Hama UV filter

Using Lens Filters to Improve Your Photography

HI, and welcome to the most viewed post in my blog. I am not sure why “UV filter” is so popular , maybe you can help me clear up the question.

three filters every landscape photographer should always carry with them

I have read somewhere that an UV filter is the first thing to buy to protect the camera lens from scratches. I have also been told the UV filter doesn’t make much difference in the photos. I still decided to try the “before” and “after”.
As it was already night , had to make the experiment with what I had. No UV rays at night. You can see the result.I was shooting in night mode so the camera was choosing her own settings. Apparently the filter decreases the exposure time at night and from where sharper shots. Photos haven’t been retouched in any way. You can klick on the pic to see a bigger resolution.
Filter price – 29,99 Euro.

09. July 2011

Ok here we go, the long awaited update of pictures in bright sunny day, with UV filter and without UV filter , Straight out of camera (SOOC) , shoot in manual mode . The camera was handheld, from where the difference in focal length and the two frames.

Conclusion : Even tho I have read that UV filter does NO difference , you can see that the first picture , the one with the filter , has a bit more contrast than the one without . Of course you can do this in post production, but I feel safer , knowing that my lens is protected from that extra glass. So up to you to judge if you are going to invest in a UV filter.

A UV/Haze filter removes atmospheric haze. Its main purpose, though, is to provide protection for the front element of your lens from dust, fingerprints and scratches.

In what situation do I use an UV filter?

UV and skylight filters are useful when you are taking pictures in the mountains or at sea or any other place where there is a lot of UV light. It will filter out the blue haze that normally blurres the background of your picture. It is also very useful when taking pictures in the snow, since snow is a very good UV reflector.

Ultraviolet (UV) Filters – Absorbs the ultraviolet rays which often makes outdoor photographs hazy and indistinct. Generally used for black & white photography.

A UV (or Protector or Skylight) filter should be left on your lens at all times. Not only does it protect your lens from scratches, it protects the threads on your lens when you attach additional filters.

My next filter will be definitely a polariser.

“6. Do I have to remove my UV filter when I want to use another filter, such as a polarizer?

It is not necessary to remove your UV filter when you’re going to use any other filter you may have, but it won’t do any harm. Some filters, like polarizers, do cause image degradation because of their construction. This degradation is usually more than the degradation already caused by the UV filter, so in those cases you do not really have to remove the UV filter.

On the other hand, you run the risk of light being ‘trapped’ between the two filters, thus causing lighter spots on your picture. When you’re using filters of very high optical quality, it’s always a good idea to remove all other filters. In general, the less filters on your lens, the better the quality of the image.

Another thing to remember: multiple filters on your lens may cause vignetting, especially when you’re using a wide-angle lens. So decide for yourself whether the saving of time by not removing your UV filter before mounting another is worth the trouble you may experience from all kinds of nasty effects on your pictures.” > here

See also this article, on what filters can do for you in landscape photography > How Using Strong ND Filters Can Create Awesome Results

Readers: Lens Filters: To Use or Not To Use? Your 2 cents, if you please!