UV filters and image quality

[Hodders]

My wife was lovely enough to buy me a Lowepro Slingshot 200 camera bag and the Canon 50mm F1.8 MK2 lens.

The first thing I did was to put a UV filter I had from an old lens onto it to potect the front element.

Then out of curiosity I took a shot with and without the filter:

1/200th Second, f5, ISO200 (partial crop from center of image at 300% shown below)

The results are really surprising, the image quality is much better on the right hand image where better definition and contrast can be seen.

Given that this lens is about £50 it seems silly to spend large amounts of cash on a UV filter - how much do I need to spend for a good quality UV filter that won't let the lens down too much ?

 

[IceAx]

I dont use a filter on my 50mm - every other lens i have
gets a filter on there asap but @ £50 odd quid it can be replaced.

Andy

 

[alexisonfire]

Yeah, no point putting a £20 filter on a £50 lens when there is that much IQ loss.

 

[Messiah Khan]

how much do I need to spend for a good quality UV filter that won't let the lens down too much ?

I use B&W F-Pro ones on my lenses. Really good make, but can be had for £10ish for 77mm ones from HK

 

[IceAx]

I use B&W F-Pro ones on my lenses. Really good make, but can be had for £10ish for 77mm ones from HK

What about 82mm......im trying to find a decent one for this as i really dont want to pay for Hoya HMC Pro1 but im sure i will end up doing so.

Andy

 

[Messiah Khan]

What about 82mm......im trying to find a decent one for this as i really dont want to pay for Hoya HMC Pro1 but im sure i will end up doing so.

Andy

Doesn't look like they sell 82mm B&W ones, but they have a;

HOYA 82mm Clear PRO1 DIGITAL Protector Filter DMC LPF

listed at £9.95 + £9.95 p&p

 

[SilverPenguin]

Ah the old UV filter debate...

Unless your really clumsy I just don't see the point in a UV filter purely because of the reduced quality they give photos, it just makes no sense to me at all. Use your lens hoods and thats it. I'd only use a filter if I was shooting something like a rally where small stones could flip up.

Waste of time for every day 'safe' shooting. Sticking a £10 bit of glass in front of a lens thats been designed for optical performace using good glass makes no sense at all...(not so much the case for REALLY cheap lenses but you know what I mean)

 

[Johnny|lucidcomposure]

I don't use them either.

 

[Felix]

Are you suggesting for every day use that we don't bother with filters, even a skylight filter? Also what about protecting your lens?

 

[Johnny|lucidcomposure]

All we are saying is that cheap UV filters are going to lower the quality of your lens. I would use them at rallys where stones are flying but the idea is just to protect the glass of your lens.

 

[Felix]

Well, I am getting a 24-105 L IS lens and dont really want to damage the front. Is it worth spending £25ish on a decent filter like a Hoya UV Filter HMC just to protect it. I also see canon do their own "protect" filter.

 

[IceAx]

Doesn't look like they sell 82mm B&W ones, but they have a;

HOYA 82mm Clear PRO1 DIGITAL Protector Filter DMC LPF

listed at £9.95 + £9.95 p&p

Aye seen these @ this price wasnt sure on them tbh!

Looks like ill bite the bullet and go for the HMC jobbie - its
been excellent on the 70-200

Cheers

Andy

 

[SilverPenguin]

Are you suggesting for every day use that we don't bother with filters, even a skylight filter? Also what about protecting your lens?

Yes pretty much - unless your spending big money on very very high quality filters I don't understand why you would want to chuck image quality out the window!?

My 200-400 came with a clear front element to protect it but that is very high quality and optically designed to work with the rest of the lens so you don't notice when its on.

I don't understand why everyone gets so worried about protecting the front of the camera. What do you all do, let it swing about from your shoulders bashing in to things!? lol

I've not used filters for years now ever since finding out they degrade image quality.

My 12-24 and 28-70 have never had a filter in front of them (other than ND and CP of course) and I've used them everywhere from windy uk coastlines/beaches in the middle of winter to hot greek islands/beaches to out in the rain on a scottish island. Never had any problems! I think the 'fear' of smacking your front elemnt is far far greater than the chances of actually doing it. Just keep your lens hoods on and be careful!

As already said the only time I'd use one of if I was somewhere with small profectiles being fired around but how often does that happen! If your careful with your stuff (which you should be!) then all your doing by buying cheap UV filters is buying in to the marketing hype and giving yourself an optical disadvantage.

 

[growse]

I don't know about anyone else, but I find filters a lot easier to clean than the front lens element. If you do get a big fingermark smudge that won't shift (it happens), you can just put a different filter on it.

 

[SilverPenguin]

Article about UV filters here for anyone who fancies a read.