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Filters for lens protection

There is a great debate among photographers as to whether or not lens filters need to be used for lens protection. Photographers are divided when it comes to filters and image quality. Many believe that adding a filter to the lens reduces the image quality while other photographers feel there are little to no effects to the photograph.



A filter is not only used to‚protect against every day use. UV filters offer protection against UV rays that may damage our lenses, and Skylight filters reduce the haze and clarify the photo. But really, are these truly necessary? Many photographers suggest that they have no noticeable effect in most circumstances. Lenses are made so strong today, that the question remains…”To use a filter, or not to use a filter?”

Feel free to add your comments here or join our photography forum and add to the conversation. Here’s a link to the topic in the photography forum.

Polarizing filters reduce reflections

Most people use polarizing filters to reduce the brightness of the sky so that it does not get blown out. However another very useful thing that polarizing filters do is that polarizers reduce unwanted reflections.

This shot below by forum member Travis is an AMAZING example of the same shot with and without a polarizing filter. The top image is shot without the polarizer and the bottom image uses the polarizing filter and gets rid of all the reflections. Thanks so much for letting me use these images Travis!

polarizing filters reduce reflections

polarizing filters reduce reflections

3 other links on our forum that talk about how to use polarizers
- Travis’s original post
- Neutral gradient filter – also talks about polarizers
- Filters – also talks about polarizing filters and other filters