Hoya Skylight 1A Filter Question

PGraham3 · Feb 22, 2019

I understand the effects of a Skylight Filter in reducing haze and enhancing some colors in color photographs, but what about in B&W photography? I sometimes use a Y48 or O56 filter for contrast, but would a Skylight 1A Filter, which has a subtle salmon color about it, enhance or reduce b&w contrast or rendition in any way?

Hoya Skylight 1A Filter effects in Color

Sirius Glass · Feb 22, 2019

The skylight filter will reduce haze for black & white too, but will not increase the contrast as yellow, orange, red or green filters.

Marco Gilardetti · Feb 25, 2019

Of course you are not even remotely ever going to see differences as evident as those in the advertisements you posted. The last one is absolutely laughable as you can see the same exact waves on the sea - clearly a fake. When a product is so "effective" that it needs a fake picture in order to advertise its "merits", it's time to consider if you could spend your money better.

GRHazelton · Feb 25, 2019

I've used Skylight or UV filters for many years, both for possible haze reduction and primarily for protection of the lens. Any other benefits are just extras.

Agulliver · Feb 25, 2019

"simulated image".

Those stark differences will never be observed in real life.

However I generally put a Skylight on every one of my lenses. Mostly for protection. A 1A Skylight is cheap, especially bought from China. Replacing a lens is usually not cheap. I've only dropped one once, but the Skylight protected it and it is one of my favourite lenses.

I do think they reduce haze a bit.

Alan Edward Klein · Feb 25, 2019

Use a polarizer filter for reducing haze and reflections on foliage. Polarizers also give greater color saturation.

Marco Gilardetti · Feb 26, 2019

Countrarywise, I began photographing putting skylight or anti-UV filters in order to "protect the front lens" as everybody around said it was wise to do. After ten years of intense photographing and not even the most remote risk of damaging the front lens ever, I got rid of those two useless extra air-to-glass surfaces introduced by the filters and never regret it.

You basically have to do a balance: if you're mindless about your equipment, you may want to put one on; if you take good care of it (i.e. you put back the front cap at every picture, use ever-ready cases, and so on) you definitely don't need it. Picture-wise, you will very very rarely (= never imo) see any improvement in image quality; on the other side the chances that the image quality will be degraded due to light scattering and added aberration are pretty high (unless you buy a top-quality filter like those by B+W, that is; but those cost quite as much as a used prime lens today so once again the balance may not be positive).

Sirius Glass · Feb 26, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
Countrarywise, I began photographing putting skylight or anti-UV filters in order to "protect the front lens" as everybody around said it was wise to do. After ten years of intense photographing and not even the most remote risk of damaging the front lens ever, I got rid of those two useless extra air-to-glass surfaces introduced by the filters and never regret it.

You basically have to do a balance: if you're mindless about your equipment, you may want to put one on; if you take good care of it (i.e. you put back the front cap at every picture, use ever-ready cases, and so on) you definitely don't need it. Picture-wise, you will very very rarely (= never imo) see any improvement in image quality; on the other side the chances that the image quality will be degraded due to light scattering and added aberration are pretty high (unless you buy a top-quality filter like those by B+W, that is; but those cost quite as much as a used prime lens today so once again the balance may not be positive).

One good trip and fall will destroy your argument about lens protection, however is you do have a way to protect oneself from stubbing ones toes and doing a face plant, please share it with us.

I have never never never had a problem with reflections from filter surfaces.

Alan Edward Klein · Feb 26, 2019

I just checked my Nikkormat and Nikon 6006 which I haven;t used in years and years. The Skylight filters are still on them. But I don;t use them on my RB67 lenses, a camera I still use. I try to take care of the lenses and have been successful to date. I also don;t like putting multiple filter on lenses due to flare and other issues. Lense are pretty cheap anyway nowadays.

GRHazelton · Feb 26, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
One good trip and fall will destroy your argument about lens protection, however is you do have a way to protect oneself from stubbing ones toes and doing a face plant, please share it with us.

I have never never never had a problem with reflections from filter surfaces.

I'm now 76. I occasionally stumble, so far no real adverse results! But, when I was in my early 30's I stumbled on a sidewalk. I got a few bruises, but my Praktica LTL lost a chunk out of the left rear corner of its base plate. Looks like hell, but the camera STILL WORKS! Those commie cameras are tough! No, I didn't hit the lens, but if I had the filter and rubber lens shade might have saved it from damage.

cooltouch · Mar 2, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
Of course you are not even remotely ever going to see differences as evident as those in the advertisements you posted. The last one is absolutely laughable as you can see the same exact waves on the sea - clearly a fake. When a product is so "effective" that it needs a fake picture in order to advertise its "merits", it's time to consider if you could spend your money better.

Just to play devil's advocate, if I might. It's at least possible that the same scene was captured by two cameras at the same time. In a way, it would make sense, if they really were trying to show the difference between with and without -- or so it seems to me.

lantau · Mar 4, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
One good trip and fall will destroy your argument about lens protection, however is you do have a way to protect oneself from stubbing ones toes and doing a face plant, please share it with us.

I have never never never had a problem with reflections from filter surfaces.

While I generally agree with you, I have had reflections a few times with expensive B+W clear glass filters on my digital camera before I even used film.

First time was caused by stage lights at an open air in a park. Took the filter off and it was gone.

I saw it again doing night photography when street lights caused similar reflections.

But those were pretty much exceptions. I guess with older generations of lens coating the reflections might have been there even without filter.

Hoya Skylight 1A Filter Question

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