Do you shoot with or without...

I have a high quality clear filter (most of the time I get B+W UV filters but not for the UV blocking) on each of my lenses so that I can feel comfortable to clean them without taking too much care to clean them properly. They don't seem to cause any noticeable differences in the images.
 
Have a UV filter permanently screwed to the front of my DP2's ever-present hood. Protects the lens and the sensor from direct light - as I often shoot straight into the sun. Originally I had some no name - Kenko I think - riding shotgun, but this degraded my images. I have learned that you get what you pay for. Now I only use B+W!

Also use Sigma's AML-1 close-up filter....oh how crisp.

Next on the shopping list is a CPL - circular polariser - and ND - neutral density. A must on my dSLR, just a matter of plucking up the funds for B+W's in 46mm.
 
Thanks for the replies, which manufacturers are top of the bill filters?
Is B+W #1 ?

Well from my limited expereince, B+W is a clear No.1 with the Hoya HMC range in second. Of course, I'm sure a Cokin set is 'serious' in every sense of the word but strays from the 'compact' definition ;) But the glass is supposedly superb!
 
Cool, I love polarizing filters! Thank you P.H.!

You know, after I posted that, I did remember someone mentioning an adapter. The one thing I really do want to get is one of those nice self opening lens covers... I just haven't gotten around to it.

Hmm, now another two items to consider.
 
I have a few but never have them with me and thus never use them. But when I have I agree with others that you get what you pay for.

That said polarizers can really help in some circumstances and neutral density can help in others. I don't have any yellow, orange, red, etc filters.
 
I have B&W UV filters on all my lenses, strictly for protection. I would much rather clean a filter than clean a lens.

In my pre-digital days, I used a polarizing filter quite a bit, mostly to intensify colors and darken skies. I also used yellow and red filters when shooting B&W film to darken skies and highlight clouds. I don't use any of these anymore, although I am considering buying a polarizer again.

Regards,

Antonio
 
Thanks for the replies, which manufacturers are top of the bill filters?
Is B+W #1 ?
I use UV or skylight protection filters, I've got a draw full of them. Sometimes an 81B to warm things up slightly. For the protection filters I've used expensive ones and cheap ones and haven't noticed the slightest difference in lens performance or image quality. I did some serious testing on an expensive Hoya versus a cheap Kood, and try as I might I couldn't detect anything that indicated why the Hoya was 5 times the price. Consequently I don't buy Hoya filters anymore. A complete waste of money, as far as I'm concerned.
 
Some of the Hoyas cost as much as some of the B+Ws. I use Hoya Digital Pro1 clear filters and B+W UV filters - both were about $40/filter.
 
Interesting...back in my PEN days, I definitely recall a B&W costing more... I think it was for the 20mm, but it doesn't really matter.

I remember many an argument over filters, and we definitely don't want to go in that direction.;)
 
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