THIS is WHY I fit UV filters

[JR1]

Lens fine



Thank god it was only a 28-300 Nikkor VR

[ashcroft]

You really need to stop throwing your lenses against a wall when the cold-calling sales people ring.

[Manfred M]

And I can show you where a breaking filter scratched the front element of one of my lenses; just a small scratch that does not affect image quality in any way. Like any solution, there are some downsiides too. Had the filter manufacturer used a softer glass (than the front lens element), I would be 100% on board.

[Saorsa]

That looks like a hit on the rim near the bottom left of the image.

[JR1]

You really need to stop throwing your lenses against a wall when the cold-calling sales people ring.

Ha

[JR1]

And I can show you where a breaking filter scratched the front element of one of my lenses; just a small scratch that does not affect image quality in any way. Like any solution, there are some downsiides too. Had the filter manufacturer used a softer glass (than the front lens element), I would be 100% on board.

Another reason to have proper insurance so when I saw it, no concern

[JR1]

That looks like a hit on the rim near the bottom left of the image.

Not a mark on the lens

[ajohnw]

I favour a short metal lens hood as well when possible. Rather a lot of extra protection over just a UV filter but I often hanker after skylight. types

The usual lens hood type lens caps can be clipped into the hood so the it can be left on - if you get the right types.

John
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[DanK]

I don't want to help start another iteration of the filter wars, but I'm with you on this one. I have used protective filters much of the time for decades. My concern is less impact than liquids, against which petal hoods are pretty much worthless. E.g., some time ago, I shot an evening event for a friend. I set my camera down on a clean counter for a moment, and when I got back to it, there was some sort of greasy substance on the filter that I never did manage to clean off.

My rule of thumb is simple: If I have any doubts about the environment, and if I won't have light sources in front of me, I generally leave a filter on. If I am in a clean environment or have lights in front (e.g., night photography), I remove them.

I recently have started buying protective filters rather than UV filters, as they are cheaper, and the UV filtration is unnecessary with digital cameras.

[Mike Buckley]

Here we go again: to do or not to do

[Saorsa]

Not a mark on the lens

And there wouldn't have been one with a lens hood either. They protect very well from lateral impacts as that one appears to have been.

[dubaiphil]

Here we go again: to do or not to do

It's like bonfire night

Light the touchpaper and retire to a safe distance

[JR1]

I favour a short metal lens hood as well when possible. Rather a lot of extra protection over just a UV filter but I often hanker after skylight. types

The usual lens hood type lens caps can be clipped into the hood so the it can be left on - if you get the right types.

John
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The hood fell off on impact. As did cover

[ajohnw]

Reality needs considering as well. Take digital cameras are uv and ir filtered. How come all as far as I am aware record IR with and IR filter fitted? Same with certain ND filters fitted. UV has more difficulty getting through various glasses but it still does It's very likely that some under certain circumstances does get through to the sensor as nothing is perfect. I fit UV/IR to a few of my lenses so I needn't worry about ND filters or exposure times. Skylight filters to me suggest that UV can play a part but they aren't as popular as they were. I wonder what plain protectors are made of and much of the cost is multicoating really and I feel that does need doing well.

John
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[HaseebM]

I think a camera lens is tougher than UV filter and may not have broke?

[ajohnw]

The hood fell off on impact. As did cover

Metal hood Jeremy ?? Must have been some impact. One of the other reasons I like this type of hood comes from often working out of a bag. No need to keep fiddling with lens caps - just leave it off.

Mind you I recently found a 60's hippy style camera strap. Very wide, very secure and easy to take on and off. Might even once have been a guitar strap. Guess I will still mostly work out of a bag though.

John
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[JR1]

Metal hood Jeremy ?? Must have been some impact. One of the other reasons I like this type of hood comes from often working out of a bag. No need to keep fiddling with lens caps - just leave it off.

Mind you I recently found a 60's hippy style camera strap. Very wide, very secure and easy to take on and off. Might even once have been a guitar strap. Guess I will still mostly work out of a bag though.

John
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Sorry, no, the standard Plastic one

[ajohnw]

I've generally fitted a filter to any camera lens I have bought from day one. Since developing an interest in microscopes and realising how soon general crud build up on glass from the atmosphere I'm even more convinced that they are worth fitting. The crud seems to be mainly greasy oily stuff that is rather difficult to get off. Dust just comes off really clean glass easily. Tthe amount of effort needed to remove the residues surprised me. It really needs to be wet - no problem really putting filters in the dishwasher but suspect I would prefer soapy water as soon as I see that dust doesn't simply blow off. I wouldn't fancy cleaning a photographic lens even with the specialised stuff used for microscope optics which over time damages the coatings anyway.

John
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[DanK]

Sorry, no, the standard Plastic one

Probably a good thing, as the plastic ones will shatter and absorb some impact.

[FlyingSquirrel]

No comment on the protective / UV / etc filter issue, as it's been beaten to death a million times to no avail. But I will just say that I don't use them, but I do have a comprehensive photographer's equipment insurance plan covering all of my gear.