[Brightcolours]

[quote name='jenbenn' timestamp='1283785863' post='2533']

Sorry, I lied. You are correct. UV filters are unnecessary. One shouldnt use them. Any protective value is a myth. There is a huge conspiracy of manufacturers tricking people into buying useless equipment.I admit I am a dumb fool first falling for bad marketing and then making up a myth about the usefullness of filters.



Sometimes the internt is a sad place. Two people just cant report their differnt experiences. There must always be one ever so knowledgable person who thinks no one can possible have a legitmate opinion differnt from his own. I hope, brightcolors, my statement above will save your day.



@vieux loup: There are arguments for and against filters, as you have read. You need to make up your own mind wether tu use them or not. My expereinces is that I would definately recommend using them.

[/quote]

The point is not whether people can have different opinions, but the point is whether wrong arguments are being used. Myths are plenty, and yes, why would a manufacturer of UV filters not say it is protecting your lens element? do you believe every claim every manufacturer or anything and every salesman makes?



To illustrate just how easy it is to get a front element scratched:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzOLbMPe0u8



And yes, broken filters indeed can scratch front elements. Breaking filters is EASY. Breaking lens elements... judge for yourself.



And now about filter induced IQ degrading.

Contrast loss/veiling with backlight:

With UV protective filter:



Without:



http://neilvn.com/tangents/2010/02/27/using-filters/



Ghost light images:



Hoya DMC pro1 Digital





According to Luminous Landscape:

"The filter flare factor"





"Ironically, the better your lens, the more desirable it is not to have a filter on it. Also, if you commonly shoot with a zoom with more than ten elements, a filter, even if it's multicoated, isn't doing the lens's inherent flare and veiling glare characteristics any favors. The more glass surfaces, the less the transmission, period.



So use a filter when you need one, and by all means get one of those slick new Schneider MRC filters if you ever shoot in the wet. Otherwise, use that UV filter like a lenscap, and take it off before you shoot."