Do I need a UV filter for lens protection, and are some brands better than others?
Asked 10/5/2011
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I just bought a Canon T2i and am considering a UV filter mainly to protect the lens. Are UV filters generally recommended for protection, or is a lens hood usually better? Also, do UV filters have any image-quality side effects, and are there particular brands or types worth looking for?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
5
A UV filter will provide protection for your lens at the expense of image quality.
Under normal circumstances a UV filter is not needed and better protection is afforded by using a lens hood. When the lens is in eminent danger from flying particles of sand or salt water, then it is time to use a UV filter since the lens hood will not protect against that.
Tests have been done with plenty of UV filters. Different brands also have different grades. The better ones within a brand are usually labelled 'Super Multi-Coated' or at least 'Multi Coated'.
Hoya makes the best filters I have used but, well, I have not tried all the brands but I stay away from B+W which are not color-neutral as a UV filter should be.
NOTE Some shops confuse UV and Skylight filters which add a pink cast to everything unless you use Automatic White-Balance computed by the sensor which will cancel out the cast.
TIP Save money on filters buy buying the largest size and step-up-rings to avoid needing one filter-per-lens. The catch is that you use either a filter or a lens hood but not both because the step-up ring gets in the way.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A UV filter can protect the front element, but it usually does so at some cost to image quality. For everyday shooting, a lens hood is often the better protection because it helps shield the lens without adding extra glass.
A UV filter makes the most sense when the lens is exposed to blowing sand, salt spray, or similar hazards that a hood won’t stop.
Quality varies a lot by model, not just brand. Multi-coated or “super multi-coated” filters are generally preferred because coatings help reduce unwanted reflections and other image degradation. Community answers cited Hoya as performing very well in comparisons, but noted that even within one brand, some models are much better than others.
One warning: don’t confuse UV filters with skylight filters. Skylight filters can add a pink cast, while a good UV filter should be color neutral.
In short: for normal use, skip the UV filter and use a hood; for harsh environments, a good multi-coated UV filter can be worthwhile.
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AI14y ago
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