Filters

[Tervon]

What kind of filters shoould I be buying for my lens? UV/Protections? What's the difference?

[Dan A]

Depends,

What sort of camera, lens, shooting environment are you working with?

The most important filter to get if talking filters would be a polariser. The difference between UV and protection, not much really one just filters a spectrum of light and can help with haze...I think and the protection does nothing really other than a piece of glass in front of your lens. Some would say instead of that get a lens hood.

However I am not going to get into the whole debate of why you would or wouldn't use some filters and a little more detail will help.

[GadgetRick]

I agree, recently, I took off my UV filters when I discovered just how much light they suck (even good ones). I was putting them on to, "protect," my lens but, honestly, I've just not seen/heard of all that many cases (relative to the number of lenses out there) of a lens being saved because of a filter or hurt because of a lack of a filter.

I have polarizer filters available for certain applications. I also plan to start looking at ND filters but I'm not putting them on for protection any longer.

[Tervon]

I have a 7D and two Kit lenses, the reason for the question is that a few people have told me I should have a filter to protect my lenses, I see so many reasons for filters on the forums and just wanted some clarity. I haven't use my camera much because I am currently deployed so I asking all the questions I can before I go home.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by Tervon

I have a 7D and two Kit lenses, the reason for the question is that a few people have told me I should have a filter to protect my lenses, I see so many reasons for filters on the forums and just wanted some clarity. I haven't use my camera much because I am currently deployed so I asking all the questions I can before I go home.

It is a very good question and it's asked often. The general consensus is to get an UV filter and keep it on there all of the time (unless you're using another type of filter) for protection. I used to do this (until very recently) as it seems to be what MOST photogs do. You kind of have to do your own research and decide for yourself (obviously what you're doing here).