UV Filters

[Jason Hinkle RIP]

I see photos showing UV filters cleaning up exterior shots and it made me wonder if there is any reason not to just keep a UV filter on your lens at all times? does the filter really help that much and, if so, any negative to always leaving one on?

[Chad Stockfleth]

It's really common to leave it on all the time, at least in the ENG zoom and stills photo worlds.

 

One of the problems you can encounter depending on lighting situations is ghosting where the camera pics up a reflection in the filter. In those situations you can just pop it off.

 

In cinema I've rarely seen them left on, the idea i believe being to have the cleanest optical path possible.

[Chris Millar]

Yeh, the ghosting aint so special huh...

 

A whiles back I decided ah bugger it and dont use UV filters anymore (unless I'm filtering B&W for UV that is) - Some alt stills processes are UV dependent anyhoo (Wet Plate Collodion for instance)

 

Haven't scratched a lens yet

Edited October 22, 2009 by Chris Millar

[John Sprung]

One advantage to leaving a minor filter such as UV or skylight on is if you're shooting something that might damage the lens. I was doing an industrial once where sparks from a grinder got embedded in the glass. We were sure glad it was just a filter, not a front element....

 

 

 

 

 

-- J.S.