Hi Peter, The debate of whether or not to use filters such as haze or UV (which I think the haze filter is similar to) shall go on forever. There are those that claim newer glass is designed to filter the UV light, so a filter isn't needed. There are those who suggest that a filter will degrade the image, so it shouldn't be used. There are those who say that new lens coatings are hard enough that a filter isn't needed for protection. IMO, all those considerations are correct to a degree. But, one must consider the use of a filter wrt to the situation, the lens used, and the results desired. For example, if you're photographing in a miserable environment - dirt, dust, moisture, and so on, a flirter may be an ideal option to protect the lens, but also to allow you to continue working by just swapping out the filter when it gets dirty so you don't have to stop shooting to clean the lens in a situation that's not ideal to do so.
Are new coatings strong enough to withstand lots of cleaning? Some demonstrations that have been reported seem to indicate that such is the case, but do you want to underwrite the cost of that experiment long term? Does your lens even have a newer coating? Will a filter degrade the image? It can, and the degree to which it will degrade depends on several conditions. using a cheap filter you can pretty well count on it. If using a high quality filter with good glass, superior coatings, and which is well constructed, any degradation will be minimal, and I challenge anyone to see the degradation in a typical print. It certainly won't be noticeable on a web image or smaller prints - at least I've never been able to se see it. But, even when using a cheap filter it may not be easy to see image degradation that's attributable to the filter itself except possibly in a carefully controlled side-by-side test. Scene lighting, the use of a lens hood, chosen aperture, choice of film will all play a role in just how much, ~if any~ degradation you can easily observe. Does new glass preclude the need for a UV or haze filter? Maybe, but does your lens have that glass in it? I think some have said the cement used to hold elements together can affect the xmission of UV rays. Does your lens have that cement? I think the use of a filter becomes a very personal choice and should be considered wrt to the above, and in all cases, wherever finances will allow it, only the highest quality filters should be used unless you're looking for specific effects. When i was young and foolish and poor, and photography was in its infancy (LOL) these discussions didn't exist. we'd just stick a filter in front of the lens and go out and make photographs. Some of the photos I made years ago with Spiratone and Vivitar filters look just fine to me today. There was no such thing as Multi Coating, and SUPER multi coating was only a germ of a thought in some lens designer's mind. Shel > [Original Message] > From: Peter Smekal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > my father gave me some photographic odds and ends he isn't using any more. > Among other things a Tiffen Haze-1 filter. It looks clean, but is it a good > one? Is it usefull? What is your general opinion about filters. Some > recommend the use of filters to protect the lenses, others say that its > better not to use filters at all, or only in special situations. > > Peter, Sweden >
