cap vs filter

In article <1175999670.332603.292160 DeleteThis @n76g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,
"Mike" <y1799 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi ,
>
> Does it worth to use UV filters? probably yes, reading such : "This UV
> filters should be constantly fitted to a lens to ensure clarity and
> colour balance as well as offering protection to your lens. "
>
> if filter protect lens, does anything has to protect filter or just
> change it from time to time?
>
> about cap - never use it, just throw it away?

I'm doubtful of the usefulness of filtering UV. I haven't come across a
digital camera that sees UV. I haven't seen any lenses that fluoresce
very much either. A cheap Tameron zoom lens fluoresced a bit, but that
was the least of its problems when it fell apart.

Some argue on and on about whether or not to protect your lenses. Some
occasions require protection while other require maximum image quality.
Do whatever makes sense at the time.
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

Mike <y1799.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
: Hi ,

: Does it worth to use UV filters? probably yes, reading such : "This UV
: filters should be constantly fitted to a lens to ensure clarity and
: colour balance as well as offering protection to your lens. "

: if filter protect lens, does anything has to protect filter or just
: change it from time to time?

: about cap - never use it, just throw it away?

Not everyone uses a protective filter on their lenses. And there are those
on either side of the isue who are almost militant about their point of
view. So be prepaired for strong opinions from either side of this issue.

But I personally am one of those who uses a protective filter on all my
lenses. I use this to protect my lens from inadvertant scratches and
dings. Also since some dust can be abrasive, cleaning the lens could run
the risk of scratches. So by letting the protective filter collect the
majority of the dust and dirt, if cleaning inadvertantly causes a tiny
scratch I can replace it much cheaper than the lens. These are my
personal reasons. I still want to prevent the majority of dust, dirt and
fingerprints from getting to the filter. So I use both the filter and the
cap.

Randy

==========
Randy Berbaum
Champaign, IL
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 03:34:30 +0100, Mike wrote:

> Hi ,
>
> Does it worth to use UV filters? probably yes, reading such : "This UV
> filters should be constantly fitted to a lens to ensure clarity and
> colour balance as well as offering protection to your lens. "

This was probably applicable to film days when films were sensitive to UV
light. That was about 20 years ago. Digital sensors are not sensitive to
UV. By adding the filter you are actually increasing the risk of flare and
glare. A top quality UV filter would cost you almost as much as a
replacement front element of many cheaper to medium priced lenses. Poor
quality UV filters would degrade the image. If you want to use a filter
for protection, you should use a multicoated clear filter rather than a UV
or so-called Haze filter.

> if filter protect lens, does anything has to protect filter or just
> change it from time to time?

There is the crunch - how often do you change the filter ? Many modern
lenses has hardened front coating which are more resistant to damage than
the filter coatings.

> about cap - never use it, just throw it away?

It certainly provides a better protection than any filter


--
gautam
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

"Mike" <y1799.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1175999670.332603.292160@n76g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> Hi ,
>
> Does it worth to use UV filters? probably yes, reading such : "This UV
> filters should be constantly fitted to a lens to ensure clarity and
> colour balance as well as offering protection to your lens. "
>
> if filter protect lens, does anything has to protect filter or just
> change it from time to time?
>
> about cap - never use it, just throw it away?
>
I never use a UV or Skylight filter on any of my lenses to protect them. It
has been shown by several sources that such filters can, and do, adversely
affect image quality, even the best and most expensive filters. I've
experienced it myself, and the effect is worse on digital cameras of fairly
high resolution. A modicum of care and use of the supplied lens caps
suffices to protect the front element of the lens. The only filters I use
are "effect" filters, like polarizing, ND, star, etc.

--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

"Mike" <y1799.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1175999670.332603.292160@n76g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

> Does it worth to use UV filters? probably yes, reading such : "This UV
> filters should be constantly fitted to a lens to ensure clarity and
> colour balance as well as offering protection to your lens. "
>
> if filter protect lens, does anything has to protect filter or just
> change it from time to time?
>
> about cap - never use it, just throw it away?

I think the UV filter is mainly sold as a way for the camera shop to make
extra profit from gullible customers. A decent hood will give good
protection to the front element and also help protect against flare. A cap
is useful when you are storing the camera to keep dust from settling on the
front element.

cheers adrian www.boliston.co.uk
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

On Apr 7, 9:34 pm, "Mike" <y... RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi ,
>
> Does it worth to use UV filters? probably yes, reading such : "This UV
> filters should be constantly fitted to a lens to ensure clarity and
> colour balance as well as offering protection to your lens. "
>
> if filter protect lens, does anything has to protect filter or just
> change it from time to time?
>
> about cap - never use it, just throw it away?

No filter.

If you think that you need a filter to protect your lens, I cannot
imagine what sort of work you are doing where a lens cap would not
suffice. Even in street photography, one can pop the lens cap off in
no time at all. Why introduce another piece of glass between you and
your work?

--
YOP...

HTH.
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

"Mike" <y1799 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1175999670.332603.292160@n76g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

> Does it worth to use UV filters? probably yes, reading such : "This UV
> filters should be constantly fitted to a lens to ensure clarity and
> colour balance as well as offering protection to your lens. "
>
> if filter protect lens, does anything has to protect filter or just
> change it from time to time?
>
> about cap - never use it, just throw it away?

