UV Filters: Do They Degrade Image Quality?

UV filters, do they degrade your image quality, or are they actually useful? This is a question asked by many, and often answered in many different ways. My goal is to provide you with a meaningful answer based on my experience. The big question is, should you spend your money on these filters or skip them all-together? Read on for my opinions.

Fact or Fiction: UV Filters & Image Quality

In my experience UV filters have become less important in the digital age as digital sensors are not sensitive to UV light, with film it was (or is if you’re still shooting film) actually somewhat necessary for removing the haze in your images. The sad truth is that UV filters are primarily something that retailers try to bundle with the camera kits they sell you to make additional profit. You will often see them labeled as a “protector” filter as well, how much this actually protects your lens is highly debatable .

So why then would one actually purchase a UV filter? Well one major reason, and in my book the only reason, is for lenses that are weather sealed but need a filter in place to complete the seal. Lenses such as Canon’s EF 16-35mm f2.8L II or 17-40mm f4L have a front element that moves back and forth depending on the zoom setting (focal length), it does not extend past the front lip of the lens, but without a filter in place, this front element is exposed to dust and the elements. Aside from this very specific reason, I have no interest in placing more glass in front of my lenses. If you’re going to buy a filter, at least buy a good one, I recommend something like the B+W F-PRO filters as they have brass rings (which won’t bind in cold weather) and high quality glass. If you skimp out and buy a cheap $10 filter for your lens you will absolutely be degrading the quality of your images. In this example from Reddit user: EvilDoesIt we can see how a cheap UV filter has blatantly degraded the quality of the image. The best way to think of it is that it would be like shooting through a dirty window.

: Top: Quantaray UV filter / Bottom: B+W UV filter

So, we’ve got some ideas, now lets break it down and look at the details:

Facts:

Camera stores will try to sell you a filter, they will sing its praises and usefulness. Don’t buy into it.
Digital sensors are different than film. UV light does have an affect on film, but not on digital, thus eliminating the NEED for a UV filter in digital photography.
UV filters are NOT protector filters, if they were, they would be built differently.
UV filters add extra glass in front of your lens, if you put cheap filters in front of your expensive lenses you are ultimately limiting the image quality output of your lens.

Why would you use them?

If you’re the kind of person that puts a case on your phone the first day you get it
If you’re clumsy and think the impact to a filter will save your lens. (Hey it might, you never know)
If you work in really rough conditions it actually is a good idea to have a filter on to spare your front element.
To complete a weather seal (#1 best reason to use one in my book)

Why many don’t bother.

Because digital cameras clearly don’t need a UV filter.
Because extra glass in front of your lens can degrade your image quality.
Because they use a lens hood for protection (smart move).
Because they don’t use their cameras in any kind of “weather”.
Because they get “it”. (What’s “it”? Well… if you have to ask…)

In the end, it is your choice as to wether or not you’ll affix a UV filter to the front of your lens, and they can have their uses, but I personally choose to not bother unless it’s one of the rare instances where it will actually help.

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Tagged as: B+W F-Pro, tips, uv filter

Mads

I’ll bite: “UV filters are NOT protector filters”, can you then write a little about protector filters then? ‘Cause that’s what I use my UV’s for.
- http://www.goglanianphoto.com/ Abram Goglanian
  
  There really isn’t such a thing as a “Protector Filter”, it’s a sales gimmick. As I mentioned, if it was truly designed to protect a lens it would be constructed of something more durable.
http://www.facebook.com/jamie.salisbury.76 Jamie Salisbury

My 350 filter came crashing out of my camera bag by accident and before I could catch it landed lens down on the ground. The only thing that got shattered was my uv lens. Not a scratch or mark on my lens. The way it hit I think if the filter hadn’t been on it I would of been out a lens. I have noticed my pictures come out better without the filter on it, but knowing my luck I think I will still use them on my more expensive lens unless there is something spectacular I am really after. But thank you for your input I find it very interest how everyone will try to sell you something just to make that bottom dollar.
Matthew

For me, I don’t feel guilty if I have to clean the uv filter. Yap, I know that lens glass is durable but the scary feeling when you clean that..I still choose to clean UV filter. and buy the expensive one..B+W
Torben Christiansen

Hi. I am very happy to have filter on my lenses. One time on a trip it saved my expensive Nikon 70-200 2.8. It got drop to high and it was still only the filter that was broken.
http://www.helensotiriadis.com/ helen sotiriadis

i keep the UV filter on my lenses. it once saved my 50mm lens from shattering when my camera fell off my lap front first to the ground — the filter shattered, but the lens was safe.

still, when i’m doing an important shoot, i’ll take the filter off while i’m shooting and then promptly screw it back on when finished.
Matthew Everett

I’d like to propose an experiment. You need two identical lenses, and two identical camera bodies and a single UV filter (or any filter). Screw the filter to one of the lenses (just pick one) and attach the lenses to the bodies (again, just pick one). Now, throw the cameras on the ground (just dropping them from standing height is ideal). Please report your results to the class.

