Cheap vs. Expensive lens

B

burt_benson

Member
It has been recommended that I buy a UV filter for the purpose of protecting my camera's lens from any mishaps. In my mind a thin piece of glass is a thin piece of glass.
My question is if a cheap lens is if I were to buy the inexpensive filter would it ruin the quality of the image?
I would also like any recommendations.
 
Burt,
I use a UV filter (multi coated B+W) when I know there is danger of something hitting the lens of my camera. (car mounting, shooting at beach/desert, ect).

I normally take it off during all other situations.

It all comes down to how much you trust yourself and those who will be using the camera. I've seen so called "professionals" grab their shirt and start "cleaning" the lens.

I would recommend you go to a rental house and get yourself an 82mm UV filter, shoot a focus and color chip chart with it on and off and judge for yourself the image degradation. You might find it acceptable to keep the filter on at all times, or you might find the slight loss of sharpness to be unacceptable. You might actually find you can hardly tell a difference at all.

Personally, my biggest problem with clear or UV filters is simply the flaring. They do not handle direct hits well at all. Other than that, I dont find that a good quality filter degrades the image quality to the point of looking like an nvgs200...whatever that is.
 
Yes, I die a little inside everytime I see someone clean a lens with their shirt or spit..... I always carry a lens cloth and air can (some argue against) with me.
 
Why don't you ask Timur Civan about cheap UV filters?

He seriously thought there was something wrong with his HVX because he used someone else's and the footage was so much clearer, sharper, crisper, and "wow". He was kind of disappointed with his own HVX.

Then we told him to take his cheapo filter off, and -- wow -- sharper, clearer, snappier footage... :)
 
When in doubt, buy tiffen.

I only let the director use any of the cameras with a UV on. I look at it as a lens cap for dummies. :)
 
Tiffen round filters are not anywhere near the top. Heliopan and B+W are both better. Tiffen 4x4 filters are very good though.
 
I have a Hoya Super HMC UV filter. How are those quality wise? I figure it's at least good-great. (hopeufully)
I've use it 1/2 the time, I dont' think i can tell the difference in quality.
 
Sheesh I never even thought about it. The status quo/mantra appeared to me by the "experts" to be: "ALWAYS ALWAYS for the love of ____ ALWAYS _have a UV or clear filter on there to protect your lense at all times. ..no matter what."

I've shot with others cameras and like Timur wondered why the heck my image was just a little less sharp.. just a little less pop. Excuse me while I go pull my head out.

So.. when does one "need" a UV filter then. Presumably there are situations where UV rays actually degrade your contrast/color?
 
I don't use one unless I'm in a very dangerous situation (filming a welder, water, fire, heavy smoke or other harmful elements)

Just about anytime if there is a *good* chance small debris will fly at the camera, or particles that may stick to the glass.

Otherwise my lens is bare. If you dont need it, dont use it. Don't be all paranoid about your lens, if you have a sunshade on it, or a mattebox, it's gonna take a real fluke of nature to take out your lens.
 
I haven't seen it on this camera yet, but on my old canon I shot some stuff from a mid-altitude heli with and without the UV filter. Contrast and color were improved slightly with the filter on.
In terms of image, I'd only use it for limited landscape applications.
 
I guess I'll have to go back to the person who told me to get a filter and put it on the camera all the time that his image poorer with the filter.
 
Depends on the filter, of course. If he's using a top-quality premium filter then the image difference may be very minor.

But if it's a cheaper/less expensive filter, then yes his image is poorer. I mean, it's logical -- why would you buy a camcorder with a precision-engineered Leica Dicomar or Carl Zeiss lens, and then force it to look through a $10 Crystal Optics filter all the time? No good can come from that. :)
 
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