Front of lens protection filters. Buy cheap or expensive?

[Greg]

What is your opinion of front of lens protection filters?

In the analogue days it was easy to buy, a UV filter was sufficient and cost a few ££. Digital seems very different, very technical, can be very expensive.

Or is it all a con and we can still use cheap filters with no loss of image quality?

What do you use?

 

[MikeZ]

I must admit, it's a bit of a quagmire with strong arguments both for and against - yes, protect the front element; no, it adds an additional refraction surface. Nevertheless, I'm not comfortable without a filter of some sort. I suppose I fall into the "yes, protect the front element".

 

[RedCobra]

I use B&W MRC Nano filters. Had a friend who had a lower priced Tiffen complaining about lack of sharpness on his 100-400L. Told him to take the filter off and Voila...excellent sharpness. Put my B&W on it and there was no change in sharpness from the no filter test shots.

 

[Greg]

Anyone had any experience with Urth filters, the mulity coated ones

 

[KEN_A]

I've always tended to use a clear protect filter on my lenses. Especially where there is a possibility of dust in windy conditions and sand near the coast. Always purchased well known ones such as Hoya Pro 1 Digital. Also as extra safety I always use a lens hood against knocks.

 

[Hutch]

Lens hood is the best protection for the front filter and having one has saved me many times. Not to mention a hood will help increase contrast and avoid flare. Unless of course when shooting in adverse weather or enviornmental conditions a protective filter should be used. Only time I ever damaged a front element in the past 30 years was when I actually had a filter on the lens.

 

[JayAy]

Anyone had any experience with Urth filters, the mulity coated ones

The only Urth product I've used is an FD to RF adaptor (so no glass) which I use with my Canon bellows. Construction is very good and so I would hope glass quality would be good too. May be worth a punt on a protection type filter to see what you think.

 

[Greg]

Been reading an article about protection filters, not finished it yet. It encourages multi coating on both sides

 

[MikeZ]

Multi coated filters, on both sides, makes sense since each refracting surface represents an area for possible distortion. I would also look for the best possible glass for the same reasons. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not sure if it's the best optical solution, but I feel that a UV/Skylight filter is cheaper to replace that a front element. Salt spray and minerals (water dripping from cave ceilings and stone overpasses/bridges) can etch glass.

 

[Greg]

The article goes into cost of front glass replacement of around £250 up. Multi double side filters start about £30.

The days of cheap filters have gone for anyone with a modern £500 + lens.

Or don't use a filter and take the risk