[olgabe]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

I think you mean that you consider your UV filters IN-dispensable. But they are of no practical use whatever-all modern lenses,since 1970 have uv protective element built-in.Lens caps should be kept on when camera is not in use-it's what they are for!.. In 50 years I have never scratched a lens, but if your uv filter breaks from a knock, then the shards,can scratch a lens front element. So you use uv filters at your own risk,and don't forget that a uv filter will give you flat colors,and will attract flare. Not worth it!. Ken

Dispensable - I'm ok with buying a new one if I scratch it.. or get some real bad dirt onto it..
Once I had a toucan in the zoo hit the lens with his beak through the net - I was really trying to get a close up! He did not break or scratch anything, but if I did not have a filter on, I would have had a heart attack right there by the cage!!

I've really only scratched one UV filter in about 12 years of owning SLRs, and one polarizer (that one did suffer from abuse - I kept on losing the case). I know that a filter degrades image quality a bit, but I'm prepared to live with it. I am not a very careful person, and I know it, so when I have a naked expensive lens on my camera, I'm freaking out about damaging it and I can't enjoy photography. Maybe one day I'll have the courage to take the filters off - turn into a more careful person, or have more money to spend... but for now - they are here mostly for my mental health...