Is it common practice to use a UV filter as a general precaution against lens damage? If so, are there any do's and dont's associated with them? Do they prohibit the use of the lens cap?

I just ran a search on this site for "UV filter" and came up with all these discussions you can explore:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=73267

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=27994

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=58638

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=46634

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=30369

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=29006

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=28746

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=20083

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=22718

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=951

That's ten threads to start off with; there are a lot more if you search. Of copurse these cover other cameras but the same principles apply to the XH A1. Happy reading,

A UV filter can be used as a protective filter which can prevent damage to your lens by eliminating the chance of flying debris scraping the elements.

Get a good filter that is double coated. Certain UV filters are not coated and give the appearance of the inside of a coke bottle due to lack of refraction.

Is it common practice to use a UV filter as a general precaution against lens damage? If so, are there any do's and dont's associated with them? Do they prohibit the use of the lens cap?

Yes you can use the lens cap. A UV/Haze or a clear can do the job...keep it clean as you would the lens.....AND its cheaper when you scatch a filter vs. a scatched lens.

Jim Martin

Yes, absolutely, never shoot without one. Your cam's lens and its condition is critical to your success. Don't take a chance on being perpetually lucky.

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I'll make it a priority to get one asap. Thanks for the tip on using the search feature Chris. I should have tried that first.

In the past I always kept a UV on for protection; now I leave a 1/4 Black Promist on all the time.

at least a hoya hmc. look on ebay, most with BIN.

Forget Ebay -- buy one from a local photo retailer such as Ritz / Wolf Camera. Or order it from one of our site sponsors (http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors). Just don't skimp on a cheapie; that's worse than having none at all.

Whenever you go out, always bring protection.

I'm sure this is echoed in the links that Chris thoughtfully provided, but I'll quickly answer the subject line:

"Do the pros use a protective filter?"

Depends how you define "pros"--what is often described in this forum as "Hollywood", the answer is no. But we have multiple camera assistants who are there to tend to the lenses and keep them protected under all situations--if there is a possibility of damage due to a planned situation, a clear optical flat is used. I have never seen a UV filter in use on a motion picture set.

Outside of "Hollywood", it's probably worth it to protect your personal investment with a UV filter, or fastidious use of a lens cap.

So far I have been careful to replace the lens cap after shooting, but to play it safe, I've put a Hoya multi-coated clear filter in my B&H wishlist.

Whenever you go out, always bring protection.Bringing protection isn't enough. You have to *use* protection. It's no good if it's left in your wallet.

Sorry to follow up in this way after such staids posts by Chas and Wade, but I couldn't resist.

Bringing protection isn't enough. You have to *use* protection. It's no good if it's left in your wallet.

Sorry to follow up in this way after such staids posts by Chas and Wade, but I couldn't resist.

LOL. That's true. If you don't use it, there can consequences.

My summation is this. An extra piece of (cheap) glass on the end of a well made lens? Hell no. Thats fine for an interior shot etc.

Where there is risk stick something on the front. Would I choose a UV FILTER? Hell no. A UV filter has a purpose and beyond that only serves to degrade image... i.e. an interior shot. A clear filter maybe. In bright sun Im using a polariser. Interiors, nothing. If my cam is at risk for a shot I usually adjust the shot to suit. I have however shot through glass to protect a lens on a HVX, I didnt like it but you have to do what is necessary.

no matter how good the filter/coatings is, u'll always get flare and the resultant loss of contrast in the captured image. i use a uv filter like a lens cap...it comes off when i shoot, especially in direct sunlight. so u pay ,multiple 1000's of dollars for that lens, to get optical quality, and then put a piece of flat glass over the top of it? kinda dumb, if you ask me. those UV filters are exactly that...UV. Stray light in the visible wavelengths bounce around off the planar surfaces of the filter and wreak havoc with the image contrast.

people assume that filters have AR coatings on them, and most do. But AR coatings are not 100% effective at all angles of incidence. AR coatings are wavelength dependent, so even if you can filter blues, for example, there's always some leakage that gets worse as the angle of incidence increases. the best solution is a well coated filter combined with the use of a matte box.

I will frequently use my camera at my model flying club where exposure to model engine exhaust will be likely. Don't get me wrong, I won't be strapping the A1 to a model and wiping it down afterward. It's just that I know after a long day out there, I feel the oil on my skin and it's only logical to assume that an unprotected lens will be contaminated to some degree. I will be using a clear filter. From what I gather reading the previous threads on this subject, the use of a multi-coated filter should not degrade the picture quality. Especially for my purposes of just having a good time with it.

Bringing protection isn't enough.

Unless the 'protection' is directly related to a CHL. Then you pray that you never have to use it. ;-)

To add in my .02, a good quality multi-coated, low profile UV filter for the most part. But I'll remove it for many situations where I want the least amount of degradation from image to lens. One person said it best here a while back...filters, by their very nature, always remove something. They never add anything.

-gb-

My .02 is that in all of the years of shooting I've never had an issues with getting scratches on the lens. Of course, if I was about to shoot something that could cause a scratch--say model airplanes at close range, some sort of mechanical process, or perhaps a construction site--then yes. Otherwise why bother? I'm of the opinion that if something happens while the camera is under my control I'm willing to bet a scratched lens would be the least of my problems; i.e. a UV filter won't help a dropped camera.

I had an HC1 take a fall on a tripod. The camera required a six week visit and $500 in repairs for a busted frame, tape transport and cracked circuit board.

Fortunately (to my relief), the UV protective lens survived the fall.

I'll bet the filter was glad it was wearing a protective camera. ;)

I agree with Noel. I only put on protection when when conditions get sketchy.
My XH-A1 likes the real feel.

Yes Wade, the camera saved the lens. Kinda like Murphy's law: "A $300 picture tube will save a 10 cent fuse from blowing."

Shooting any closeups there Larry?

I have a few comments and questions with regard to this thread.

1. Be careful with Hoya UV and ND filters. They apparently have a not very durable coating on them, according to other newsgroups. My first-hand experience with them is that the coating will fissure with Zeiss Pre-Moistened cleaning cloths. The Zeiss disposable cloths are based on lens tissue and isopropyl alcohol. I have never seen this happen to a regular lens, as opposed to a filter. I'll be replacing my Hoyas with B+W filters. The Hoyas were used on the Panasonic DVX-100.

2. I shoot near the water and there is always the possibility of salt spray getting on the filter or lens. What is the safest liquid based cleaning system to use on the filter or lens? The problem with the Zeiss cleaners has made me leery about using them (even) on the Canon lens. So, how do the pro's handle even better optics, such as Panavision lenses, when they need to liquid clean them? Breathe vapor on the lens? (I'll admit I use this technique in emergencies, rubbing the lens with a micro-fibre cloth).

3. To gain control over the lighting I find it preferable to use ND 2 and higher filters in front of the camera to get the f-stop that is appropriate to the scene. The two switchable ND "filter" settings on the camera are not enough. Thus, we are back to glass in front of the camera.