My hypothesis is that you will notice no difference in the condition of two lenses with the exception of a broken filter attached to one. I don’t have the hardware to perform this experiment, but I would really appreciate anyone who does have the requisite hardware performing this test.

The reason behind my hypothesis is called physics and physics suggests that putting a flimsy glass filter on a lens will not effect the impact resistance of the lens. If you are protecting the lens from anything by placing a filter on it, it is dirt and grime (and occasionally completing a weather sealing system). Nothing else makes any sense.
- Jacques du Toit
  
  But it may help with bumping against something, that is where the damage protection comes from, obviously not running into a wall, but a slight bump while you strafe to the side and hit a wall. As well as it helps with scratches and windy conditions with dust, then it won’t eat away at the lens.
  
  So relook the hypothesis and see for all possible fields, not just someone dropping the camera, that’s what camera straps are for.
  - Matthew Everett
    
    We’re not talking about the same thing. I don’t take exception to using them in the ways you’ve described, especially since that’s really the only reason to use them. Anything in front of the lens elements will protect from scratches and things bumping the lens elements; a lens cap does the same thing. I’m talking about a lens actually falling and hitting the floor as is referenced in several posts here. An event in which a UV filter has little effect on the outcome.
    - Jacques du Toit
      
      Yes, because lens caps are always the fun way to shoot. Plus the comments are about dropping the lens, on the filter, not dropping the camera body as well. “My 350 filter came crashing out of my camera bag by accident and before I could catch it landed lens down on the ground.”
      - Matthew Everett
        
        I fail to see how the lack of an attached camera body changes anything in this case. Also, I wasn’t talking about shooting with the lens cap affixed, but rather that a lens cap and a UV filter serve very similar protective purposes–neither will do anything about improving the sort of impact resistance often attributed to them. Furthermore, in the particular case referenced, it is surprising to me that the shattered UV filter didn’t cause damage to the front lens element. In any case, I feel like I’ve reached a point of diminishing returns on this debate, so I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree on the effectiveness of these filters.
        
        The bottom line in all of this is, your gear is your gear and you do whatever you think is best. I’m not going to judge you for whatever steps you take to protect your gear. I do however feel it necessary to offer my own views in such debates in the hope that I might help someone understand my viewpoint or further understand the opposing view.
Mary

Quantaray is not a $10 filter.
Peter Arbib

I don’t use filters,,
But, if you must… get a high quality one with optical grade glass that is coated on all surfaces!
most are a 2 element design (4 surfaces… not 2)
Agree with this article!
Juvenall

Things my B+W clear filter has saved me from: a kid throwing toys during a shoot, a different kid throwing rocks during a shoot, a monkey throwing crap at a zoo, awful smelling and salty sea foam during long exposure, and a bird crapping on my 70-200 f/2.8L IS MkII while trying my hand at nature photography.

That isn’t to imply that I always have it attached, but when I do, the protection of my gear is the leading reason.
- http://www.goglanianphoto.com/ Abram Goglanian
  
  Those are definitely scenarios that warrant having a filter on. Just like I described
John Merlin Williams

Like Matthew, I use them to protect the front element from scratches. I have sweaty hands, often shoot in a dusty environment and prefer not to carry two body/lens combinations. So I often change lenses, even with the great quality zooms we enjoy these days. I get crud on the lens more often than I care to admit. I do use one of those lipstick-case brushes for dust (I like them because they seem to pick up less dust on the bristles rolling around in my inevitably dusty photo vest). But when I have to deal with a sweaty-finger smear, it’s nice be scrubbing the filter and not the lens element.
http://www.facebook.com/reinaldo.a.a Reinaldo Aguilera A

i made a proof with my canon eos 450xsi and tamron 17-50mm lens taking a shoot from computer screen and i saw differences with and without uv filter, i use a cheap kenko filter
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Discarded Photography

I know if you buy cheap filters the quality not there but for having shoot at a dirt bike race were dust mud and rock fly every were I really saw the point for having one and I rather replace a 100$ filter then send my lens in to get the front element switch after a scratch.

Just cleaning all the dust away after a weekend I had the replace my filter. Note for dust on the body I taped all my buttons. (faster to remove tape then try to clean every little spot.

One think I was wondering about is quality and performance in variable neutral density filters. I would like to see the difference in a 20$ vs a 200$
Jacques du Toit

My 70-200 F/2.8 IS II lens is SUPER happy that I have a filter on it, because somehow I managed to get a small scratch on the filter, if it was not for the filter I would have cried my little heart out and cried some more.

But I do agree about cheap and decent filters. When I got my 16-35mm F/2.8, the shop where I purchased that lens had various different makes of filters, and I made him take them all out and show me the difference, till I found one that was clear and I was happy with it, it cost me a hefty price, but in my opinion worth it.
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http://www.facebook.com/spinworkxroy Roy Teo

Filters are a must for me…not because of any UV protection crap…but because they really do protect your lens. I’ve once dropped my lens head first onto concrete flooring and i heard a loud glass cracking sound! thank goodness there was a B+W filter there to protect the lens..from then on, i’ve attached B+W filters to all my lenses…also i would rather clean the filter than the actual lens element…it also helps in the resale value of your lens