Well, as you have seen, opinions are all over the place - but,
most lenses pass very little UV, so there is no improvement
in "clarity" despite the claims of the filter manufacturers and
published comparison "samples"; and from my own tests, there
are no discernable negative effects under most conditions from
using good filters (there is one popular brand that does not fit
that description...), assuming they are not defective (they can
be). Since it is difficult to clean lens front elements to new
appearance, and in the process it is possible to cause at least
micro scratches (and since it is always possible for front
damage to occur, shade, cap, or not), I prefer to use single
coated UV filters on my lenses. (I don't generally see the need
for multicoating on these) along with shades on my lenses that
benefit from these (not all do). I know that most of the minor
damage possible will not actually affect image quality, but it
will affect resale value (and we do often eventually sell our
lenses...). I cap the ends of shades or the filters while carrying
lenses on the camera (it takes just a moment to remove the
cap and slip it into the bag for taking a picture and I've
never lost a photo due to having the cap on). I used to laugh
at the practice of many people of having their cameras
bouncing around their necks, vulnerable to dust and damage
(and also to strap damage...). Each to his own, though - there
are no clear answers... (but do take care of your filters, and
don't throw away the caps...! .

BTW, I just put up 80 digital images from a Sony 707 on
my web page, beginning at
www.donferrario.com/ruether/digital-photos1.htm
--
David Ruether
d_ruether DeleteThis @hotmail.com
www.donferrario.com/ruether/
(note address change)
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

Mike wrote:
> Hi ,
>
> Does it worth to use UV filters? probably yes, reading such : "This UV
> filters should be constantly fitted to a lens to ensure clarity and
> colour balance

There is no way it will "ensure" or even aid clarity. It is more likely
to decrease clarity. Likely few owners will ever notice the difference.
With digital cameras, it is even less meaningful as most if not all are
insensitive to UV light to begin with.

> as well as offering protection to your lens. "

The good old "protect your lens" has got to have been one of the best
sales tricks ever used. When I sold cameras we often made more money on the
filter, camera bag etc than we made on the camera. The customer shopped for
the camera based on price, but when they bought the camera, you had them.
For just a little more you can buy protection (insurance) for your
"investment" (always a great sales term). Well since few people shopped
for the accessories, they were not discounted. Luckily my boss and the
store owner did not play that game. The prices were there and many
customers did buy the accessories, but we did not try to "sell" them.


>
> if filter protect lens, does anything has to protect filter or just
> change it from time to time?
>
> about cap - never use it, just throw it away?

The filter is more susceptible than the lens to dust and damage as the
lens is usually recessed and the filter is made of materials that are more
easily damaged. You use the cap to protect whatever is out front.
--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

I use the filter.

There was recently a thread here about how to take care of some dried
chemical residue on a lens. There was a lot of talk about abrasion,
moisture getting into the lens etc. With a filter you only need unscrew
it, rinse under running water dry it off and screw it back on. Same
with a coating of dust.

--
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and
carrying a cross."
Sinclair Lewis
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

On 8 Apr 2007 08:16:30 -0700, "Nervous Nick" <nervous.nick.TakeThisOut@gmail.com>
wrote:

>If you think that you need a filter to protect your lens, I cannot
>imagine what sort of work you are doing where a lens cap would not
>suffice.

Action photography in a dirty/dusty environment. The filter does
protect the lens. Over time the filter is damaged and easily replaced
while the glass on the lens is protected from the damage.

jc

--

"The nice thing about a mare is you get to ride a lot
of different horses without having to own that many."
~ Eileen Morgan of The Mare's Nest, PA
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

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 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

In article <131ijlqq01ubo80 RemoveThis @news.supernews.com>,
Rita Ä Berkowitz <ritaberk2O04 @aol.com> wrote:

> Ockham's Razor wrote:
>
> > I use the filter.
>
> As to I. It is mind numbingly foolish to not use one when there isn't a
> single person alive that can pick out the use of one or not in a
> double-blind
> test.

It makes a huge difference when you must shoot with the sun in view.
Every piece of glass between the subject and the sensor degrades the
image. This is why a $350 fixed lens can outperform a $2000 zoom lens
in image quality.


> > There was recently a thread here about how to take care of some dried
> > chemical residue on a lens. There was a lot of talk about abrasion,
> > moisture getting into the lens etc. With a filter you only need
> > unscrew it, rinse under running water dry it off and screw it back
> > on. Same with a coating of dust.
>
> Yep! Been there and done that. Using top quality filters to protect your
> expensive lenses is very smart. And if you are one of these people that can
> actually "see" the difference you can always take it off in these very
> limited situations where you feel it is detrimental.
>

This makes more sense. Are are times to use a cover and times to not
use one.

>
>
>
>
> Rita
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter 

In article
<mcmurtri-CFF019.16590508042007.RemoveThis@sn-radius.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
Kevin McMurtrie <mcmurtri.RemoveThis@dslextreme.com> wrote:

> This makes more sense. Are are times to use a cover and times to not
> use one.

I keep the covers on when ever I am not contemplating shooting (in bag
or at home on the shelf). As has been said here it takes only a second
to remove it and put it in your pocket. The filter should be protected
against abrasions etc just like the front element. If you do find you
have a scratched filter just take it off to shoot and then put it back
on for travel.

--
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and
carrying a cross."
Sinclair Lewis
 >> Stay informed about: cap vs filter