Quote (TheBlackRose66 @ Mon, Mar 23 2009, 04:35pm)

Cheap "uv filters" are basically just a piece of glass to "protect" then lens.
I guess it does work at protecting (If you drop it, the filter would get scratched and not the front lens glass)
However, filters do cause focusing problems AND reduce quality.
The reason is because instead of the very small bits of dust or w/e that is always on the front of a lens, where it is not focusable...is now placed
a few mm away from the lens...so the lens now has to focus through this distracting particles, and the particles also cause it
to lose sharpness quickly.

I noticed my 28mm Wide having focus problems with the UV filter on it yesterday...
I would focus in, but is just kept trying, and not focusing... (Eg, the USM just kept going in...out....in....out...)
I took the filter off and it focused on the first attempt.

Quote (doyleo @ Mon, Mar 23 2009, 04:49pm)

The neck strap is there to prevent dropping the camera. Ive dropped mine loads, but its never hit the ground.
if you have a hood then ur pretty well protected anyway, as long as you keep the lens cap on when not shooting. I think the only time when filters are useful is when you need the special effects. For all the lens i get in the future i dont think ill be using a protective filter, only a hood if necessary.

Quote (TheBlackRose66 @ Mon, Mar 23 2009, 04:55pm)

Well protective filter keeps dust,rain,snow,finger prints off the front element.

An L Grade glass is MUCH more expensive to get replaced then a $50 piece of glass...

Quote (doyleo @ Mon, Mar 23 2009, 11:33am)

rain and snow are going to bugger the lens up anyway if it is not weather sealed whether it has a filter on or not. Finger prints will be rare with a hood on. True dust could get onto the front element but it can easily be wiped off with a microfibre cloth, and the filter with dust causes lens problems anyway. True if you have a weather sealed L monster you're not going to skip the filter, but for non-weather sealed lenses i dont see the point.

But i know a lot of people use protective filters and im sure it does work most of the time. I just feel like its a waste of money.

Quote (Futurama @ Mon, Mar 23 2009, 08:22pm)

Well from what I have heard at least UV filter has some purpose other than being a protective filter especially those multi coated. I think dust is the most annoying thing to get onto a lens because there is a chance that they could get inside it and get stuck onto the inside lens elements which could really be a pain in the ass  <_< . If you just want to clean the front element of the lens and/or filters attached onto it I strongly recommend you to get the lenspen ( http://www.lenspen.com/ ) it's a very fast and effective and safe way to clean your lenses.
As for rain and snow. Well if you don't know already a sheet of transparent plastic foil people usually use to wrap food and stuff is a very effective and cheap way to protect both your camera and lenses from rain

Quote (doyleo @ Mon, Mar 23 2009, 02:34pm)

never thought of putting cling-film over a camera. but yeh that would block out the rain. thanx for the tip

Quote (Futurama @ Mon, Mar 23 2009, 08:42pm)

You are welcome, brotha! I have actually never done this before I just came up with that idea awhile ago when I was discussing taking pictures in the rain with someone in another photography forum but I am soooo going to try that this summer though.

Quote (Futurama @ Mon, Mar 23 2009, 07:01am)

oh! so there are filters for taking long exposure shots in day light??? I would like to get one