My take on filters is that I am swaying to not using them. I used to use filters always, on every lens, if only as a protection. Even the works Betacam had a UV on the front - and boy that came in useful. One day I was using an unfamiliar car with a lift-up tailgate and the camera caught the corner of it whilst being moved ready for de- rigging from the tripod. The filter took the impact square on and immediately broke. Because the filter glass took the brunt, the corner of the tailgate did not penetrate any further, and no damage at all to the front element of a �6000 lens.
However, I have always been aware that there is inevitably an increase in flare using filters on lenses with inadequate lens shading (for whatever reason). This started to bug me quite a bit and now I have turned full circle and do not use filters on most lenses. This is anything wider than 100mm, even shaded. I still have a filter on a 70-200, but even there I am doubting it's worth. Jury's still out on that one. I certainly do not use one on a mid range zoom like a 24-70, nor primes like 50 and 24. I think that each shooting situation has to be assessed individually regarding whether or not flare is evident, but my default is not to have a filter aboard. When lenses are in the bag, they are capped. When they come out of the bag, the caps come off and stay in the bag, always. Even on that Smegma 14mm 2,8 which many have seen at GFM - the front element is bulbous - must be very similar to the new Pentax 14mm. But the built-in lens hood does protect the front element to a degree, and I am more than comfortable with carrying it un-capped. As for the TV camera? It does *not* have a filter in place anymore. Aha, you ask, why is this, especially after that opening cautionary tale ? Well, us staff guys don't own our kit, and one of our chaps had a very unfortunate accident with his camera. He left it unattended on the tripod in a wind (a big no-no, but I don't know the exact circumstances) and surprise surprise it blew over onto the lens. The camera was repairable but the lens was a write off and a few days later he had a brand new lens delivered to replace the ageing dinosaur that succumbed. My lens is only 4 years old, but I would never say no to a new one ;-) Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=====| www.macads.co.uk/snaps _____________________________
