Are Filters for Lens Protection Worthwhile?
Apologies for what might seem to be a ‘simplistic’ email……. but having reached a point where, for both age and health reasons am no longer able to carry heavy camera gear, earlier this year I purchased an FZ1000 for general nature type photography.
I have retained my Nikon D7200 and 300mm f4 PF lens plus 1.4x converter for birds etc. At my local nature reserve.An issue that keeps coming up in conversations with other hobby photographers is the question of using UV Filters to protect the front element of lenses ….. maybe they degrade images and are a waste of time and money …… maybe they prevent scratches.
Other users of Panasonic FZ cameras would be interested to know your thoughts however brief.So, is it a good idea to attach a good quality UV Filter to the lens of my FZ1000?
Feel free to ignore this email question if you think it either inappropriate or you have insufficient time to reply
Cheers,
Geoff
UK
No apologies needed Geoff. This is a great question. My feelings are a very positive YES, a good UV or skylight filter is very much worthwhile for protecting the front element of any lens. Not only will it protect from the lens from scratches, dirt, and grime, but it has often protected more than one of my lenses from accidental drops. There are better filters than others and I’ve done a fair amount of research into which filters are best. From my experience my favorite filter is the Hoya HD2 or HD3 series. They are not cheap but they produce virtually no glare and no negative impact on the final image that I have ever been able to see. I have Hoya HD UV filters on all my lenses that can take them.
The new Hoya HD3 series UV filter. This or the HD2 version are the ones I use on all my lenses.
Hope this helps. And by the way, you picked a great camera to use for your general photography. I’ve been a big fan of the FZ1000 since it was released. The fact it has a 25mm-400mm zoom is super convenient and the 1-inch sensor gives you excellent quality. Thanks for your question. Let me know if you need anything else answered.