I can't answer your poll because my answer isn't available - none.

also none.
Any filter degrades the image, imho.
For protection and to reduce flare, you are better off with a lens hood.

It's always a good idea to protect your lens. Yes, a lens hood can protect the lens, but not 100 percent. A sudden gust of wind can carry sand that may damage the lens. There are three filters that may be used with very little affect on the image, a haze filter, skylight filter, or UV filter. Any one of the three will be OK for your purposes in lens protection.

However, filters alter the properties of light when entering the lens. So in using a specific filter you can improve the image, such as light intensity, contrast, sharpenss, or to create special effects. You may want to consider the use of filters to only enhance the image to help communicate your message, and this is where photography as an art comes into play with experience. You may want to read the information Tiffen has about different filters at www.tiffen.com/camera_filters.htl

I caught an error Tiffen's address in a previous message. After the last period it should be htm: www.tiffen.com/camera_filters.htm. Hope the information helps.

From all I have heard, the only reason dealers try to sell you a UV filter is to do just that, sell you a filter. B&H sells a wide variety of clear glass protection filters that do not alter light values. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&Q=&a=39_395&shs=&ci=112&ac=&Submit.x=11&Submit.y=12

A lens hood is agood thing to have, but when I shoot outside I always use a UV filter. Light is altered, but many times I learned to compensate that. Also it does protect the lens better many times then a hood. Since I shoot BW film most of the time I have a UV and many times a orange filter on my camera. When I shot slide film I used a PL filter alot with UV. UV helps somewhat with glare. Hood is nice if you have one one your camera. Monte Johnson.

I'm with the lens hood only group.

Roger,

I think lens hoods are great, but I use filters because I like the effect they have on my image. When I use a UV it has no effect on color, but does at times help with the over all quality of the image. If you can shade the lens with a hood you also get protection there, but little protection for the lens. When I use a PL filter for slide or color film I noticed skys and color more pronounced. Using filters have a benifit. Monte Johnson.

I never use filters for protection, unless I'm shooting at the beach or in blowing rain or snow. I can't remember the last time I was at the beach with or wothout a camera though. But I always use a lens hood for protection and to prevent flare. It's all about quality of image.

There two schools of thought on lens protection. One believes that filters can protect the front element from scratches or dings. The other, like me, feels that I would never compromise the image quality by adding a piece of glass in front of the lens, unless it's needed for a special effect that can't be gotten any other way. I've been shooting for over 30 years and have never damaged a lens in a way that could have been prevented if I had used a filter.

Monte,

You're right. Filters in addition to offering protection for the lens give the photographer greative possibilities to the final look of the print or slide.

I'm going to start shooting film for a while, both negs and chromes. I never shot BW,
but most of the time used a PL filter with color film, especially when shooting chromes.

Roger,

After I started using filters I noticed a difference in my images. If you shoot BW try an orange filter. I think #14 Tiffin filter. Really makes the clouds in the sky pop and darkens wood structures to enhance grain character in wood. Red is for the most part too dark many times and you lose about three stops. PL filters with slide film can really make the color detail very nice. If you compensate exsposure when shooting slide film you can usually get the look you want. MOnte Johnson.

Monte,

Good advice. Thanks.

Roger

Roger,

I attached a image shot with APX100 and an orange filter. Monte Johnson.

Monte

Really nice picture. What camera?

Roger

Roger,

Iuse a Fuji 645ZI. When I looked at getting into medium format this camera was easier to get around with and has some nice qualities. The lens is 55-90 which is about equal to 28-70 in 35mm. Nice glass on the ZI. Not as nice as the Contax 645, but used a lot cheaper. It is a good camera to jump to medium format. Monte Johnson.

The assumption that a glass filter provides protection for a lens other than keeping dust and dirt off the front element is very dubious. All that is required to question this popular asumption is to see what the front element of a lens looks like that has had a glass filter on it that has been hit hard by an object. The glass shards from the broken filter gouge and scratch the lens front element surface ruining the lens.

For medium format a bellows-type adjustable lens shade is ideal protection while shooting and handling the camera, and a Wratten gelatin filter slot allows carrying a pack of filters that are inexpensive, compact and light. Even the more contemporary acrylic filters are more adaptible to a variety of lenses, and still cost less than screw-in glass filters, and acrylic is almost unbreakable compared to glass.

For years I used a single adjustable bellows-type lens shade I could ring-adapt to every MF brand camera and all but the longest, biggest telephoto lenses. In addition I also used it with 6x9 and 4x5 field cameras with simiar advantage.

Although a quality bellows-type lens shades like those made for Hasselblad are expensive initially, the one I had I used almost every day for 25 years. So in the long run, only having to have one set of Wratten filters, it was a saving of considerable significance over all those years.

Just a thought to consider.

Monte,

I too use a GA645Zi. I bought it used at a camera show this spring, and have run both B&W and color (chrome primarily) through it. Sometimes I wish it didn't do everything automagically by default, but the way my eyes are I sure appreciate the autofocus over the manual mode on the TLRs. I also really like the fact that it will imprint shooting data on the side of the film.

BTW, nice shot.

Quote:
The assumption that a glass filter provides protection for a lens other than keeping dust and dirt off the front element is very dubious. All that is required to question this popular asumption is to see what the front element of a lens looks like that has had a glass filter on it that has been hit hard by an object. The glass shards from the broken filter gouge and scratch the lens front element surface ruining the lens.

Amen! I learned this particular tip early on in my studies (at NYIP), and now the only time I use a "lens protection" filter is if I am going to be in an area where the wind will be blowing sand around (and I find that, in those cases, a cheap throwaway or single-use camera is more cost effective.) I also found that the quality of the images improved slightly, when I took that extra piece of glass off the lens.

Ed,

I never see a filter as a lens protector. I treat the camera the same with or without a filter. I do not see using a filter cause me to lose quality in my images, Many times they improve the quality of my images. I shoot BW and use mainly a UV which stays on the camera,a yellow and orange filter. Both deepens the contrast of my images and brings the skys out better, I have shot with them and without them. For me most of the time It works to use them for what they are intended for. That is not for lens protection. Monte Johnson.

Agreed, Monte -- I also use filters (especially w/ B&W film). And, if you are using the filter to enhance the image, then it is perfectly OK (even a UV filter.)

The problem is that many camera store salesfolks market the UV or "haze" filter as a means to protect the lens from scratches, not as a filter to reduce haze under certain conditions. So, many casual shooters end up using them for the wrong reason, and may use them in conditions where they do degrade the image (if only slightly.)

The best way to protect the lens is to treat the camera gently and not bang it around.

-EdT.

Ed

I find a UV filter a must outside most of the time for me. It helps more thanit ever hurt me. Since I hsve been using BW filters my images have improved. I never like you used a lens for protection, but instead as a tool. Monte Johnson.

A long time ago when I shot a lot of b&w I used a filter that brought out the clouds,( I think it was just a SKY1, but not sure, what other would I have used? ). With color film I love the sharper images by using a polarizing filter.