To filter, or not.....

[Bloosman]

Re: To filter, or not.....

As for filter degrading IQ ... I know a few folk who use arc welding goggle glass (so not optical quality per se) as a Hyper-ND (more than a 'big stopper') and there is no noticeable degradation.

I accept that filters will do what they say on the tin...ie. filter out light to whatever extent they are designed to do...whether a UV as we are discussing here, or a Big Stopper.....

But to use a filter that way is our own choice, to obtain a desired effect.....

What I was finding annoying was the sales push to sell us one with a new lens to filter out UV light AND protect our lens....the emphasis on the latter being used when we, as customers, show any sign of wavering...playing on our inherent insecurity...

[MX5]

Re: To filter, or not.....

What I was finding annoying was the sales push to sell us one with a new lens to filter out UV light AND protect our lens....the emphasis on the latter being used when we, as customers, show any sign of wavering...playing on our inherent insecurity...

Can't say I've had any hard sell. But for some lenses they really do protect (i.e. keep weatherproof) and take the hit from flying objects. So if your camera and lens only go out in the dry in a safe area then it probably doesn't matter (aside from SFX filters) ... but in my case I can be going down scree or a scramble in the rain ... so protection is vital (my camera wears Camera Armor). I may be rare in putting my secondary kit through this extreme use but a PROTECT filter saved my lens at least once. As far as I know filtering UV isn't as important as it was in the film era ... and there are a number of people who actually think that filtering UV can impact the AF under some conditions ... I've no science to back this up ... but it may have some truth.

But salesmen playing to insecurity ... I'd tend to tell them where to put the 800L

[Bloosman]

Re: To filter, or not.....

But salesmen playing to insecurity ... I'd tend to tell them where to put the 800L