On Oct 8, 2011, at 6:53 PM, John Sessoms wrote: > From: David Mann >> On Oct 8, 2011, at 6:15 AM, John Sessoms wrote: >> >>> OTOH, even a cheap UV filter doesn't degrade the image as much as >>> a scratched up front lens element. If the filter does get >>> scratched up, a filter is cheaper to replace than a lens. >>> >>> That is not conjecture, it is bitter, hard learned, expensive >>> experience. >> >> Interesting, I'd be interested to hear more details. I've heard the >> stories of Pentax lenses being used as ash trays without the >> slightest damage so I figured you'd have to try pretty hard to >> scratch one. >> >> Myself, I always have either a hood or a cap on my lenses. I >> consider UV filters to be superfluous, but they're not as bad as >> someone using a lens with a hood fitted in its "backwards" position. >> That's fingernails on a blackboard to me > > A lens cap provides no protection while you are actually taking photographs. > The lens hood does not always adequately protect the front element. > > I slipped & fell while taking photographs. The camera hit the ground lens > first. > > The lens did not have a filter. I put a bad ding (like a chipped car > windshield) in the front glass that showed up in every photo I subsequently > took with that lens, so that I ended up having to replace it. > > I have had other accidents where I banged up the filter, but the the lens > itself was not damaged.
Okay, that works for you. But I've never damaged a front lens element in 50 years of photography. I did bend one filter ring 35 years ago. I can't see putting a $50 filter on a $1000+ lens. If I was convinced that I couldn't keep from damaging my equipment without filters, I don't think I would invest in good glass. Because a filter renders good glass, mediocre. Paul > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
