What are your thoughts or practises as it pertains to using filters on your lenses

[March411]

The topic continues to show up and we always get a couple of responses. I'm hoping this thread will build a consensus from the members that frequent the community to assist guests that come to the site looking for assistance.

I do use a high quality clear filter (B+W) when I am shooting in areas where dirt, sand or water may be thrown onto the front element of the lens.

For the most part I don't use any filters unless I'm looking to achieve a special effect. Three I always have with me are  infrared (IR), Graduated Neutral Density (GND) or Circular Polarizer (CPL). These normally get mounted in the field. I always use a hood, mostly to protect the front element against damage. 

[zakslm]

I use UV filters on all of my lenses.  I've use some sort of protective filter since I bought my first SLR many years ago.  I do so because I think it protects the front element against damage and because I am not the most graceful or nimble photographer and my motor skills haven't improved with age.

I'm not disputing or arguing with those who don't use protective filters because they feel it degrades the image or other reasons.  It's a matter of personal choice.  

I do have a couple of CPL's but I haven't really had good results using them on my DSLR and have used them sparingly.  I used to use CPL's more when I shot film (particularly slide film).  I am thinking of getting a ND filter or a set of ND filters because I think they could be useful.  

[March411]

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@zakslm wrote:

I am not the most graceful or nimble photographer and my motor skills haven't improved with age.

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😂 Join the crowd, I'm right there with you!

[zakslm]

Joe,

You said "You baby your gear like it's a newborn made of glass and unicorn tears."  

That statement made me laugh and think of my parents and certain aunts and uncles that had nice things that the were always saving or preserving "for company or for a special occasion" and rarely used or enjoyed.  My wife calls this practice "pickling" and chastises me she if perceives that I am acting like my parents.

That said, I do use and enjoy my photography gear but I do keep it well maintained.  I try not to obsess over a scratch or smudge or but sometimes, I can't help it!

Regards,

LZ 

[ebiggs1]

" I do use and enjoy my photography gear ..."

There are two types of photography users. One group buys gear for the sake of the gear. They baby it way more than use it. The other group are most interested in the product the gear produces. Neither is right or wrong if it is what you like to do.

I use my gear and it either does what I want or it doesn't. Anymore I find I am beginning to be the limiting factor not the gear.

[SignifDigits]

I was taught to take care of my tools so that my tools took care of me.  My father said this more than did it, but it did stick with me regardless.  I've known brilliant people that are wholly carless of their tools, as well as other very brilliant folks who are totally obsessive about their tools.  I feel certain in any field of endeavor there are many types of people across this spectrum. 

I have always been the most limiting factor in any piece of photographic I have ever owned.  I have some pics from my Polaroid Swinger that show more thoughtfulness and art than some of my careless snapshots taken with my much more sophisticated modern digital cameras as lenses.  That said, it is much easier to produce better photography with what I have now.

I am also influenced by being dirt poor and being unable to afford better gear, so when I guy any piece of quality equipment (and I follow the addage "buy quality, cry once") I treat it with respect and care, but use the tool as a tool, not a collectible.  We have had owned several books and toys that would have been valuable collectibles, but for the children having loved them to death, and have no regrets.

I've replaced at least two lens covers that have made me glad that they took the damage rather than the lens.  I've moved from UV to clear protectors.

As a tip, if you travel and a lot of expensive gear, I recommend looking into a rider on your homeowners insurance if you own a home.  For $75 a year I was able to insure about 20 pieces of gear for up to $5,000 apiece.  I looked into this as I want to take a lot of stuff to Yosemite and other parks in May of this year.  It covers the gear while it's with me - car or plane.   Maybe everyone already knew this, but mentioning it just in case.

[stevet1]

I use clear protective filters on all my lenses.

For me, I always found the arguments for using one were more persuasive than the arguments against using one.

Steve Thomas

[zakslm]

"I was taught to take care of my tools so that my tools took care of me."

So true! 

I had a couple of mentors a few decades ago when I aspired to become a wedding and event photographer.  Both were/are superb photographers.  One of them beat the crap out of his equipment or at least his equipment looked like it had the crap beaten out of it.  The other took excellent care of his gear and it always looked to be in great condition.  I remember a used camera dealer showed me an EOS-1 that he had taken in trade that was pretty beaten up.  I asked if it belonged to the guy that I knew (who beat the crap out of his equipment) and the dealer asked me, "How did you know?"

[justadude]

"As a tip, if you travel and a lot of expensive gear, I recommend looking into a rider on your homeowners insurance if you own a home.  For $75 a year I was able to insure about 20 pieces of gear for up to $5,000 apiece."

I know a lot of people that pay the premium for insurance on their gear, and a lot are glad they did. I'm on the other side of the decision.  I think of how much the rider costs ($125 per year in our area for just some of my camera gear, $200 for all).  If I think of how many years I would have paid for insurance, and never even one time needing it, well if something does get stolen, to replace it would not even come close to cover what I had paid to the insurance companies over the past 50 years.  It's a gamble for sure, but insurance companies offer this because so few people need to ever collect.  A buddy of mine that works for Farmer's Insurance has told me these riders are very profitable to the insurance companies.

It's also why so many businesses offer extended warranties on just about everything these days.  Great if you need it, but these are cashed in so little that it is a scam.  Now this one is funny... I was at Home Depot buying a fairly expensive hand tool last year.  The cashier asked me if I wanted to buy the Home Depot extended warranty. I pointed to the package to where it said "Lifetime warranty" and said "Would the Home Depot extended warranty cover if I live for two life times?" The cashier was at a loss for words.  When he regained his thoughts he said "Management trains us to say that for everything we sell." 😅

[JFG]

Hi EB,

I was taught early in life that it's always the shooter not the arrow that hits the target, nor the bow for that matter.  However, one has a better chance of hitting the target with a straight arrow than with a crooked one. I guess, I'm like SignifDigits, and was also taught to take good care of my tools (stuff) so that they will take care of me.  I use my equipment for what it is meant to be used for and like you  " I do use and enjoy my photography gear ...", however, I also take good care of my gear, whether it be a camera, motorcycle, spatula or golf clubs.  By doing so I rest assured that my equipment will take good care of me when I use it (it will always be in good working order).  I don't obsess over it either. Therefore, there is a middle group; Those that use and enjoy their cameras with a passion for taking pictures (what the gear produces), and also take good care of their gear with the same passion.   It's a personal choice to obsess babying your gear only for the sake of babying it and not for what it produces or to be on the other extreme abd beat it and not take care of it.  What your gear produces is an outcome of how well the gear works.  So, I'm in the middle group, like SignifDigits, taking good care of your gear is important.  Having said that  none are right or wrong and If you're enjoying your equipment, thats all that matters. 

[SignifDigits]

Understood.  My big motivation is travel.  They were quoting me more than twice that price for $10K on each item.  As my biggest purchase item isn't over $3K so we went down to $5k.  $2.5K per item for 20 items would have been more accurate, but $75 insurance on gear I will have to put into the belly of a plane was cheap peace of mind.  It's easy to start and turn off this rider as well, so no need to keep it going for years and years.  Pros have standalone gear insurance, I'm sure.  Looking around a bit just insuring the gear for one trip would have been more than $75, so good deal for me.  I am not suggesting it's for everyone but I hadn't heard about it before and wanted folks to have it as a data point - just in case (which is what we all buy house, car, etc. insurance for and the insurance companies know most of us won't need it so they can make a buck).