help with a dSLR filter?

Question

Will a $15 tiffen UV filter at all make the quality of the picture worse. I do not care about the fact that it is a UV filter I just want something to protect the glass, but will this cheap filter at all make the quality of the picture worse? Also just wondering do you think I'll need a filter with this lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247091-USA/Nikon_2137_Normal_AF_Nikkor_50mm.html#

Because the glass goes on past wear then lens start. thanks

Answer 1

Yes, the truth is that they all do, but not that much to be honest - most people cause far more damage in their post production than in digital shooting, though some purists may disagree with me.

From time to time it's better to remove the filter - say you get some stray reflections when shooting into light sources - but in my mind you need to protect your lenses and I think most professionals would agree with this principle.

The difference between a $15 and a $25 filter is going to be marginal at the end of the day and the more you spend the less benefit you'll get for your extra spending.

Answer 2

There will be some that disagree with me, but I think the cheap UV filter should never be used. The first UV filter I bought was for the same 50mm f1.8 you posted. It is a superb lens, and with a $30.00 UV filter, I had no idea what it was doing to my images. I had been fed from a guy at Best Buy that the front element of a lens can shatter if looked at wrong, and to buy a UV filter to keep this from happening. Sure...

Here is a real life story of using a UV filter: One night I was using the UV filter on the front of my 50mm f1.8; tripod mounted and remote. When I took my first image, it came back as if I had just fired a double exposure. But you see, my Nikon D50 does not have multiple exposures. After a little while, I took off the filter and took another image of the same night scene. It turned out it was in fact the filter. When the image came back, it was perfect. Besides just this problem, I had also noticed several other problems go away when I removed the filter. Things such as, ghosting and flares. The contrast and sharpness greatly increased as well. The next day, I sprayed hair spray on the filter and now use it as a diffuser.

I'm not saying I hate all filters. ND, split ND, and polarizing filters are great. I just dislike the UV filter, since so many people all falling for the whole 'I need a UV filter to protect my lens'. Listen, this is why the lens makers made lens caps. And guess what, a lens hood will work wonders as well. If you still want to buy a filter, understand that nothing in photography is cheap. Filters were made to be a hundred dollars or more as well. So, keep this in mind.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

We get this question often enough that I decided to upload a sample to Flickr showing the same subject taken with and without a UV filter. Download the image, cut a small section out of the top half and drag it to the same section in the bottom half and see what you think. The photos were taken about 15 seconds apart in subdued sunlight, so I think the lighting was virtually identical for each. There was no post-processing at all so you can make a fair comparison. I will not comment any further and let you decide for yourself if there is any color shift.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/441244796/

The picture was taken with a Nikon D200 at ISO 100 with the Nikon 18-200 VR lens @ 112 mm at f/5.3.

Here's a comparison that I did by accident. Read the comments and you'll understand: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1793551691/

Buy a name brand like Hoya or Tiffen. Don't get cheap junk to put on the front of your fine lens. Personally, I am now switching over to plain high quality optical glass "filters" from Nikon for lens protection, even though they cost more than a good UV filter.

Answer 4

Tiffen is not a "cheap" filter. I'm using a Tiffen polarizer I bought in 1971. I also use Hoya and B+W filters.

The likelihood of your UV filter causing image degradation is miniscule. Oh, its possible that under just the right conditions a filter could add glare. In all honesty after 36 yrs of using various lenses with either a Skylight or UV filter I don't recall a problem. Its far more important to protect your front element.

The only lens I own that faces the world naked is my 16mm full-frame fisheye.

Answer 5

I am yet to see a difference that can be seen without a very sharp eye from my gear with a UV in action. I use some very very expensive glass and always use UV filters. People say why put a cheap piece of glass in front of the lens, well that's OK if they really can see a difference. Unless your shooting fine art then use the UV and protect your lens, that's what I do.

Answer 6

You can simulate sepia tones etc, you can also add a coloured grad to skies etc, but some filters are harder to simulate: UV or Skylight 1A (pref Skylight): Reduces haze at dawn & dusk, more importantly is cheap and sacrificial to protect your lens. Polariser: No photoshop equiv, controls reflections and affects vibrancy of sky colour on sunny day. ND grad: Can help to bring the sky and the ground within the contrast range of your cameras sensor, helping to retain detail in both areas. Every other filter type can be simulated in Photoshop just about, if you shoot with a filter you can't really take it back out, with the exception of the three filters I;ve mentioned above, do everything else via photoshop.

Answer 7

I have not had problems with Tiffen filters. Some people, for one reason or another, choose not to have a filter of any kind on their lenses. Some argue that it makes the photos looks so much worse.

It just makes me too nervous without one. I mean, who is going to replace my lens if it is damaged..

Answer 8

Never use a UV filter while taking pictures.

Put it on after you are done for storage or transport.

It amazes me to see a photographer spend $1000 on a great lens and then put a $25 piece of glass in front of it.

Always, always go for the best image you can. Always.

Answer 9

Sometimes you'll get additional reflections. 99% you won't see a difference between photos taken with a filter and without. $15 is not a very cheap filter.