Do protective/UV filters stop dust or water from getting inside a prime lens?
Asked 3/1/2012
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I'm considering a UV/protective filter mainly to protect a prime lens from dust, splashes, and general wear. Since a prime lens doesn't zoom, does that mean less chance of dust or moisture getting inside if I leave the front unfiltered? In other words, does a filter help seal the lens, or does it only protect the front element?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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The filter doesn't protect against dust getting "into" the lens, it just protects the front element. So the arguments for a filter are equally valid for zooms and primes.
Personally I don't use them, as they have a negative impact on image quality. Always keeping you lens hood on is another way to protect the front element.
Also, I recently damaged my lens (a prime), as I dropped it while changing lenses. Two elements fell out the back, and the focusing system got ruined, but the front element is intact. So the filter is no magical protection for your lens.
Originally by user4559. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4559
14y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A protective/UV filter mainly protects the front element; it does not stop dust or water from getting inside the lens.
That applies to both primes and zooms. Even if a prime doesn’t zoom, there are still other paths for debris or moisture: around the focus ring, any extending parts during focusing, and the rear of the lens whenever it’s removed from the camera. Actual resistance to dust and moisture comes from the lens’s weather sealing/gaskets, not from a front filter alone.
Whether to use a filter is a personal choice. Possible benefits: extra protection for the front element, some help against splashes, and maybe a sacrificial layer if the lens is bumped. Possible downsides: reduced image quality from adding extra glass.
A lens hood is also a good way to protect the front element from knocks and stray light.
So: no, you do not need a filter to keep dust out of a prime lens, and a filter is not a complete protective solution. Use one if you value front-element protection more than the potential optical tradeoff.
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