Do I need a UV filter on a Nikon D5200 for basic nature photography?
Asked 8/10/2015
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I'm new to photography and buying a Nikon D5200. What are UV filters actually used for, and should I get one for general nature photography?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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Simple answer: No, you don't need a UV filter. There is no particular reason to use one... film was quite sensitive to UV light, more so that the eye, so when shooting film a UV filter did something useful. Digital sensors are different in this respect, less sensitive to UV, so a UV filter is irrelevant. All you are doing with a UV filter is to stack up more glass, and more glass-air interfaces, in front of the sensor and this is a bad thing in and of itself.
An argument can be made (and frequently is) that it protects the front element of the lens, but this is far from self-evident. A lens-hood does much the same job of protection and is useful in that it shields the front element from light coming from outside the frame, which is a good thing.
Originally by user3458. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3458
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Probably not. On digital cameras like the Nikon D5200, UV filters usually do not provide the image benefit they once did with film, because digital sensors are much less affected by ultraviolet light. For normal shooting, a UV filter is mostly just another piece of glass in front of the lens, which can add reflections or slightly reduce image quality.
The main modern reason people use a UV filter is physical protection for the front element from dust, moisture, or scratches. Opinions are mixed on whether that protection is worth it. A lens hood often gives useful protection too, and it also helps block stray light, which can improve images.
So for basic nature photography, you do not need a UV filter. If you want extra front-element protection while transporting or storing the lens, some photographers use one for that purpose, but it is not essential for image-making.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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