On Tue, 28 Jan 2003 10:49:17 GMT, "Joseph Meehan" <sligojoeSPAM2@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Skylight, Haze and UV filters are much the same. They both block UV

>light. You can't see UV light, but most films can. Those films see it as

>blue or blue grey.

See below...

>There is no rule as to exactly what a UV or Skylight

>filter is so different manufacturers often have different ideas. They

>differ in exactly where they cut off the light and how smoothly they cut off

>the light. Different films react differently so that complicates things

>even more.

>

> You can say in general that Skylight filters are a little stronger and

>often will "warm" the colors because they generally cut off a little of the

>blue light. Some manufacturers offer a number of different such filters of

>different ?strengths? (higher of lower cut off points). The best part of

>this is they all do about the same thing and they generally do their thing

>best when needed most. That is if there is a lot of UV light they get ride

>of it and if there is little, they don't do much.

>

> In short, for the most part it does not make much difference in real life.

>

> Most people don't buy, or should I say, most people are sold UV filters not

>to correct light problems, but to "Protect Your Expensive Lens." Keep in

>mind that for many years the guy behind the counter (I was one of them) may

>have made more on the filter, than he made on the lens! His incentive was

>to make money and sell you something. Fear of damage is a good sales tool.

>Sort of like the paint protection package they will offer you on a new car.

>

> In real life, with a few exceptions like a windy sandy beach or a

>photographer who over-cleans his lenses, few photographers need the

>protection of a filter. But then again, even a good one does not cost all

>that much* and they are easy to use. The down side is they will very

>slightly reduce sharpness and very slightly increase flare. It is a wash,

>little gain and little loss.

We've been here before, but, once again, a good UV

filter does nothing but protect the lens. It does not

block appreciable UV that is not already blocked by

the lens glass, and it does not reduce sharpness.

Under most circumstances, it also does not increase

flare or ghosting. It does protect hard-to-clean

multi-coated lenses from direct damage, and potential

damage from repeated cleaning (I have seen many lenses

damaged by these, and had one saved when someone grabbed

it [the filter was scratched, but not the lens]).

> Most of the time you would get better protection with a good lens shade and

>it would be likely to reduce flare, but they are more difficult to use.

I prefer to use both a shade and UV filter, when possible.

I then cap the shade...

> So if you want one and if you like warmer colored photos get a skylight, if

>you like less warm photos go for a UV or Haze.

>

>* On of the tricks of selling add ones like filters is to have the price low

>enough that the buyer will say, even if it does not work I did not speed

>that much on it. Which is why you will not often find the sales person

>trying to sell you a B&W brand filter that is going to cost a few additional

>$$$ but cause less image problems.

Filters from the "Hoya single-coated" level are good

enough, unless defective - spending more does not improve

anything... (though I avoid Tiffen, when possible).

> Please note that this author is not the same Joseph Meehan who is a

>professional author of Photograph materials.