What's that UV filter thing for???????

[Greg McCary]

If you ever need proof they come in handy. Well I dropped the Oly again today and it survived with out a scratch. I can't say that about the UV filter though. I have been very lucky I have owned cameras since the early 80's and have never scratched a lens. Dented one yes, but never a scratch. Knock on wood.LOL. KEEP THAT UV ON !!!!!!!!!

[Frog]

Oh, boy! Now the debate will start again..lol.
And here I've just started leaving mine off though I can't detect a difference between on or off in my images.
Glad you had yours on, Greg. Which lens did it save?

[Greg McCary]

The 14-54MM. Ouch, that would have hurt.$$$$$$

[Axle]

Thanks for the reminder...next time I'm in Toronto I'll pick up one for my 11-18...DON'T want to scratch that sucker.

[mwfanelli2]

If you ever need proof they come in handy. Well I dropped the Oly again today and it survived with out a scratch. I can't say that about the UV filter though. I have been very lucky I have owned cameras since the early 80's and have never scratched a lens. Dented one yes, but never a scratch. Knock on wood.LOL. KEEP THAT UV ON !!!!!!!!!

I dropped my computer last week. Thank goodness I had my UV filter on it!

For every example you give there are a zillion more examples where the UV filter protected nothing. Not once in over 35 years of photography has one of my dropped, banged, or smashed lenses ever landed or got hit in a way that a filter would have helped.

Be that as it may, I'm glad your lens survived. My lenses will still run commando-style most of the time.

[EOSThree]

Still naked and plan to stay that way. I am glad your lens survived. You are lucky the broken glass from the filter didn't scratch your front element.

[brmill26]

I run the 50mm f/1.8 naked b/c it's such a cheap lens... by the time I bought a UV filter good enough to keep up with its IQ it'd be worth as much as the lens itself

But whenever I can afford one of those pricey L zooms, it'll definitely have a UV on it b/c I love to shoot Motocross, so flying stones are a-plenty.

[another view]

Well I dropped the Oly again

Again? Greg, we need to switch you to decaf!

I'm with Michael, although I did take a little chunk out of a fairly inexpensive lens a few years ago (metal latch from camera bag apparently was harder than glass). UV filters are fine in most cases, and a lot of people use them - but backlighting, high contrast and night shooting can cause problems with UV filters.

Honestly, I remember more "what is this in my image" posts that turn out to be a problem from using a filter, than reports of the filter saving a lens. Glad it worked out for you here though!

[Greg McCary]

Again? Greg, we need to switch you to decaf!

I'm with Michael, although I did take a little chunk out of a fairly inexpensive lens a few years ago (metal latch from camera bag apparently was harder than glass). UV filters are fine in most cases, and a lot of people use them - but backlighting, high contrast and night shooting can cause problems with UV filters.

Honestly, I remember more "what is this in my image" posts that turn out to be a problem from using a filter, than reports of the filter saving a lens. Glad it worked out for you here though!

I remember that post. I do take it off and use the hood at night for that fact. But unless I am using a polorizer or the Cokin it stays on. I am far to clumbsy.....

[EOSThree]

I am far to clumbsy.....

Now that I think back on it, I have dropped my camera a total of...once. It was a bad one though:

I was shooting some Bighorn sheep, I had set up my tripod with my 80-200 f/4L lens with the hood mounted. The sheep moved on a little ways, I guess in my haste to get a shot of the sheep I had forgotten to tighten the Arca clamp on my pod. I grabbed the legs and folded them, when I heard a slight scraping noise. Next thing I know I was watching my camera and lens bouncing off the rocky ground.

If it wasn't for the hood my front element would have quite a gouge in it. The hood showed a slight mark on it and the body had a slight imprint of a rock near the viewfinder. Boy was I glad when I took the next shot and everything was still working.

This has never happened again. Now if I move my set up I check to make sure every knob is tight. I always pick up my body by the strap securely then move to the grip or the lens. I always check every zipper on my bag before I move it now also.

[photophorous]

Whoa. Close one. I have a few UV filters, but I don't always use them. I've never dropped a camera, but I have banged them against the wall and other things a few times. UV filters are a good idea. I'm just too lazy.

Paul

[metallicblack]

Thanks for the warning. Glad your lens is OK.

[mn shutterbug]

Cripes, insurance is cheaper than a good filter.

[jgredline]

Greg,
Wow, All I can say is wow....I have never seen that before...What type of filter was it?

[Greg McCary]

Greg,
Wow, All I can say is wow....I have never seen that before...What type of filter was it?

Tiffen 67mm UV.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Greg, I could use that lens if you are just going to throw it around.

[Loupey]

So the moral of this story is.... don't drop your camera


I suppose you know which camp I belong to

[Greg McCary]

So the moral of this story is.... don't drop your camera


I suppose you know which camp I belong to

The older I get the more clumbsy I seem to get. I guess I need to keep it strapped to my neck.LOL

[Toot]

Hummm, I always thought that's what it was for....to protect my lens. I now have a couple like that, but my lens are ok...whew.

[JETA]

I always protect my good lenses, especially on the football field.

[Jimmy B]

Greg I am glad your lens survived the gravity test.
Filters for goes as followed day or night time action shots all ways on. Night time on tripod off.
Jimmy B

[Sebastian]

Greg,

With all due respect, all this proves is that when dropped, the UV filter broke. To think that the lens would have been damaged had the filter not been on is taking a great leap of faith.

That being said, I'm anti-UV. Except when it comes to modo, then I'm definitely pro-UV.

Sorry, been spending too much time on the other side of the imaging pond...