am in a safe and kid free environment. I currently have good quality Hoya UV filters, but plan to upgrade to better quality B+W soon and I may leave them on more when I shoot. I've done some comparison shots with filters on and off and there is a tiny difference in some situations with no filter being better of course.
 
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#8
Sella174 said:
A good filter is as much an investment as the lens itself ... I always sell a lens without the filter and keep it for continued use on another lens.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Even when I didn't think I'd need it, as was the case for the 58mm filter I had on the 85/1.8…then I bought an MP-E 65mm. OTOH, I do have a couple of 77mm UV filters currently unused, since Canon seems to be releasing new versions of lenses with 82mm filter threads instead of the smaller ones of their predecessors.
 
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#10
Zv said:
And here we go again with another round of filter debate.

Use them. Don't use them. The difference is negligible. I think the general rule is to always use a high quality one if you can.
Click to expand...
It's too bad they don't use stickies on this forum...and I invested in some good filters and my old ones have a good deal of scratches - I'd be quite unhappy if my front elements looked like my filters!
 
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#11
mackguyver said:
It's too bad they don't use stickies on this forum...and I invested in some good filters and my old ones have a good deal of scratches - I'd be quite unhappy if my front elements looked like my filters!
Click to expand...
Stickies would be really helpful, as would more definitive documents as to the options for specific topics - as in wireless speedlites and such.
 
Upvote 0
#12
JPlendPhoto said:
Lens filters

Sometime soon I am going to be buying the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8, with that I was going to by a UV Filter for it, just like I have on my 2 L lenses. Do UV filters have an impact on the sharpness of pictures; if so is it better to avoid filters?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Dear Friend JPlend.
Just my Idea, As Profession Architect and I go to the construction site all the Times, and I must wear the hard hat, Eyes protection Goggle and Steel Toe shoes= yes , To protect my body as best as I can.
Yes, Lens too, All my Lenses Except 600 mm.and my 8 mm. Fish eye Lens, I use the Most Expensive Multi-Coats UV Filters to protect all of my lenses----Yes, Some of the filters ( Cheap filters ) might create the Bad or SoSO effect to our photos---But, That why I trust my High End Multi-Coats UV. Filters to protect High cost Lenses from the Moisture, Dirt/ Dust---And Easy to clean the Filter than try to clean the High cost Lenses Surface..
Good Luck.
Surapon.
 

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Upvote 0
#14
neuroanatomist said:
Sella174 said:
A good filter is as much an investment as the lens itself ... I always sell a lens without the filter and keep it for continued use on another lens.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Even when I didn't think I'd need it, as was the case for the 58mm filter I had on the 85/1.8…then I bought an MP-E 65mm. OTOH, I do have a couple of 77mm UV filters currently unused, since Canon seems to be releasing new versions of lenses with 82mm filter threads instead of the smaller ones of their predecessors.
Click to expand...

A good filter will probably save the front element in an accident if no hood fitted
 
Upvote 0
#16
gigabellone said:
Damn, reading this thread made me paranoid! :D

What brand/model would you recommend? I found this purposedly built filters from Hoya, the HD Protector series. Has anyone tried them?
Click to expand...
Hoya's better filters, like the Pro1 and HD line, and B+W filters are generally the best bet - just make sure they are the multi-coated (on both sides) filters. Cheaper filters (like most of Tiffen's line) compromise the image and add too much flare, and more expensive filters (like Heliopan) don't offer much above B+W. Hoya filters work just as well as B+W, but are harder to clean. The trick is to use your breath and a dry microfiber cloth to do a final wipe after cleaning them - otherwise a film remains.

Also, this advice applies to UV/Protector filters only - polarizers and ND filters can vary a lot between companies. Also, UV or Protector are fine - camera sensors filter UV already, so UV filters don't filter anything extra, like they did in the film days.

Also, a lot of people leave the filters off unless they're going out into rough(er) conditions. Personally, I take mine off when I shoot in the studio and when I shoot into the sun.
 
Upvote 0
#19
I consider uv/clear filters to be pretty much shoot-through lens caps... I have high quality B+W XS-Pro MRC-Nano filters on all my lenses. While I'm actively using the lens, I'll keep the protective filter on and not fiddle-around with a lens cap at all -- it may not seem like much, but it really makes "getting the shot" a lot quicker... I take primarily landscapes (& shoot in a very messy world) so if the filter gets dirty I'm not paranoid about quickly wiping it off with whatever I have at the moment. Of course if I'm setting up for the "hero-shot of the day" or shooting into a heavily backlit situation (where flare might be an issue) I just pop the filter off and slip it into my pocket.
 
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