UV filters

[x Sarah x]

Might be a silly question, but what is the advantage of using these?

Examples of when you would use them? any pictures to compare?

[TCav]

UV Filters were useful in the days of film because they would filter out excess glare and haze. They're not necessary today because all image sensors already have UV filters on them. Many people continue to use them as simple protection. (Let something damage an inexpensive filter instead of the front element of an expensive lens.) The problem with that is that filters, especially cheap filters, degrade image quality.

[x Sarah x]

ahhh yes makes sense, thanks, i did not think they would make any difference to the newer cams, i've always been more than happy with my pictures, but i see so many discussions on UV filters and wasn't sure why.

[PeterP]

There are a lot of discussions on them because the highly unknowledgeable sales staff in the shops always try to get people to add them in to up the total amount of their sales.

Cheap filters of any kind degrade the performance of the lens/camera they are attached too.
Expensive filters can cost almost as much if not more than the kit lenses that come with most consumer cameras.

As TCav mentioned there is little optical use for a UV filter with digital.
And regular use of a lens hood offers decent protection for the front element as well as better optical performance for the lens as well.

I don't use UV filters at all since I went digital, but I do use ND's and polarizers, a top end Singh-Ray 77mm thin ring polarizer runs in the 240$us range.
http://singh-ray.com/polarizers.html

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day Sarah

When I go to the beach to do some surfer photography, I always have the UV on the main lens - cos it needs wiping so often to get the salt spray off it
[and then when I get home the whole camera gets a wet wipe or two overall to get the salt spray off the whole camera]

Regards, Phil

[DonalDuc]

Originally Posted by PeterP

Cheap filters of any kind degrade the performance of the lens/camera they are attached too.
Expensive filters can cost almost as much if not more than the kit lenses that come with most consumer cameras.

Said WHO? QueenMum, PopeBenedict, HomerSimpson?
Did you ever try pol filters (others are senseless) for $4.99-$7.99 from China?

EACH filter degrades photo - even most expensive filters ... haha, pol filter for $ 180 ...

[TCav]

Originally Posted by DonalDuc

Said WHO? QueenMum, PopeBenedict, HomerSimpson?
Did you ever try pol filters (others are senseless) for $4.99-$7.99 from China?

EACH filter degrades photo - even most expensive filters ... haha, pol filter for $ 180 ...

All filters degrade image quality to some extent. In general, cheap filters degrade image quality more than expensive filters.

The Glass in Front of Your Glass: All About Filters

Good Times with Bad Filters

[PeterP]

Said me, I do not know your other friends.

Originally Posted by DonalDuc

Said WHO? QueenMum, PopeBenedict, HomerSimpson?

To you they may be senseless, try looking at what the real world pros are using in front of their lenses to get those wonderful images you see them produce.
Polarizers, ND's and grads are still used often.

And as for buying from China NO I buy local, Singh-ray are US made and Lee are UK made.

Originally Posted by DonalDuc

Did you ever try pol filters (others are senseless) for $4.99-$7.99 from China?

Yes it is true every extra bit in front of your lens scrambles the light to a greater(cheap) or lesser(not so cheap) extent it is what that piece of extra glass does that makes it worthwhile.

A polarizer is useful, a UV rarely is (what this thread was originally about)

As for the costs I am willing to pay the price for top end pro equipment, you may not be, that is a personal choice much like using or not using UV filters .

Originally Posted by DonalDuc

EACH filter degrades photo - even most expensive filters ... haha, pol filter for $ 180 ...

[TCav]

The thing that's important to remember about CPLs is that they are actually two filters, one rotating on the other. That means there are not 2 air-to-glass transitions as with other filters, but 4. So a cheap CPL will degrade image quality much more than any other kind of cheap filter.

It's your money and your images. Do what you want.

[DonalDuc]

Originally Posted by TCav

The thing that's important to remember about CPLs is that they are actually two filters, one rotating on the other.

Ouuhhh, you should learn. There are NOT two rotating filters!

Only variable neutral density filters have two rotating (pol) filters.