The Truth about UV filters ! Watch before you buy one !

[@alexcarrillo5510]

When working at the Camera Store that I see Photo students asking me in why my photos are not Sharp, and they show me their lens, as I say this: "Oh here is reason your lens is dirty, so I clean while their watching it, and as I am cleaning it that I explain that the lens is the most important optic to create images. As the student told me that she wanted to get a filter but their teacher - Master's of Degree in Photography told them do not get one it as it will effect the sharpness. I told the student : "Did your teacher graduated from Fisher~Price Day Care center. A Filter Protects the lens from UV Light, and it does not effect the sharpness it protects from Flare, Dust, Discoloring of the coating of the lens, Elements from dirt, dust, and Bugs" After I clean it, and shown it that it was clean as it was fill with residue oil, dust, and a small bug. The student thank me, and Bought a UV Filter.. As for the Shooters that I see on You Tube reviewing their gear both Film, Digital without a Filter - My Advice GET ONE - YOU PAY NOW OR YOU PAY LATER $$$$!!!.

[@MrAnalogDan12]

Lol. I like to say this as a joke to my students: do not clean your lens with a slice of ham.

[@danem2215]

I'm grateful that I've come into possession of a few Hoya UV filters from film cameras because I couldn't fathom spending almost a hundred dollars on them. I've used Neewer filters and couldn't see a huge difference. I guess it depends on how discerning you are.

[@MrAnalogDan12]

Well the samples you saw were from a high megapixels count camera at 100% crop. And the differences were not that obvious. So yes a filter will hinder the optical quality but not to a point where the images become unusable.

[@lupindeweir]

The reason for UV filters is UV. They're built-in on a digital camera but at higher elevations or the beach/in snow on film you'll be glad you had one.

[@MrAnalogDan12]

They're very good as protection. Imagine, a wedding photographer, guys get really happy and poof, they splash some drinks and it gets on your lens... If you have a filter, clean it off, and no worries of liquids getting inside the lens.

[@lupindeweir]

@@MrAnalogDan12 They've saved me from many a child's sticky finger prints certainly, I always stood back from chemically happy people. Especially at receptions. I won't walk about with a lens that I care about without a filter on the front. As far as image quality Lens Rentals used to have a photo taken through a 70-200mm with a front element that was broken into three pieces so a little dust doesn't scare me too much.

[@Owwliv]

You know what's worse for the quality of an image? a big honking scratch. I'll keep using them too, almost all the time.

[@MrAnalogDan12]

True ! Plus, once the photos are compressed in JPEG for youtube, you don't even see a difference. I'll keep using them too