filters yes no maybe?

MarkBaigent · #29 08-29-2007, 06:54 PM

Hi all

This filters for protection thing has always confused me. I have been a pro for 30 years I work a lot of location especially construction sites, I am pretty rough on my gear...

BUT

I have never damaged a lens or lens coating.

I cannot understand spending £1200 on a lens that has been carefully designed optically and then putting another piece of uneeded glass on the lens.

I do accept that at altitude a UV filter may help but the rest of the time my lenses will continue to go naked.

I will pack up my soap box now.

Mark

vdotmatrix · #30 06-20-2009, 09:36 PM

this is such an old post that i hate to comment. I hate the idea of cleaning or touching my L lenses at all. The idea of microscratches on the L glass keeps me up at night. i have always-always had a potectivive filter. Just scratch the L lens and the tears will flow....hahaha. old school

Dennis_Vied · #31 06-20-2009, 09:52 PM

Old post or not, it's certainly germaine to most of us.

Here, in these last two posts, are the extremes of filter usage. Somewhere, in between the two, there is a place for all of us.

vdotmatrix · #32 10-08-2009, 06:22 AM

Despite the critics, "why put glass over an L lens?" I have always put a UV filter on any lens for protection against the unexpected. I suppose I could remove it in the studio but I am freaked about even getting dust on my lens cuz ten I'd have to clean it off....

I bought the BG filters, really expensive but put the best glass on your lens if you already have quality glass.

ksgkphoto · #33 10-09-2009, 04:16 PM

I do the following.. and havent evaluated this path for image quality..

A) Always use a hood.. many many many times the hood has taken a scratch that I woudl have cringed if the main lens took the hit..

B) On all my lenses bar two I have filters.. theses are the $80-100 hoya UV units (77mm L glass).

C) The two lenses that are bare I bought for a class and the instructor advocated bare.. so I didnt want to buck that trend.. I plan on getting them covered.. but I rarely use them...

In my opinion and it jives with Dave Buzzards post... I have NO QUALMS whatsoever cleaning my filter... when it gets dirty.. with whatever comes to hand.. BUT.. if I was cleaning a bare element.. I'd end up excersizing the same care that I do when doing a sensor cleaning.. (extreme caution)...

thats my $0.02

I guess it all depends on the usage environment.. My style is not "studio".. just yesterday I was shooting in "dust clouds"...

K