With or without protective filter on a Mamiya 7 lens?

[Iridium]

I have just bought a Mamiya 7 II + N 80mm 1/4 L Lens. I was wondering if I have to put a permanent good UV filter (Hoya, Marumi, etc.) for protection of the glass or this might affect the sharpness for such a good lens. The owner of the lens was not using a protective filter on.

What is your recommendation?

Apart from that, when I shake the lens gently up and down, something tiny sounds loose inside. Is it normal or I have to check the lens in the service?

Thanx in advance!

 

[2F/2F]

I think this is the most-asked question in all Internet photodom...and one of the most contentious.

Personally, I do not use protective filters except in certain situations:

1. if I am borrowing a lens from somebody who gave me the lens with a protective filter in place
2. if there is a lot of sand/dust flying, and I happen to have a properly-sized protective filter on me at the time
3. If a lens does not have a cap, I will put a beat-up protective filter on it before packing up the lens in place of a lens cap.

I do get the proper lens hood for whatever lens I am using whenever possible. Nearly all possible contact with the front glass is eliminated this way, though protruding lens hoods do increase the size of the camera, and likelihood of collision with things. The front retaining ring on my Canon EF 50mm 1.2L broke when I hit the lens hood against something. It would not have happened in that particular case if the lens hood had not been attached (and definitely would not have happened if Canon made the darned part out of metal instead of plastic, like they do on most of their L lenses).

I don't like to use filters simply for protection because:

1. Maintenance is a pain. They are magnets for dust, wipe marks, fingerprints, etc.
2. They are more likely to pick up glare than a front element, because they are way out front and totally flat. Combine this with the dust, fingerprints, etc., and their effect on the picture is increased.
3. They are suspended a distance from the front element, thus any items such as the above have more of an effect on the pictures than if the marks/glare were on the front element itself. The narrower the D of F, the less of an issue this is.
4. Unless they are actually plain protective filters, they are designed to have specific effects. UV and 1A filters are designed to affect the image, not just to protect your lens.
5. They are several more unnecessary things to buy.
6. One of them has never saved me any damage to any front element. In fact, the only time a front element of mine got damaged was from the broken glass from a shattered filter.

Other than the Canon incident I mentioned, things have been quite good with lens hoods and a brush off of the front element with a soft brush a few times a day (or less, depending on circumstances).

 

[david b]

I keep UV filters on every lens I have. I only use B+W filters which are somewhat costly.

If they have any negative affect on my images, I cannot see it, nor can anyone else.

I'd much rather break a $60 filter than scratch or damage a $1000 lens (my SWC cost about $6000).

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I use protective filters, just because I'm a dumba$$. A lot of people like 2F/2F don't use them for good reason.

Jeff

 

[darkosaric]

I was wondering if I have to put a permanent good UV filter (Hoya, Marumi, etc.) for protection of the glass or this might affect the sharpness for such a good lens.

Since I shoot only B&W - I have yellow, yellow-green or orange filter always on my lenses.

I tested once my nikkor 50mm 1.8 with and without UV filter, to be honest I don't see difference on scans (I used cheap canoscan), but I am sure that there is some.

 

[eddym]

Camera stores always wanted to sell you "protective" UV filters because they made more money on them than on the cameras. I know, I used to be a dealer.
As for myself, like 2F2F, I use lens hoods. I don't own any UV filters.

 

[JPD]

Camera stores always wanted to sell you "protective" UV filters because they made more money on them than on the cameras. I know, I used to be a dealer.

-"I'll take this lens".

-"Good choise! Do you want a filter with it?"

-"Hm... Ok, do you have any recommendations?"

-"Well, you can choose between UV, Skylight, Chocolate, Menthol, Pistachio... and if you buy TWO filters you'll get an ice cream cone for free! There you can choose from many more flavours: Vanilla, Kerosene, Rodent fat..."

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

The only reasons to purchase a UV/Haze filter are either if you aren't too concerned about what your glass bounces off and if you fall whimsy to the wiles of the salesperson because it is only an upsell. I would only keep one handy if you were headed to salt water and even I don't get my old filters out then. Just meticulously take care of your equipment as its only an upsell at the store in the first place. Besides, it just two more glass surfaces from which flare can reflect.

 

[archphoto]

I don't use them either, not even on my most expensive lenses.
For many I even don't have a protective filter.

The only time I would use a protective filter is in a dust storm where the frontlens could get "sandblasted"

Just use a hood that is made for each lens and take good care of your lenses and equipment.

Peter

 

[GJA]

There are a few instances when it is a very good idea to use one, but in most circumstances i believe a lens hood suffices. I leave hoods on my lenses all of the time and it both protects them, increases the IQ by no having a filter and readies them for shooting in sunny weather.

A filter goes on when:
I go to the beach. (Salt water only)
I go to a very dusty/sandy windy place.
I hike through the woods or up mountains without the camera being in the bag. (I take the filter off before I shoot, but if I see wildlife im ready and the lens stays protected if i fall (I did once when hiking a mountain and only the filter ring bent but had the camera been two degrees rotated the entire front element would have no doubt shattered. ))
I ride my bike with camera out of bag. Since gravel flies up from the front wheel.

 

[jbbooks]

I guess I am a belt and suspenders guy. I want a hood and a UV filter. I may substitute my hat or a dark slide for the hood, but I want a UV filter on every lens I am using. For convenience, I get a good quality UV filter for every lens I have. I know for a fact that I have saved, in damages to my lenses, more than the total I have spent on UV filters.

Is that an excessive expenditure? Maybe, but I do not regret it. Even if it is, the only downside is a few extra dollars spent unnecessarily. On the other hand, when someone's undisciplined 7 year old decides to fling a handful of river gravel in the direction of your 90mm Super-Angulon XL, you might be glad to have a filter covering your lens. In any event, I have never regretted having a filter and there have been more than a few occasions when I was glad I had one on the lens.