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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Do you protect your glass?
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10/12/2013 11:45:34 PM · #1
I'm curious as to what people are doing. There is a lot of expensive glass out there amongst us DPC'ers. What is your preference? Do you use a filter to protect the lens? Or do you go without for fear of degrading the IQ?
10/12/2013 11:49:44 PM · #2
Keep a expensive UV filter on all of mine, that way I don't think my quality is degraded, and the 7lbs of dust that bashes my lenses don't scratch the real thing... Hummm degrade quality... HEY I can now blame poor pictures on that!! Thanks Trotterjay I love excuses!!
10/13/2013 12:29:51 AM · #3
Quality UV filters on my gear also.
10/13/2013 12:36:33 AM · #4
UV filters and lens hoods. I typically take the filters off to take pictures though. I think of them as screw-on lens caps.
10/13/2013 12:56:27 AM · #5
Nothing gets in the way of my IQ.

I protect my glass with lens caps and gear bags, but never a filter unless prevailing conditions require it.

I give Schlake never-ending shit about putting filters in front of his $10,000 image capture device. He isn't telling the truth about usually taking them off either... Or maybe that's true, but he just leaves them on to annoy me. He will take them off if he really cares about the picture though.

There was a day when he was shooting with enough ND filter to require ISO 1600 in full daylight.

I don't remember the exact details, but I do remember being disturbed by the fact that for the first week I saw the 1Dx in his hands almost all of the shots were taken through other glass of some sort or another... (Aero Ektar, El Camino's glass windows, Suburban windshield, UV filter, some combo of these, etc..)

Message edited by author 2013-10-13 01:02:10.
10/13/2013 01:12:19 AM · #6
Originally posted by Cory:


I give Schlake never-ending shit about putting filters in front of his $10,000 image capture device. He isn't telling the truth about usually taking them off either... Or maybe that's true, but he just leaves them on to annoy me. He will take them off if he really cares about the picture though.


I figured you'd tell the story of the time I set my 300 f/2.8 IS L down, face first, onto a sharp pointy rock.
10/13/2013 01:37:51 AM · #7
For me, it's lens shades most of the time. I keep lens caps on some of them and UV's on the older 60's 70's Nik glass unless I have them out and shooting, then it's lens shades. The older glass is easy to scratch up compared to today's better coatings.
I've mechanically damaged two lenses, one on a Sony Handicam about 2001, by bumping into the corner of a piece of iron on a welding job, and the other in 2004 when a 70-210 Series 1 Vivitar rolled out of a bag, and over the edge of a 30 ft tower that I was on.
I worry more about wearing out the working parts other than the glass.
10/13/2013 01:50:13 AM · #8
Unless it is for an effect (polarizer, ND ect.) , or its a windy day at the beach or desert, I rely on lens hoods and great care.
10/13/2013 02:40:14 AM · #9
Originally posted by schlake:

Originally posted by Cory:


I give Schlake never-ending shit about putting filters in front of his $10,000 image capture device. He isn't telling the truth about usually taking them off either... Or maybe that's true, but he just leaves them on to annoy me. He will take them off if he really cares about the picture though.


I figured you'd tell the story of the time I set my 300 f/2.8 IS L down, face first, onto a sharp pointy rock.


Needless to say, Schlake has done a fine job demonstrating just exactly what reasonable quality gear will deal with.
I also failed to relay the story about him dropping the (my) Mk III on his way to the car, and simply kicking it the rest of the way so that he wouldn't need to set down his cupcake(s)....
I now feel fairly comfortable with the fact that this equipment will almost certainly deal with far more abuse than I will deliver.
Schlake does, however, have a shelf with a number of dead 50mm f/1.8's on it though, so it is apparent that not all gear deals well with that level of durability testing.
I've also seen him gouge a huge stripe of paint off a brand new 1Dx and I saw him go tumbling down a hillside of sharp pointy rocks while trying to stop his descent/impact using a 1Dx & 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II.

Yep. I can't possibly think of any experience that will make you trust in the build quality of your gear like the experience of knowing Schlake.

..

Come to think of it, it's probably a good thing he keeps those really nice B&W filters on his lenses, I might have to rethink how much trouble I give him for it. ;)

Message edited by author 2013-10-13 03:14:17.
10/13/2013 02:42:35 AM · #10
UV for me, unless I am using an ND filter. Also lens hoods. On rare cases where I am stretching my camera in low light and conditions are benign I will remove all filters for the shot. I then replace the UV when I am done.
10/13/2013 08:18:25 AM · #11
Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Unless it is for an effect (polarizer, ND ect.) , or its a windy day at the beach or desert, I rely on lens hoods and great care.


Ditto. Though now that I can't use my ol' warhorse, the 18-200mm with the D7100 - I'm going to have to really be careful with my telezoom replacement lens for rodeo! A helluva lot of sand and dust got sucked into that lens, yet the glass stayed pretty good its whole life.

