Protecting lenses....

[KeithT]

I have been into photography well over thirty years and from the age of 16 to 24 I trained as a film projectionist both in cinemas and the final 5 years in the trade at Elstree Film Studios. Never ever was I taught to protect a lens other than with a lens hood and I have never used a so called protection filter to cover my glass with. A hood should be enough protection in general use and if you go about dropping lenses you need to reorganise the way you handle them. It's only since the digital revolution have I heard of people wishing to cover their sacred glass with something of less optical quality. This goes for using cheapo filters too. Look after your gear, keep it clean, and it will look after you. When you change a lens do it over your open bag or somewhere that would be a soft landing if you did drop it. UV filters are useless anyway and serve no real purpose in the digital age other than causing more flare than the things are worth. Just my opinion of course.

EDIT. Of course, if you want to get full weather protection from many L series lenses you have to put on a filter, and maybe it would make sense in adverse conditions. I can see the point of doing it under those conditions.

[Matthew Forrest]

I have filters on all my lenses just habit,However i don take the filters off when in an area with artificial light or low light as often find im left with halos in my images where the light has been bouncing of the filter and onto the sensor.So i have been questioning if i just take the filters off altogether or leave them in place.Your damned if you do and damned if you dont?!

[KeithT]

At the end of the day it is entirely up to the photographer, Matthew. It's really a matter of personal choice. I know it is a bone of contention, but if you can match the optical quality of your lens with a protection filter then there might be some kudos in using them at times. A UV filter is a waste of money with digital as digital sensors do not detect ultra violet light the way film does. The halo effect you are seeing is reflection from the surface of the filter bouncing off the lens, or even the sensor. Digital lenses are coated to reduce this effect, so if you buy a filter be sure it is coated for digital use. Many cheap filters are only coated one side and those from Tokyo probably not coated at all. I know it hurts to pay a lot of money for filters, I often cringe myself when I have just paid nigh on a £100 for a 77mm 8xND filter that I rarely use but can't do without for certain types of shot. You might want to take a look at these FAQ's. They might be helpful.

http://www.zen20934.zen.co.uk/photog...ter_FAQ.htm#Q1

[Matthew Forrest]

Hmm quite interesting Q and A's the worst filter I have for the halos is a hoya skylight I have on my 50mm I think ill probably remove the filters unless they are really neccessary e.g near dust or doing macro where there is a chance of me knocking the front element,I think ill invest in a couple of hoods for the lenses I have that don't have a hood.

[swan lover]

Anyone who has Canon lenses knows they hardly suplly lens hoods so in this case I did by Skylight filters for my lenses, cheaper than hoods.

[KeithT]

Originally Posted by swan lover

Anyone who has Canon lenses knows they hardly suplly lens hoods so in this case I did by Skylight filters for my lenses, cheaper than hoods.

Yes, they may be cheaper than hoods, but hoods cut out stray light which filters don't, and hoods cut out flare, which filters don't. Using a hood will give you richer colours because they help with saturation, which a plain glass, or UV filters won't. Hoods also help to keep the front glass dry and dust free. Sorry, but filters can never replace a hood under any circumstance.

[amk1977]

Originally Posted by swan lover

Anyone who has Canon lenses knows they hardly suplly lens hoods so in this case I did by Skylight filters for my lenses, cheaper than hoods.

You can always purchase generic hoods that screw into the filter thread. I spent £5 on one for my Nikon 50mm f/1.8D. Its of decent enough quality and £15-£20 cheaper than the Nikon branded one.

[Matthew Forrest]

You can also buy exact copys of the original hoods,I bought one for my canon 28-135is and only cost 7.00,I have tried the screw in type but a couple of them didn't match the thread on the lens.