Hoods and Filters

[prrs4me]

I have two questions:

1. How important are uv filters and should I always keep them on all my lenses at all times?

2. What and how and how important is it to use a lens hood. Is it more important on certain lenses? ie zoom or fixed or not at all or short zoom or long zooms? I'm confused as to what to buy.

I have a Canon xti with 18-55, 75-300 and 50mm lenses.

Thanks for any help I can get.

[Nicole]

1. How important are uv filters and should I always keep them on all my lenses at all times?

Lots of varying opinions on this one. Some people say that UV filters degrade the image quality, I say they're cheaper to replace than a lens if you drop your camera. Unfortunately I say that from experience, though it was my C-PL that got crunched. At least it wasn't the camera. You could always use a lens hood for this purpose too, but it seems like lens hoods are harder to replace than filters just because not everyone stocks them. I'm big on keeping something between the world and my glass if it's possible.

2. What and how and how important is it to use a lens hood. Is it more important on certain lenses? ie zoom or fixed or not at all or short zoom or long zooms? I'm confused as to what to buy.

Lens hoods are good for preventing lens flare from various light sources (e.g. the sun, streetlights, etc). There are 2 types of lens hoods, petal and the other kind (sorry it's morning). If you're not sure what kind of lens hood you want to buy, what about trying Free LensHoods (http://www.lenshoods.co.uk/) where you can print your own paper / cardboard lens hoods. At the very least it will let you see if a lens hood is something that you want to invest in and even let you figure out which lenses you would want one for. Way cheaper than buying a lens hood and not using it ;) I'm sure other people have better answers for this one :p Hope that helps though

[Saralonde]

1. UV filters can be used to protect your camera lens from light reflection and hazardous conditions (such as blowing sand or sea spray). There are some stories out there from people who dropped an expensive lens and were saved by a filter.
If you buy a filter, don't go too cheap. Hoya, B+W multicoated filters are good.

2. A lens hood can also protect your lens, but it is used to prevent glare on your lens. Not too many lenses come with them and they can be relatively expensive to buy, but some photographers would not shoot without them.
Read this: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Lens-Hoods.aspx

[smc1377]

I have my camera bag set up in such a manner that I can always keep my lens hood on the lens and therefore, I never have my lens cap on the lens. The hood itself will prevent anything from touching the UV filter that I have on there. This way, I can easily take out the camera, turn it on and begin shooting with one hand (if need be). I still keep the lens cap in the bag in case I ever really do need to cap the lens, but 99% of the time, it's just the lens hood.

[sdjl]

I have UZ filters on most of the lenses I own. Mainly because I don't fancy damaging the actual lens.

I use lens hoods most of the time on my lenses also. A lot of my photography is either outside in the sun or inside under stage lighting. The lens hood helps prevent excess light entering the lense and causing lens flare and other unwanted marks on the images.

David

[fragos]

Anything that helps with glare is a good thing. They also serve as bumper for your lens. As a journalist I can attest to how great they are to keep rain and other falling junk off your lens surface. I will use UV filters in hostile environments for protection but they do represent two more surfaces which can reflect light.

[thegooner90]

I use a combination of filters and lens hoods, keeping the filters on to protect the lens.

[matthewchj]

I always keep a UV filter on my lenses to protect them. I also just bought my lens hoods yesterday. The prices are expensive for just a circular piece of moulded plastic

[mdwsta4]

always use a lens hood unless i'm using my circular polarizer. never use a UV filter. really don't use my warming filters or any other 'special' effects ones anymore. need to pick up an ND filter this summer.

[Murtasma]

A good polarize will give you the same benefits of a UV filter which is cutting though haze and protecting your lens. I say UV filters are pretty useless use a polarizer instead they are more expensive but are more useful. As for hoods it depends on that 75-300 u got it will make a diffrence for sun in getting more contrast out of your pics and keeping lens flare down. On the kit lens I wouldn't waste the money for one. Same for hte 50 MM. BTW I have all the same lens and body as you :)