And fwiw...during the infamous polo ball incidentm, a $40 lens hood saved the D90, the 18-200mm (mostly anyway) and the SB-910. So I am forever grateful to have a lenshood up.

The only lens I don't have a lenshood for is the 50mm. Mostly cause a) the lens is very recessed and b) I'm too cheap to buy a lenshood for a $150 lens :-0
10/13/2013 09:06:30 AM · #12
Originally posted by snaffles:


The only lens I don't have a lenshood for is the 50mm. Mostly cause a) the lens is very recessed and b) I'm too cheap to buy a lenshood for a $150 lens :-0

Why on earth would you need to pay $150 for a lens hood for the 50?
10/13/2013 09:33:57 AM · #13
UV filter and lens hoods--except for the 500f/4. Just pray it doesn't get damaged.
10/13/2013 09:55:11 AM · #14
Originally posted by salmiakki:

Originally posted by snaffles:


The only lens I don't have a lenshood for is the 50mm. Mostly cause a) the lens is very recessed and b) I'm too cheap to buy a lenshood for a $150 lens :-0

Why on earth would you need to pay $150 for a lens hood for the 50?


The lens is $150 you silly sausage !
10/13/2013 10:47:37 AM · #15
Originally posted by Tiny:

Originally posted by salmiakki:

Originally posted by snaffles:


The only lens I don't have a lenshood for is the 50mm. Mostly cause a) the lens is very recessed and b) I'm too cheap to buy a lenshood for a $150 lens :-0

Why on earth would you need to pay $150 for a lens hood for the 50?


The lens is $150 you silly sausage !


Hehe.. I see what you did there. :D
10/13/2013 10:59:28 AM · #16
Nikon NC glass filters on all my lenses...always
10/13/2013 11:10:28 AM · #17
Originally posted by Tiny:

Originally posted by salmiakki:

Originally posted by snaffles:


The only lens I don't have a lenshood for is the 50mm. Mostly cause a) the lens is very recessed and b) I'm too cheap to buy a lenshood for a $150 lens :-0

Why on earth would you need to pay $150 for a lens hood for the 50?


The lens is $150 you silly sausage !

Doh! It's one of those days :)
10/13/2013 11:16:20 AM · #18
//www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-feb-05.shtml

Use a lens hood.

Message edited by author 2013-10-13 16:22:52.
10/13/2013 11:53:40 AM · #19
To filter or not to filter - Luminous Landscape
Originally posted by Spork99:

//www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-feb-05.shtml

Use a lens hood.


This is an excellent article at Luminous Landscape posted above by Spork99. You may not agree, (I actually kind of do), but it's still an informative read.
10/13/2013 12:01:47 PM · #20
Originally posted by schlake:

Originally posted by Cory:


I give Schlake never-ending shit about putting filters in front of his $10,000 image capture device. He isn't telling the truth about usually taking them off either... Or maybe that's true, but he just leaves them on to annoy me. He will take them off if he really cares about the picture though.


I figured you'd tell the story of the time I set my 300 f/2.8 IS L down, face first, onto a sharp pointy rock.


10/13/2013 12:17:59 PM · #21
I just use a lens hood and a decent bag.
10/13/2013 12:27:09 PM · #22
Never a filter for "protection", never ever. If it's blowing hard enough to sandblast, my good gear's not out anyway. Forget the lenses, I don't want sand in the CREVICES. I've always used a lens hood. I always use a lens hood. ALWAYS. Every time I shoot.

My biggest fear is damaging the front element of my 17mm TSE Tilt/Shift Lens: that one has a spherical, bulging front element that won't accept filters, and there's no hood for it either. Most vulnerable piece of glass I have ever owned...
10/13/2013 03:42:15 PM · #23
If I have a filter on, it's for a reason. I did have a lens topple out of a bag onto gravel. It put a couple of chips in it. I still won't put UV filters on. I still use the lens from time to time. But I am more careful now.

Here's a nice article on lens damage. Some of you may have seen it before.

Link to article
10/13/2013 03:55:46 PM · #24
Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by schlake:

Originally posted by Cory:


I give Schlake never-ending shit about putting filters in front of his $10,000 image capture device. He isn't telling the truth about usually taking them off either... Or maybe that's true, but he just leaves them on to annoy me. He will take them off if he really cares about the picture though.


I figured you'd tell the story of the time I set my 300 f/2.8 IS L down, face first, onto a sharp pointy rock.




Not that time. The time I put it into your car, and I set it down over some rock you had sitting in the back seat.
10/13/2013 04:44:54 PM · #25
Originally posted by schlake:

Not that time. The time I put it into your car, and I set it down over some rock you had sitting in the back seat.

You guys married, or what? You sure carry on like it :-)

Message edited by author 2013-10-13 20:55:40.
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