Further to someone's suggestion about *not* using a UV filter on a digital SLR,(I don't remember in which forum), I had requested information on what would happen if one were to use a UV filter on a digital SLR instead of a plain glass filter as recommended by Nikon. Would there be any negative effects? It seems no one noticed the question and hence I am asking again. I have been using a UV filter instead of a plain glass filter. Will this in any way, affect the image quality? Thanks in advance.

If this is the wrong forum, kindly excuse.

Rohinton

It greatly depends on the quality of the filter. If you are using an UV filter from B+W or Heliopan, you'll be ok. There is nothing wrong with an UV filter per se. All filters degrade the image quality somewhat, it's only a question how much.

It's easy to test if you have any doubt about your filter: Put the camera on a tripod, focus on something and take two pictures, one with filter on, one without. Then review both at your computer at 100%. This will tell you more about your filter in one minute than anybody in this forum could ever tell you.

Tom
Bay Area Nikonian

http://www.tkphoto.me/

I would suggest checking out our Filters Forum; there should be plenty of discussions on this topic

Brian
Welsh Nikonian
Check out the Nikonians Team pages

This needs to be posted in the filters forum _and_ needs to be better worded if you want accurate answers. Are you asking about any IQ loss from using filters or are you asking about any differences between using a "plain glass" filter compared to using a "UV filter" of otherwise identical characteristics?

-----
dwig
nikonian in paradise
-----
use: cp8400, cp990, cp950
retired: F,ELW, 21mm, 45 f/2.8 GN
used to own: S2, SP, F2, F3, 20mm f/3.5, 35mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2.8, 43-86 f/3.5, 50mm f/2, 50 f/1.4 (for S2/SP), 55mm f/3.5 Micro, 105mm f/2.5, 105mm f/4 Micro, 300mm f/4.5, 180mm f/4.5 (for 4x5)

Do try the filters forum for the specifics of different filters but in terms of filter or no filter on a digital body, loss of image quality on light transmission is only one issue: introducing an additional (and most likely inferior) glass surface adds to the risk of unwanted internal reflections as well. Aparently its worse for digital because the sensor is more reflective than film (?)

I have seen this with night-time exposures where I got ghostly reflections from neon lights. I had forgotten to remove the filter after being to the beach earlier in the day and I blame the filter more than the lens (but unfortunately I have no way of proving this)

I would only use a filter where you definately need the protection: next to the beach or in a dusty environment. Anywhere where you might pick up grit or salt which might scratch the lens if you clean it off in a hurry.

Rob

____________
F4ever
http://www.roblambphoto.com

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.